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  #1  
Old 06-26-2013, 11:34 PM
2003FX4LevelII 2003FX4LevelII is offline
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Default What lift do you have!

Im looking into lift kit for my 2003 FX4 and I know the most common lift for Rangers out there is the 3" body but Northwest Motorsports (big local shop/dealership) has a 3" suspension for $599 they said. But reading other suspension threads says that they(suspension lifts) cause more wear and tear on the trucks and parts. Also i'm not too sure how easy and comfortable i'd be installing the body lift myself. How easy is it to install the body and what kind of lifts to you guys have? Thanks for the help

----------

And the torsion bar crank, does it make the ride any stiffer??
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  #2  
Old 06-27-2013, 04:07 AM
Logan03CO Logan03CO is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

Here is some general research information for your very basic questions. There are already tons of threads on this.

http://www.fordrangerforum.com/lifte...ur-ranger.html
Body Lift 3” – Tech Info Extravaganza
Torsion Bar Lift For 2010 - 2011 Info

Also that so-called 3" 'suspension lift' is probably just crap aftermarket keys & something generic for the rear. Just crank your factory bars and you will get the same result for free - then slap something simple in the rear (AAL or shackles).

Most of the guys that have been around awhile or the 'old school' guys if your will (myself included) consider the Superlift suspension kit as the only true suspension lift currently made for that generation truck - it costs right around $1,500 for just the basic kit.

Everything else for the front of a 4x4 is the same as twisting your torsion bars using the factory keys - Unless you want to destroy your front end by cranking aftermarket keys.

Torsion Lift Keys ???
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  #3  
Old 06-27-2013, 07:46 AM
gcextreme gcextreme is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

Another lift thread woohoo..


Search for Body Lift Rub and Body lift prep and tips....
Get the summit racing body lift for $159...takes about a day to install with correct tools and help.
All this and more will be answered in all those threads...
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Old 06-27-2013, 09:07 AM
Tom Tom is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

What exactly does their 3" lift consist of? That's awfully cheap for a 4x4 suspension lift. Sounds like it might be an aftermarket torsion key lift which is a complete waste (same result as a torsion crank... except a torsion crank is free).

Yes, a torsion crank makes the ride stiffer.
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Old 06-27-2013, 09:30 AM
pooleo pooleo is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

The keys everyone says is a waste. They really are not.

Example: The lift key at its lowest setting would be equal to say, the stock key at half crank.

So you do get more lift, by being able to twist the bar more.

The lift limit would come from the A-arms maxing out. The point at which that occurs, I dont know. I have my stock keys maxxed and my A-arms are not maxed out.

I did help member Demon install 3" lift keys. They did make a difference.

For shits and giggles we cranked them all the way and his truck was a good 2-3" higher than the stock keys at full crank.
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  #6  
Old 06-27-2013, 10:39 AM
Fordzilla80 Fordzilla80 is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

Torsion Keys aren't a problem until you max them out. That's when the issues start.

A buddy of mine installed Torsion Keys in his 02 F150. He cranked the bolt halfway, and did fine for a year. Then he decided to crank the bars even higher and maxed the bolts. Ever since then, he's been through two sets of CV axles, and three sets of ball joints.

Granted, the wear might not come near as fast for a truck that is never taken off-road. But if you take your truck off-road and use 4x4 often, you can almost guarantee that you will be replacing parts more often than you'd like.
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Old 06-27-2013, 10:42 AM
Logan03CO Logan03CO is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fordzilla80 View Post
Torsion Keys aren't a problem until you max them out. That's when the issues start.
I agree - other than lightening your wallet - they won't cause any issues until you crank those aftermarket keys.

Adding height is addicting, so people crank them more - but suspension changes should be accomplished correctly.


Quote:
Originally Posted by pooleo View Post
So you do get more lift, by being able to twist the bar more.
Yep, that's true - but it doesn't mean it's a good thing.

A person will just magnify the stiffness & potential damage to front end components by cranking aftermarket keys.

I honestly can't believe that aftermarket keys are still being sold. Seems to be a recent push, and they have got to be one of the most half-ass ways ever of getting more height than what the stock torsion bars can provide.

Remember: "Just because you can - doesn't mean you should"

Either crank your factory torsion bars and be done with it, or if you want more height than what that provides - man up, drop the required cash to do it correctly and get a real suspension lift.

