Donahoe Racing
Kits available: 8
What they fit: '99-'03 F-250/F-350 Super Duty (2-, 3-, 4-, 4 1/2-, 6-, 8-, 10 1/2-, 12 1/2-inch)
Inches of lift: 2 - 12 1/2
Maximum tire diameter: 34-39 1/2 (depending on kit and application)Kit details: Donahoe Racing uses a stage system that increases lift with larger coils and spring hangers. Starting with its 2-inch leveling kit, Donahoe offers eight lift kits for the Super Duty. The leveling kit features a 2-inch-lift spring-hanger kit and four shocks. The 4 1/2-inch Edge Plush Ride system includes reinforced front-spring hangers, shackles and blocks with rear U-bolts to clear 35-inch tires. A panhard-rod drop bracket, pitman arm, extended antiroll-bar links and polyurethane bumpstops are also included in the kit. The kit is designed to retain the factory front suspension and steering geometry. The 8-, 10 1/2- and 12 1/2-inch systems do not include shocks; Donahoe recommends use of race shocks like Fox or Bilstein with these systems. The 10 1/2-inch kit combines Donahoe's 4 1/2-inch spring-hanger kit with springs from the 6-inch lift. The 12 1/2-inch kit features 8-inch springs and 4 1/2-inch hanger kit. In addition, Donahoe is developing an adjustable lift kit for '97-'03 F-150s which should be available later this spring.
Optional accessories: Adjustable panhard rod, traction bars, dual front shock mounts, shocks, mini front spring pack, carrier-bearing drop kit.
More info: Donahoe Racing, 2841 E. White Star, Unit E, Anaheim, CA 92806, 714/632-3033, www.donahoeracing.com.
Skyjacker
Kits available: 41
What they fit: '83-'97 Ranger and Bronco II (111/42-, 4-, 6-, 8-inch), '90-'94 Explorer (1 1/2- and 4-inch), '97-'02 F-150 (6-inch), '80-'96 F-150 (1 1/2-, 4-, 6-, 8-inch), '80-'96 Bronco (1 1/2-, 4-, 6-, 8-inch), '00-'02 Excursion (2 1/2-, 4-, 6-inch), '99-'02 F-250 (2-, 4-, 6-, 8-inch), '87-'98 F-250 [TTB] (1 1/2-, 4-, 6-inch), '80-'86 F-250 [TTB] (1 1/2-, 4-, 6-, 8-inch), '80-'85 F-350 (1 1/2-, 4-, 6-inch), '86-'98 F-350 (1 1/2-, 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-inch), '99-'02 F-350 (2-, 4-, 6-, 8-inch)
Inches of lift: 1 1/2-8
Maximum tire diameter: 32-38 (depending on kit and application)
Kit details: The Ranger/Bronco II kit, like most of Skyjacker's Ford suspension systems, is available in a Class I or Class II assembly. Class II kits are more stout, usually featuring longer radius arms. Class I kits use heavy-duty brackets instead. The Ranger 2-inch kit has front leveling coils. Skyjacker also offers 4-, 6-, and 8-inch kits for these vehicles. The Class II kit comes with a front axle-pivot bracket and a dropped pitman arm. Rear blocks or complete rear springs are available for the 4- and 6-inch kits. Skyjacker's '80-'96 F-150 kits feature axle-pivot brackets for the TTB, radius-arm brackets and replacement leaf springs. The Class II kit includes extended radius arms, pitman arm, a one-piece four-point skidplate, Softride Hydro shocks and bushings. Super Duty/Excursion kits were designed for V-8, V-10 or diesel applications. These feature front and rear antiroll-bar links, extended brake lines, replacement springs, an "Extreme Drop" pitman arm and relocating brackets for the track-bar axle and frame mounts.
Optional accessories: Triple shock setup, dual-inline steering stabilizer, lateral strut bars, Softride Hydro or Nitro shocks.
More info: Skyjacker, Dept. FW, P.O. Box 1678, West Monroe, LA 71294-1678, 318/388-0816, www.skyjacker.com.
Rancho
Kits available: 5
What they fit: '81-'93 F-150/Bronco (3-, 4-inch), '97 Excursion (4-inch), '97-'01 F-150 (4-inch), '97-'02 Expedition (4-inch), '99-'02 F-250/F-350 Super Duty (4-inch)
Inches of lift: 3-4
Maximum tire diameter: 33-35 (depending on kit and application)Kit details: Rancho offers two similar packages for '81-'96 F-150s and Broncos. The Sports System includes coil springs, pivot brackets and a dropped pitman arm. Rear blocks are included with this kit. The Performance System adds extended radius arms and a rear add-a-leaf. Depending on the application, these lifts will elevate your rig either 3 or 4 inches. Late-model Expeditions and F-150s are approached differently. These kits replace the OE steering knuckle with a heavy-duty cast knuckle. Other parts include a fully welded cradle-style subframe and torsion-bar crossmember relocation brackets. The Super Duty lifts include new leaf springs front and rear, a panhard-rod relocation bracket, extended brake lines and a dropped pitman arm. A 4-inch Excursion lift is also available by combining four separate Rancho kits, including front and rear leaf springs, front bracketry and shocks.
