WattTheTruck
Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Good morning,
I'm rocking a 2022 platinum. I purchased this truck used, prior owner installed either a 2 or 3" front lift via spacer on top of the front top hats. It looks nice level but I "feel" like I'm taking a pretty decent effeciency hit on the highway and I prefer the trucks look being a little bit lower + would like better handling. I'm going to remove the front lift kit and upgrade the suspension.
For the front I purchased:
The front suspension is easy as we share components with the ICE F-150 therefore there is an abundance of front options out there.
For the rear suspension, these are all of the options I have discovered so far:
Consensus seems to be beyond 1.5" or maybe 2" of drop in the rear, you will most likely need the ICON camber kit installed for camber correction.
For my use case, removing my front spacers and swapping to the Bilsteins at the lowest setting my front should sit just slightly lower compared to a stock lightning, estimated 1/2" or so due to the additional weight of the lightning vs. the ICE counterpart the Bilsteins are made for. The Bilsteins and Hellwig bar should really tighten up the handling, dampening & sway so I'm excited for that. I do not like the exagerated raked look on stock Lightnings so I need to decide on a rear solution. Easiest option is the RC or McGaughy's pocket relocator kits - shouldn't need the ICON camber kit with these and it should look pretty decent. From what I read on here the Eibach kit is going to be too harsh & the Belltech drop shocks are poor quality and fail within a year or so, or at minimum the rubber bushings wear out. Beyond that you are looking at air suspension or ICON, both pretty expensive.
Have I missed any options? What would you recommend? There are a few options being used from 2004-2008 F150 front shocks, does this mean we could technically use any 04-08 ICE F150 front suspension options in the rear of the lightning or is it just certain shocks that seem to fit?
Thank you
I'm rocking a 2022 platinum. I purchased this truck used, prior owner installed either a 2 or 3" front lift via spacer on top of the front top hats. It looks nice level but I "feel" like I'm taking a pretty decent effeciency hit on the highway and I prefer the trucks look being a little bit lower + would like better handling. I'm going to remove the front lift kit and upgrade the suspension.
For the front I purchased:
- Hellwig 7905 front swaybar - this is chromoly and larger diameter than OEM for reduced sway
- Mevotech TXMS408141 front swaybar end links - greaseable and look a bit stronger than OEM
- Bilstein 47-323841 front pair shocks/springs 6112 - much improved dampening, handling & off-road capability, adjustable height perch's
- KYB SM5727 Mount Kit - OE Style front top hats for the Bilsteins
The front suspension is easy as we share components with the ICE F-150 therefore there is an abundance of front options out there.
For the rear suspension, these are all of the options I have discovered so far:
- Rough country leveling kit/rear strut spring pocket relocator kit
- McGaughy's rear strut spring pocket relocator kit
- Eibach rear sport shocks & springs (I'm not sure why there are two models of shock for the rear)
- ICON suspension kit & Rear camber solution
- Belltech 25001 performance drop strut
- Full air bag kit
- Possible new air bag/spring helper RC kit
- Ridetech Shockwaves
Consensus seems to be beyond 1.5" or maybe 2" of drop in the rear, you will most likely need the ICON camber kit installed for camber correction.
For my use case, removing my front spacers and swapping to the Bilsteins at the lowest setting my front should sit just slightly lower compared to a stock lightning, estimated 1/2" or so due to the additional weight of the lightning vs. the ICE counterpart the Bilsteins are made for. The Bilsteins and Hellwig bar should really tighten up the handling, dampening & sway so I'm excited for that. I do not like the exagerated raked look on stock Lightnings so I need to decide on a rear solution. Easiest option is the RC or McGaughy's pocket relocator kits - shouldn't need the ICON camber kit with these and it should look pretty decent. From what I read on here the Eibach kit is going to be too harsh & the Belltech drop shocks are poor quality and fail within a year or so, or at minimum the rubber bushings wear out. Beyond that you are looking at air suspension or ICON, both pretty expensive.
Have I missed any options? What would you recommend? There are a few options being used from 2004-2008 F150 front shocks, does this mean we could technically use any 04-08 ICE F150 front suspension options in the rear of the lightning or is it just certain shocks that seem to fit?
Thank you
Sponsored
