I have a 1998 ext cab flareside f-150. I want to lower it 3/4 but I also want the best ride i can get. Better than stock would be nice. Any ideas??

 

I have the Belltech on mine and the ride is pretty good. It is more stiffer than stock but not teeth chattering or anything. If you plan on keeping the stock wheels and tires it will be a softer ride with the higher tire sidewall. The handling improved too but I still want a rear sway bar. Western Chassis I hear is pretty good too, so you might want to check them out as well.

 

The ride quality actually depends mainlyon the shocks you use. Use a firm shock and youwillget a rougher ride, use a soft shock and you will get a smooth ride. And 99flareside is also right on the sidewall of the tire making a diffrence, since he is riding on 20" rims he has a very low profile tire thus giving a rougher ride. I am riding on 17" rims with low profile tires as well, but they are not as low as 99flareside's.

I also have the belltech 3/4 on my truck with the nitro drop shocks and the ride is actuall better than stock in my opinion.

 

99flareside, what shocks do you use on your 3/4 drop. I want to do a 3/4 but my son thinks he wants the 2/4 on our 99 Flare. I keep showing him pictures of your truck, maybe I can change his mind.

 

Greg Mc,
I'm running Belltech's top of the line Nitro Active shocks. There pretty good, how much better over the regular Nitro shocks I don't know. I bought my drop kit at www.ultraperformance.com for about $470 total (including the $60 Nitro Active shock upgrade). I think the 2/4 drop levels out your truck more, so if you want a slight rake appearance go with the 3/4.

 

Thanks to everyone for your help. I think I'll end up going with Belltech. I need to know what shocks I would need for that smooth ride that f150 freak talks about. I also plan to move up to a 20" rim but I'm also unsure about the tire size that would be best for the kind of ride I'm looking for.

 

blackprince,
I went with 275/45/20 tires because it is almost the same diameter as stock (.5in shorter) so it won't change the gear ratio or speedometer readings much. Also the 45 series should be enough to protect my wheels from most potholes and whatnot. The rides not too bad either. Going with 50 series or higher will give a smoother ride but will throw speedo and gear ratio off(assuming you buy a 275 wide tire). www.4lo.com has calculators that will tell you how much slower or faster your speedo will read and what your new gear ratio would be.

 

if ya don't mind me asking, how much did those 20's set ya back 99Flareside??? ya don't have to be exact.. just a rough ball park figure... btw, damn fine looking truck.. still looking to do a 3/4 drop and 20s on my 99 supercab (styleside, not flareside).. and i like the 'look' of your drop and wheel combo...

 

I bought my wheels from Aftermarket Wholesale during a Good Guys show and got them at a "show special" price of $1795 (which at the time was a savings of $500!). Then add on the tires and the drop kit and it added up pretty quick! But thats what credit cards are for, right?

 

LOL!!! sure does add up quick!!! thanks for the info!! think i might just go ahead and get the drop for now and try to snag some rims after Xmas..

 

I use to think Gas Shocks were the best, no matter what brand you buy, but I found out there is a LOT of difference in Gas Shocks. I got the new SUMMIT catalog and there are gas shocks that cost $475 each in there.

I see shocks for lowered vehicles listed. They range in price from $21.95 all the way up to $100 a pair. Does anyone have some serious information about Gas Shocks for lowered vehicles??!!

I don't want to spend a hundred bucks a corner for shocks if I don't have to. On the other hand, I think the $21.95 Gas Shocks might be a poor investment.

What do you guys think?

BillVoyles

 

A buddy lowered his truck 2/4.

After a couple of sets of shocks( Nitro, OEM ) he likes the Duesch Tech shocks the best.

 

I dropped my '97 3-5" with Eibach springs and hangers/shackles. I am running Belltech Nitro-drop shocks. My truck rides better than any truck that I have ever driven or been in. No floating, no harshness, just smooth controlled suspension with little body roll in corners.

P.S. The hellwig rear swaybar helps tie down the rear suspension's movment. It was a big improvment.

Hope I helped.