Optional accessories: Add-a-leaf, shocks, steering stabilizers.
More info: Rancho, 1 International Dr., Monroe, MI 48161, 734/384-7804, www.gorancho.com.
Superlift
Kits available: 13
What they fit: '80-'98 F-250/F-350 (4-inch), '83-'97 Ranger and Bronco II (2-, 4-inch), '91-'94 Explorer (4-inch), '97-newer F-150 (4-, 5-inch), '99-newer F-250/F-350 (2-, 4-, 6-, 8-inch), '80-'96 F-150/Bronco (2-, 4-, 6-inch)
Inches of lift: 2-8
Maximum tire diameter: 32-38
Kit details: Superlift's TTB lift kits start with pre-set coil springs. Axle-pivot brackets are then used to lower the factory axle halves to correct wheel camber. Cast-iron replacement radius-arm brackets position the axle front to rear. They also lower the factory radius arms and maintain caster. These kits also come with a dropped pitman arm to help retain steering angles. The kit for '97-and-newer F-150s uses a full-length crossmember assembly to drop the lower control arm 411/42 inches. Superlift supplies a nodular iron-knuckle assembly with a raised tie-rod attachment point, allowing all angles to remain within factory specs. A centerlink connects the knuckles to the factory steering and pitman arm. The diff is lowered 4 1/2 inches. The kit comes with longer brake hoses and Superlift's Superide shocks. Superlift's Superide Select springs offer Ford '99-and-newer F-250/F-350s 2, 4, 6, and 8 inches of lift. Utilizing a 9- or 10-leaf pack (depending on your application), these springs feature anti-friction pads and military-wrapped eyelets. The 2-inch kit comes with new front leaf springs, a track-bar bracket and relocation brackets for the front compression travel-stops. The 4-inch lift gets those parts plus longer front antiroll-bar links and a rear add-a-leaf. For 6 inches of lift a dropped pitman arm is added to the kit and 2 1/2-inch rear lift blocks and an add-a-leaf. Finally, the 8-inch system includes front brake hose relocation hardware, relocation brackets for the rear compression stops and 4-inch blocks and add-a-leaves for the rear. All of these systems include Superide shock absorbers.
Optional accessories: Radius-arm upgrades, dual front shock kit, steering stabilizers, body lifts, U-bolt kits.
More info: Superlift, 300 Huey Lenard Loop Rd., West Monroe, LA 71292, 800/551-4955, www.superlift.com.
Autofab
Kits available: 3
What they fit: '83-'97 Ranger, '80-'96 F-150/Bronco, '90-'94 Explorer
Inches of lift: 4
Maximum tire diameter: 31-33
Kit details: Here's an approach that's unique to Autofab. These guys focus on wheel travel rather than height. First, they trade you their modified beam housings in exchange for your factory housing. All kits include tubular, race-style radius arms and fabricated pivots. Lift comes courtesy of custom coil buckets with longer shocks. The kit also includes crossmember components that fit between the radius-arm pivots and a removable engine crossbar is mounted between the shock hoops. Autofab's 4-inch-lift kit for the '83-'97 Ranger provides 16 inches of front wheel travel. The Bronco/F-150 16-inch wheel-travel kit was developed for dual shocks at each wheel. Featuring custom-fabricated coil buckets with shock hoops and removable crossbar, these setups are available for Fox, Bilstein, Sway-A-Way, Rancho and Doetsch Tech shocks. The kits for '80-'96 F-150 and Bronco with TTB feature tubular radius arms with three-point mounting to the traction beam and come with shocks and limiting-strap mounts. Specially designed offset pivot brackets move the pivot point inboard for better tire clearance. This move also corrects the bushing angle for longer radius arms. A front-diff skidplate, limiting straps and bumpstops are included with all long-travel kits.
Optional accessories: Optional spherical rod-end mounting, coil-spring adjusters, custom radius arm pivot brackets, coil-spring compression inserts.
More info: Autofab, 10996 North Woodside Ave., Santee, CA 92071, 619/562-1740, www.autofab.com.
Explorer Pro Comp
Kits available: 3
What they fit: '99-'03 Super Duty/'00-'02 Excursion (6 1/2-inch), '97-'03 F-150/Expedition/seven-lug F-250 (4-inch), '82-'96 F-150/Bronco (4-6-inch)
Inches of lift: 4-6 1/2
Maximum tire diameter: 33-37 (depending on kit and application)
Kit details: Kits for the late-model Super Duty include progressive multi-leaf springs and pro-rise bushings, four ES3000 shocks, track-bar relocation brackets and a drop pitman arm. Explorer's 4-inch lift for '97-'02 F-150s and 7-lug F-250s makes room for 33- to 35-inch tires. This kit features welded lower control-arm drops and crossmembers, replacement ductile-iron spindles and crossmember compression struts. The '82-'96 F-150 kit features new radius arms, pre-stressed coils and a drop pitman arm. All kits use either add-a-leaves and/or a lift block to provide rear lift.
Optional accessories: MX-6 shocks, lift blocks, U-bolts, add-a-leaf.
More info: Explorer Pro Comp, 2360 Boswell Rd., Chula Vista, CA 91914, (619) 216-1444, www.explorerprocomp.com.