People always find it hard to resist cranking aftermarket torsion bars (Like I said, adding height is addicting) - and that's when the real problems surface.
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  #8  
Old 06-27-2013, 11:05 AM
cmcginn cmcginn is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

my dad sold me a 97 f150, installed aftermarket keys in 98 with a full crank. never had a problem with them. 2011 the ball joints went, 2012 the cv blew. only issues we've ever had. i've had them on my ranger for about 6 months now, no issues at all. ride is a little bit stiffer
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  #9  
Old 06-27-2013, 12:47 PM
Fordzilla80 Fordzilla80 is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

Quote:
Originally Posted by cmcginn View Post
my dad sold me a 97 f150, installed aftermarket keys in 98 with a full crank. never had a problem with them. 2011 the ball joints went, 2012 the cv blew. only issues we've ever had. i've had them on my ranger for about 6 months now, no issues at all. ride is a little bit stiffer
And how many times did you actually off-road that truck and extend the control arms?
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  #10  
Old 06-27-2013, 12:49 PM
lil-redranger96 lil-redranger96 is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

I have a 6" skyjacker. I didn't install it but my boyfriend did and he was saying that it was an easy lift.
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  #11  
Old 06-27-2013, 12:52 PM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

^ you also have TTB vs torsion bar...TTB lifts are cheap compared to T-bar lifts
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  #12  
Old 06-27-2013, 12:54 PM
Fordzilla80 Fordzilla80 is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

Quote:
Originally Posted by djfllmn View Post
^ you also have TTB vs torsion bar...TTB lifts are cheap compared to T-bar lifts
Even TTB lifts are going up in price.
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  #13  
Old 06-27-2013, 12:56 PM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

i can believe it
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  #14  
Old 06-27-2013, 12:59 PM
Tom Tom is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

Quote:
Originally Posted by pooleo View Post
The keys everyone says is a waste. They really are not.

Example: The lift key at its lowest setting would be equal to say, the stock key at half crank.

So you do get more lift, by being able to twist the bar more.

The lift limit would come from the A-arms maxing out. The point at which that occurs, I dont know. I have my stock keys maxxed and my A-arms are not maxed out.

I did help member Demon install 3" lift keys. They did make a difference.

For shits and giggles we cranked them all the way and his truck was a good 2-3" higher than the stock keys at full crank.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fordzilla80 View Post
Torsion Keys aren't a problem until you max them out. That's when the issues start.

A buddy of mine installed Torsion Keys in his 02 F150. He cranked the bolt halfway, and did fine for a year. Then he decided to crank the bars even higher and maxed the bolts. Ever since then, he's been through two sets of CV axles, and three sets of ball joints.

Granted, the wear might not come near as fast for a truck that is never taken off-road. But if you take your truck off-road and use 4x4 often, you can almost guarantee that you will be replacing parts more often than you'd like.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Logan03CO View Post
I agree - other than lightening your wallet - they won't cause any issues until you crank those aftermarket keys.

Adding height is addicting, so people crank them more - but suspension changes should be accomplished correctly.




Yep, that's true - but it doesn't mean it's a good thing.

A person will just magnify the stiffness & potential damage to front end components by cranking aftermarket keys.

I honestly can't believe that aftermarket keys are still being sold. Seems to be a recent push, and they have got to be one of the most half-ass ways ever of getting more height than what the stock torsion bars can provide.

Remember: "Just because you can - doesn't mean you should"

Either crank your factory torsion bars and be done with it, or if you want more height than what that provides - man up, drop the required cash to do it correctly and get a real suspension lift.

People always find it hard to resist cranking aftermarket torsion bars (Like I said, adding height is addicting) - and that's when the real problems surface.
One thing it sounds like we can all agree on: If you get the aftermarket torsion keys, and don't crank it them, you're wasting your money.
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  #15  
Old 06-27-2013, 01:09 PM
Fordzilla80 Fordzilla80 is offline
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Default Re: What lift do you have!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom View Post
One thing it sounds like we can all agree on: If you get the aftermarket torsion keys, and don't crank it them, you're wasting your money.
No, because I still think you're wasting your money on Torsion Keys when you don't off-road the truck. Why would you pay money to lift a truck that you never take off-road?
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