1972 F100 4x4 lift issues...

[rbmead]

Hello,
I have a 72 F100 4x4 swb that I am swapping in a 78-79 Bronco/F150 Dana 44. also I decided to go ahead and put in a 4 inch lift from Skyjacker.

just received the lift today and installed the driver side coil spring. also to mention, I did buy new 4 degree offset C bushings.

the trucks weight is on that side. have it just off the jack stand.

something is wrong. this does not look correct to me.

[basketcase0302]

It looks to me like you need the drop down radius arm brackets, (yeah yeah I know most kits 4" and less say you don't need them) to get that spring wrap corrected.
Maybe someone else can pipe in here too.
Nice job so far.

[rbmead]

yea, I thought up to a 4" lift was just as simple as swapping coil springs. I believe I will just swap it for the 2" lift.
that's if I don't find out ill still need the drop down radius arm brackets....

Thanks for the reply

[cep62]

I've used 4 inch Rancho's before without the back drop brackets , without the curve in the spring.

Try installing the other side AND your diagonal bar and see how it sits with a even load.
You "should" get the drop bracket for the diagonal bar with a 4 inch or bigger lift.

[basketcase0302]

"rbmead"]yea, I thought up to a 4" lift was just as simple as swapping coil springs. I believe I will just swap it for the 2" lift.
that's if I don't find out ill still need the drop down radius arm brackets....
Thanks for the reply

The radius arm brackets are really not as hard as you think to replace with the new drop down ones. Simply grind or torch the old steel rivets holding each onto the frame rail / punch out the remaining steel rivet with an impact chisel and the old ones fall right off in maybe one hour per side. The new ones bolt on making them 15 minutes per side to install.

CEP are you referring to the TRACKING BAR, when you say diagonal bar?
You need this anyway to get the front axle back to tracking inline with the rear when lifting a coil sprung Ford-worth their weight in gold.

http://www.jackit.com/sls-1080.html

[cep62]

CEP are you referring to the TRACKING BAR, when you say diagonal bar?

Yes I've heard it called the panhard bar , tracking bar or the diagonal locating bar.
I type slow so I use as few words as possible , I thought the diagonal bar would save some confusion.

The radius drop brackets are a good idea, I just don't know why his springs are curved.

[basketcase0302]

One other thing to look at that I'd forgotten about are the C-bushings. If this was in fact a Skyjacker lift kit the C-bushings probably already came with the offset, (usually 7 degree for a 4" lift kit) in them to compensate for having drop down radius arm brackets. I don't remember being able to put the C-bushings in "backwards" (getting them turned around wrong) but give Skyjacker tech service a call and see if these are the C-bushings that have compensated for the lift and have a certain amount of degree built into them, (which would rotate the axle causing this).
I would bank on them having the offset built into the bushing-requiring the drop down radius arm brackets to compensate / correct this angle.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Skyjacker/825/CB70/10002/-1

[cep62]

I think it's possible to put the poly C bushings backwards , they should have markings telling their position.

[Lone Ranger]

Looks like the c bushings. I believe when I did mine they were marked. It is possible to put them in backwards tho. Wonder if you could tilt the axle back down a tad.

[rbmead]

been a little lazy and frustrated with this part of the project and have ignored it for the last few weeks.
I did swap the springs from 4" to 2". not as much "Bowing" as the 4's but still a little. looks like I will need the aftermarket Tracking Bar. using the drop down bracket and the tracking bar from the '78. it is just not quite long enough. plus the angle is off now with the new "C" bushings. thanks for the link above with the tracking bar. looks like ill be ordering one.
also with working with the tracking bar. looks like this axle has the tracking arm mount on the axle side. the "Oval" mounting hole. I have found this tapered replacement bolt that is suppose to fix this common issue. anyone have experience with one of these "Repair" bolts?
this thing cost more than the Tracking Arm...

[basketcase0302]

If you get the above adjustable tracking bar you should not need that bolt which looks like it does the same thing-moves the tracking of the axle.
I still seem to agree with most above on the possibility of the C-bushings being in backwards too though as they will cause the problem of "axle wrap" like this.
Patience though as it will reward itself many times over, (that axle).

[stldesign]

Are you changing over to a 78-79 steering box?

[rbmead]

I think so. just started looking into that. Power steering.