I think my question was too specific. So all I want to know is what lifts you guys prefer and what kind of gas mileage difference there is between 33" and 35" tires.
Thanks

 

Alright, I'll tell ya my experience. I don't like the Superlift radius arms (I own them). Don't know about any of the other lift kits from experience, except Tuff Country. My brother had a Tuff Country lift, he taco'd a radius arm on some weak [censored] and the warrantee was worthless. Never heard much about Rough Country. If your getting a 4" I'd go with Rancho, but they don't make 6" lifts so that leaves more choices. As far as I know Dick Cepek doesn't make suspension lift kits anymore, otherwise I'd go with them. I'd go Skyjacker or Procomp if I were you (I haven't heard anyone that even has a Rough Country lift). I'd look at the radius arms (in person if possible), and see what ones look more durable and what one has more bend to allow a tight turning radius. Note, Skyjacker has pre drilled holes in the drop down brackets for the Superunner Steering kit which is nice. I'm not sure about Pro Comp though. Generally, all the lift kits are almost identical except for little differences.

90 BRONCO Custom

 

I've never liked the idea of blocks for the rear, especially for lifts like 6". Blocks like that provide more leverage and torque for the axle to fight with the leafs and chassis. They just aren't designed to be worked that way.

As far as the Ford IFS goes, I would hesitate to put "drop down"-anything when it comes to large 6" lifts for the same reasons. When hit hard, the force given to the brackets is amplified when it comes to frame connections. At least go with extended radius arms for anything over a couple inches.

I don't know anyone who has one, but from the looks of it on paper, I think AutoFab has the best setup for the Ford IFS when it comes down to a physics standpoint. They claim their kit provides 4" of lift and 16" of travel while maintaining stock points for steering, tie rods, and even the traction beams. Granted they are very pricey and you have to trade in your old front axle housings, but I have yet to see any other lift kit that has such a clean looking setup for Ford IFS.

Anyone have this kit or have seen it in person? I'm very interested in a report on how well it performs.

 

I have the Rancho 4". I like the kit. It uses 2 full length add a leaves to replace 1 leaf of the stock pack. VERY nice ride, much better than stock. One thing I don't really like is most kits seem to "level" the front/rear (i.e. my Rancho is a 4" front, 3" rear). Stock it sits 1" lower in front. So, I will probably add a small block in the rear in the future. The front radius arms are "angled" for larger tires, so with my offset and tire size, I have no rub. Most of these arms can't take much abuse on the rocks, so I plan to maybe further reinforce mine. I HATE THE RED PAINT THOUGH. Painted all my suspension components from them a satin black.

As to mileage, it is the lift and tire combo that affect mileage. The larger the tire the less the mileage. Even with appropriate gearing, you will still encounter weight of the tire and wind resistance with a lifted Bronco. Once I lifted I guess there was maybe a loss of a MPG or so, not a big deal for my experience.

The Juice, '95 Ford Bronco XLT, White, 5.8, E4OD, 4" Rancho, 35's, 4.10, ARB/LSD, lots else

 

yes!
i love autofab's kit.
ive been talking to john (of autofab fame) for the past week or so, and im probably going to order that [censored] in a month or so, when i can afford it all.
Its a little pricy, but its sooo much better than some of the other kits i see...

 

I haven't had a single problem with my 6" drop brackets or 4" block in the rear. I have done some fairly extreme wheeling (caught air several times). I'm very skeptical of the geometry behind the drop brackets and blocks though. Eventhough I haven't had problems yet, I eventually plan to put a solid axle and leaf springs in the front like the Superduties/87-later F-350 and leaves in the back. Basic lifts are a good place to start though.

90 BRONCO Custom

 

I have a 4" rancho with 35" tires... I go through a set of u-joints a year *the good ones * but we know that add aleaf will not correct the angle of your rear pinion so Im sure its wacked out so hence tears them up. There going out now again then I have the regular radius arms so hit so deff...go with bent extended radius arms. Then I needed the shim to do the allignment $150.00 so I like the lift no problems except the above and just cant turn sharp. Oh, and now the leafs have gaps in them 1/4 in so it seems the add aleaf are wear different than the stock causing some issue? I have had the lift on probably 6yrs though ehhehe

THE PROJECT...

