Hey there, I'm new to the forum but I just traded in my '95 F-150 Eddie Bauer and bought a 2004 F-150 SuperCab XLT with the 5.4 V8. I work in the Service Dept. at the local Ford dealership here in Ventura CA so needless to say I've seen all types of things done to F-150's and heard all types of special mods you can do.
I was wondering if anyone knew of any place out there offering 2" rear lowering shackles for the 2004 F150's at a reasonable price. Truckaddons.com offers them but they are $83.00 and I only paid $40.00 for my 1995 F150. I realize this is a new truck but there has to be someone out there offering them at a lower price.
***Beware: I found a site offering the rear shackles saying they are the same for '97 - '04. Let me tell you i went out and measured both, it will not fit... The '97 - '03 are a lot smaller than the '04 shackles.
If you know of any affordable rear shackles for the '04's please advise, they really work well and even out the trucks appearance.
Thanks

 

Hey Silver,

I have a question for you, I also have an 04 F150, and I'd also like to to lower the rear end 2 inches. It would make the truck look better and make it MUCH easier to reach into the bed. I have the XL, and its going to be a work truck, and I'll have equipment on the floor of the bed. I'm 6'5, and its very hard right now to reach the bottom of the bed, so I'd like to lower the rear end.

My question is this, how will this affect my payload capacity? The most I'd ever carry is about 1500 pounds, its very rare that I'd carry a load that heavy, usually more along the lines of 1000 pounds. Would I still be able to carry that much if I lowered the rear end? What about towing capacity, even though I never tow anything, but I might need to sometime!

 

Hey Silver,

I have a question for you, I also have an 04 F150, and I'd also like to to lower the rear end 2 inches. It would make the truck look better and make it MUCH easier to reach into the bed. I have the XL, and its going to be a work truck, and I'll have equipment on the floor of the bed. I'm 6'5, and its very hard right now to reach the bottom of the bed, so I'd like to lower the rear end.

My question is this, how will this affect my payload capacity? The most I'd ever carry is about 1500 pounds, its very rare that I'd carry a load that heavy, usually more along the lines of 1000 pounds. Would I still be able to carry that much if I lowered the rear end? What about towing capacity, even though I never tow anything, but I might need to sometime!

 

Hey Silver,

I have a question for you, I also have an 04 F150, and I'd also like to to lower the rear end 2 inches. It would make the truck look better and make it MUCH easier to reach into the bed. I have the XL, and its going to be a work truck, and I'll have equipment on the floor of the bed. I'm 6'5, and its very hard right now to reach the bottom of the bed, so I'd like to lower the rear end.

My question is this, how will this affect my payload capacity? The most I'd ever carry is about 1500 pounds, its very rare that I'd carry a load that heavy, usually more along the lines of 1000 pounds. Would I still be able to carry that much if I lowered the rear end? What about towing capacity, even though I never tow anything, but I might need to sometime!

 

What the heck? I know I didn't click the submit button three times!

 

Hey Twist,
Your payload will not be affected at all. You are not changing the rear suspension at all. The only thing you are doing is adding a bigger shackle therefore lowering the rear 2". You are all good dude!!!!
-SILVER

 

If anyone tells you that the sackles are the same are idiots. The new truck has 3" wide rear leaf springs as opposed to the earlier years that have 2.5".

 

Silver, I also have a Scab 04. Belltech has a shackle for the 04, but it only lowers 1". I also spoke to customer service at DJM suspension, and they will have the 2' drop shackle available in about 2 weeks. Their shackle is already displayed on the web sight. If you get yours done before I do, Please post a picture. My first upgrade are the Go-Rhino sport tubes. Good luck.

 

Ground Force.

 

I thought I was fine, until I loaded the bed, and added my bike rack with two bikes onto the hitch. It bottomed out on small bumps. If you load the bed, then try to tow something, you might have the same problem. Of course mine is a 98, but still. I have noticed it squats alot more with the bed loaded, also. You could add a set of the airbag load stabilizers, if they're available for the 04's yet. ,,,,98


They're right about the shackles, to a point. The Heritage edition is available as an 04. So, I'm sure they meant those models. They were half right, so to speak.

 

I just picked up my Ground Force rear shackles. I paid $88. They include shims to reposition the pinion. The installation is a little more invovled that my prevous shackles, but still easy to do at home with minimal tools. Very good directions, and picture. I just need to find out which holes to use on the top of the shackle to give me a 2" drop. I do not want a 3" drop.

 

I just order a set from Chassis Tech for 55.00 and shims for 17. They stated that I wouldn't need shims, but I ordered them just in case. From what I've read on this board I may need them.

 

OK, has anyone put these on a 2004 yet. I just received mine and it looks like it will be a larger project than I expected because the frame rail is in the way of the shackle bolts. Anyone have any good ideas how to install these simply?

 

Usually what you have to do is take out the bottom bolt and then jack up/raise the leaf so you can take out the top bolt between the top of the frame and the bed. Just make sure that the truck is on jack stands and the springs are not loaded or you'll end up with dents in your bed.

 

thanks suds5.4. I figured it out after I made the post. Sometimes my brain is slow starting. I got the 2 deg shims that I'm going to install with the shackles. The rear is a bit out of line with the drive shaft, stock and I've had 2 different people at the same company tell me yes and no. When I looked under there I figure the 2 deg shims wouldn't hurt.