New Suspension

[rsjohnsn]

I am about to start on my truck and of course the frame and suspension will be first. I want to lower the ride by about 3-4 inches in the front and level the rear with the front. I am in need of the best way to drop the truck, I-beams or Mustang II? This truck isn't a daily driver nor will it be hauling anything. I plan on using it when I want to have fun and on weekends. I would also like to have some kind of 4 link for the rear if possible. I guess what I am after is something that will ride good and hug the curves really well. I am going to start stripping the frame and removing the suspension. If anyone has any pics or ideas please feel free to let me know.

Thanks
Scott

[rsjohnsn]

Thanks for the suggestion GT and I have done what you said. What I am after is something that I can take to the drag strip one weekend and to a road course the next and still use it to drive around town with. None of the topics answers this question, they are mostly just about lowering for looks. I want all the above and it MUST stay all Ford, NO Chevy or Dodge items are allowed on this truck!! I am looking for some input from the guys that have actually used all the lowering options. I want to know how well they ride, handle the curves, and how well they look.

Thanks
Scott

[marz68]

Mustang II
Tons of parts available and plenty of swaybars for your taste.

[rsjohnsn]

I have read that you can't go any wider than 8 inch wheels after the dropped beams. Is this true and if so why? What, if any, are the other issues with dropped beams?

Thanks
Scott

[Kraig]

The stock twin I-beam setup has four things going for it;

1) It's already on your truck.
2) It's simple.
3) It's strong.
4) The price is right ... it's already on your truck.

While not an ideal suspension, it can be made to handle. Steve Saleen won the 1991 Race Truck series in a Ford Ranger with I-beam suspension. The outer tire (the one that most of the weight transfers to in a corner) actually gains camber in a turn with the twin I-Beam setup which helps it maintain contact with the road, of course the inside tire is doing the opposite. Lowering it and using fairly stiff anti-roll bars with sticky tires and you could corner fairly well. Go easy on spring rates to maintain a somewhat decent ride. Bump steer might be an issue and I haven't really looked at the ackerman angle on a truck. You'll also want to watch your wheel offset to maintain a decent scrub radius. The rear suspension is also not ideal but can also be made to handle well, just check out almost any American born muscle car turned race car for rear suspension ideas. Remember great tires can hide alot of suspension shortcomings.

[fordss2003]

rsjohnson i just considered everything that you are considering. i own a 67 shortbed flareside and i wanted to getr it low but yet perform really good. i decided to go with a mustangII front supension power rack and pinion big o disk brakes and air ride. that kit cost me about 3350 but i went with wilwood brakes 2" drop spindles power steering and air ride. i went through a company called Fat man fab. in the rear i went with a triangulated 4-link setup along with air ride. if your interested in the rear four link than get on ebay and type in triangulated in the search and you will find thea kit there that sells for about 225 wich is a really ggod deal. it has all lazer cut bracketry. that should get your rubber on the ground. i havent installed it yet waiting for all the parts still.that should help you a little bit

[mrung0wa]

Taking a pickup truck on a Road Course?

That's like loadin' a pallet cinder blocks into a miata, Why?

Lowering a truck is one thing but thinking that it'll drive and handle just like a sports car is insane. Remember a vast majority of your weight is in the front (engine, Transmission, driver, etc) and in the back is an empty pickup bed and the drive axle with little or no traction especially when its important like going on a slalom course where chicanes, hairpins followed by reverse off camber down or up turns. Wicked stuff even in a car. I could imagine it would be much worse in a pickup truck.
Hey, "Nothing ventured nothing gained" right?


Lawrence

[1970F250]

theres this road behind my house thats just like a road course and my truck takes it pretty well. but it could be better. like... i dont know if it were lowerd instead of lifted and maybe some sway bars.

the only problems i have is that i lifted it and didn't make drop brackets yet so the wheels are at an angle and i have 33" rubber on it so when i take a corner fast the tire rolls under just a little but enough to freak out my friends.

[mrung0wa]

Brother just reading about that make my stomach cringe!

Jethro's got a 3+" lift and handles like a Nuclear Aircraft Carrier on the road...

Lawrence

[rsjohnsn]

A stock 2 wheel drive handles the curves really well while a lowered one can only make it better. I'm not looking to go out here and run a road course but I would like to be able to if I wanted. I remember racing a Mustang back when I was young and stupid and the only reason he out ran me was that he had more top end power. I could take the curves just as good as he could but the top end is what killed me.

Scott

[mrung0wa]

Did the guy in the mustang get in trouble for ditchin' Jr. high school!

I've always said that this place is better than Disneyland!


Lawrence

[rsjohnsn]

We were both ditchin!

Scott

[mrung0wa]

Cool...



Lawrence

[fuzzier1]

A question I have on this is how much do you want to spend on doing this? You could put a mustangII front and four link the rear and run airbags on both ends. One you have adjustability two the four link setup correctly will get relatively good traction and according to AirSystems (I think that is who I am thinking of) they will help the handling. This is what I plan on doing WHEN I start my project... soon?!

Fuzz

[Big D's 69]

Right above is the statement. how much do you want to spend?