 

Oh, and now the leafs have gaps in them 1/4 in
Where are the gaps, and in what postition are the add-a-leafs in your spring pack?
Just curious, kinda sounds odd.
shim to do the allignment $150.00
Wo, what shim was that price?
These were $44.99ea at Napa. Part #264-2951

WD-40 Reverend Grip-Shift
85 Bronco XLT, '69 351W, C6-Shift Kit, 9"-Detroit, Dana 44-Tru Trac, 2" Lift, 33X12.5s

 

WD-40 is your 2" lift body or suspension and if so what brand?I would like to get enough lift to run 33's.

Thanks,Billy

 

I used a Rancho 1-2" coil in the front, and a Rancho 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" add-a-leaf in the back.
I removed the stock spring that was the same length as the add-a-leaf, which netted me right at 2" in the back.
I machined a 1" spacer (about a year later) to go underneath the spring perch, so really, the front is more like 3" lift now.
Truck sits perfectly level after the spacer.
Course, there's some that like a rake from the back to the front, but I don't haul much, so I like it level.
I run 33X12.5's BFG AT's on 15X10's in the summer, and don't have any clearance problems.
I did have to adjust my steering stops a bit to keep the tires from contacting the Rad Arms.
However, it still has a tighter turning circle than the wife's Grand Am./wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

WD-40 Reverend Grip-Shift
85 Bronco XLT, '69 351W, C6-Shift Kit, 9"-Detroit, Dana 44-Tru Trac, 2" Lift, 33X12.5s

 

Re:my lift kit choices have been made

At first I thought my dad was going to go all out on this truck with ARB's, Warn winches, CB, Flowmasters and a 6 inch twelve hundred dollar lift. But I know that's too much for a beginning off-road junior like myself. I noticed a few of you guys really like your 4 inch lift and I'm going to get one now, too. The tires I have now are 32X11.5X15 and I will mount them on some american eagle 589 wheels. The other stuff is all up to my dad. I just went on a crazy trail over at my friends house in the Santa Cruz mountains. I am truly amazed how well my car did with those skinny tires. They're Bridgestone's Dueler A/T. They kept me glued to the trail. I just wish I had not encountered so many sticks protruding from the side of the hill. I bought X-scratch that night and I rubbed it all over the new green stripe. My dad couldn't even tell, but if he new where to look, they are there.
????Another problem I encountered was actually a new noise. It sounds like my fuel pump is acting up. It revs up and down. When it's high it's really noticeable from inside the cab, but when the noise dims it seems about how it should be. It won't stay that way though. The sound changes every second.????

 

had Big O do the allignment mind you now this was 5yrs or so ago Looks like the gaps are between the top one and the next one... it also doesnt have the leaf pack clamps on the back just the in the front of the pack...

THE PROJECT...

 

How much is Autofab's kit?

Brakes don't fail me now!

 

Re: rear add ons

WD- what's the part # for the rear adds. I can't seem to locate it. I want to take out these blocks and do it right. Rancho sent me a new set of coils and I'm gonna ship the defective one back but i wan't to take a picture of course.

Backyard Builder-If I ain't drivin it I'm under it!

 

My dad and I went to get the kit today! Then we put some gas in the car and the noise went right away. My thoughts are that the fuel filter should be changed after we have it in the dirt a few times. I'll tell ya how the suspension works out when I get it installed. I already have the new speakers in and they sound sweet. Plus, I ditched the ugly old rims for some American Eagle 589's. The car looks pretty fancy now and I'm not sure if my dad will let me drive it anymore.

 

autofab has two kits for the bronco, depending on how many springs you want in the front, 4 or 8. I priced out the 8 shock version with ranchos for a whopping $5200! (plus shipping)

 

*falls down and holds his chest with pain in his eyes* chokes,"I.. don't think... I'll be getting autofabs.. system." lol Norm

Brakes don't fail me now!

 

Re: rear add ons

sliperhead, well, slicker...
My (6 year old) box has 2 numbers:
60312
R4445X
I'm sure the number that you found (RS603122) is probably the current one.
My add-a-leafs sit in position #2 of 5.
Counting the leafs from the axle up.

WD-40 Reverend Grip-Shift
85 Bronco XLT, '69 351W, C6-Shift Kit, 9"-Detroit, Dana 44-Tru Trac, 2" Lift, 33X12.5s

 

Re: rear add ons

Bah, when i do my lift this year, id like to replace the enitre spring, as opposed to just adding leafs.
I suppose theyre ok, but i would image they would ride better if i did, and plus, some of the plastic spacers on the tips are shot, and its not often i get the truck high enough in the air to be able to replace these spacers, either...