Black Diamond
Kits available: 11
What they fit: '80-'96 F-150/Bronco (2-, 4-, 6-inch), '80-'98 F-250/F-350 (4-inch), '83-'97 Ranger (2- and 4-inch), '91-'94 Explorer (4-inch), '99-'03 F-250/F-350 Super Duty (2-, 4-, 6-, 8-inch)
Inches of lift: 2-8
Maximum tire diameter: 33-38 (depending on kit and application)Kit details: Lifting Ford's TTB-equipped vehicles requires paying special attention to front-suspension camber. Black Diamond's kits use axle-pivot brackets that lower the factory axle halves and feature adjustable camber bushings to correct camber angle. The company recommends a pitman arm for kits more than 4 inches tall. On '80-'98 F-250s, leaf springs are used in place of coils. Rear lift is achieved through lift blocks, add-a-leaves or new, replacement springs. Kits for late-model F-250 and F-350 Super Dutys, meanwhile, feature a nine- or 10-pack leaf spring up front. Over-compression is prevented with a new track-bar bracket and front compression travel-stop relocation brackets. Longer radius arms are added to the 4-inch kit, a new pitman arm and add-a-leaves (for the rear) complete the 6-inch kit. The 8-inch lift includes those components, plus relocation brackets for the rear compression stops, front brake hose relocation hardware and 4-inch blocks plus rear add-a-leaves.Optional accessories: Adjustable track bars, extended-length rubber brake hoses, add-a-leaves, body lifts, steering stabilizers, dual-shock kits and an assortment of corrective steering parts.
More info: Black Diamond, 274 Huey Lenard Loop Rd., West Monroe, LA 71292, 866/680-6666, www.blackdiamondoffroad.com.
Full Traction
Kits available: 3
What they fit: F-250/F-350 Super Duty and 4WD Excursion
Inches of lift: 4, 6, 8
Maximum tire diameter: 33-39 (depending on kit and application)
Kit details: Full-Traction Suspension kits include three-way adjustable front track-bar relocation brackets, drop pitman arm, center-carrier support spacer, antiroll-bar end links, front and rear shocks, front urethane bumpstops and rear springs or lift blocks. The company offers front multileaf progressive-rate leaf springs for increased payload capacity. Other features include nylon anti-friction pads and double military-wrapped spring eyes. Pre-installed OEM-style rubber vulcanized bushings also included. All components come powdercoated with plated hardware.
Optional accessories: Dual steering stabilizer, dual shock hoop, 9-way adjustable shocks
More info: Full Traction, 6951 McDivitt Dr., Bakersfield, CA 93313, 800/255-6464, www.full-traction.com.
RCD
Kits available: 4
What it fits: '97-'03 F-150 (5-inch), '99-'03 F-250/F-350 (4-, 6-inch), '99-'02 Ranger
Inches of lift: 4-6
Kit details: RCD's Ford kits each include either Bilstein monotube gas shocks or zinc-plated 5100 Series monotube gas shocks. The 5-inch kit for the late-model F-150 features a replacement cast-iron steering knuckle, a heavy-duty two-piece lower subframe assembly, polished stainless steel anti-compression struts and zinc-plated billet steel antisway bar links. According to RCD this kit will require no driveshaft modifications. For late-model Super Dutys, RCD offers two sizes, a 4-inch or 6-inch lift kit. These include two replacement leaf springs that feature nylon anti-friction pads and military wrap eyelets. Other components included for the Super Duty are a 3/8-inch track-bar relocation bracket, extended antiroll-bar relocation brackets and a dropped pitman arm. Rear lift is achieved using lift blocks with a factory-style bumpstop wing. The Ranger kit replaces the factory torsion bar system with Bilstein coilover shock absorbers. The complete system includes replacement steering knuckles, a two-piece lower subframe assembly, antiroll-bar links and anti-compression struts. RCD says this kit retains the OE steering parts, so no drop-down steering components are used.
Optional accessories: Front multi-shock system, skidplates, rear traction arm system, front light bar hoop, shackle leveling kit.
More info: RCD, 3552 Fowler Canyon Rd., Jamul, CA 91935, 619/588-4723, www.racecardynamics.com.
Jack-It
Kits available: 1
What it fits: '99-'03 Super Duty F-250/F-350
Inches of lift: 2 1/2
Maximum tire diameter: 34
Kit details: Jack-It has a complete 2 1/2-inch Super Duty leveling kit. The Premium Package includes progressive front leaf packs, an adjustable track bar, front and rear heavy-duty shocks, a heavy-duty steering stabilizer, front U-bolts, center-pin bolts and hardware. The pictured kit is for the '00-and-newer F-350 Super Duty (gas or diesel). Kits are also available for the F-250. They are identical to the F-350 kit but they include rear add-a-leaves.
Optional accessories: Dual steering stabilizer, shocks, adjustable track bar.
More info: Jack-It, 1812 West 3500 South, No. 1, West Valley City, UT 84119, 888/4-JACKIT, www.jackit.com.
James Duff
Kits available: 4 sizes in three stages
What they fit: '83-'97 Ranger, '84-'90 Bronco II/'91-'94 Explorer (2-, 3-, 3 1/2-, 3 1/2+ body lift)
Inches of lift: 2-5 1/2
Maximum tire diameter: 31-34 (depending on kit and application)
Kit details: Bronco specialist James Duff uses a stage system so that each phase can be transformed into the next by adding the additional components without purchasing a completely new system each time you want to upgrade. Entry-level kits feature progressive-rate springs and 70/30 auto-adjust shocks, axle-pivot drop brackets, radius-arm drop brackets, radius-arm bushings, add-a-leaves (or 1-inch blocks for the Ranger SuperCab), rear-axle U-bolts, polyurethane coil pads, leveling spacer and lift shackles (for the Explorer only). Stage 2 kits feature dual shocks and long-link radius arms that replace the drop brackets from Stage 1. Stage 3 adds leaf springs. For more clearance, kits can be ordered with a 2-inch body lift. In addition, some applications incorporate flares to cover large tires.
Optional accessories: Extended brake lines, extended e-brake cables, drop pitman arm, tubular radius arms with rod-end pivots, heavy-duty transmission crossmember, long-travel shock mounts and extended heavy-duty driveshafts.
More info: James Duff, 261340 Hwy 101, Sequim, WA 98382, 360/683-2160, www.jamesduff.com.
Tuff Country
Kits available: 4
What they fit: '80-'97 F-250 (4-inch), '81-'96 F-150/Bronco (4-inch), '99-'02 Super Duty (211/42-, 5-inch)
Inches of lift: 211/42-5
Maximum tire diameter: 31-36 (depending on kit and application)
Kit details: Tuff Country kits feature axle-pivot brackets that use a camber adjustable bolt. This bolt allows 2 1/2 degrees of positive or negative camber to make wheel alignment easier. For early F-250s, Tuff Country kits feature front leaf springs, the axle-pivot brackets with adjustment bolts, antiroll-bar drop brackets, relocating brackets for the brake line and a 4-inch block and add-a-leaves for the rear. The 4-inch kit for F-150s/Broncos has front coil springs, radius-arm brackets and extended radius arms, the axle-pivot bracket with camber bolt, antiroll-bar drop brackets and rear add-a-leaves. The 2 1/2-inch kit Tuff Country developed for '99-'02 Super Duty is a leveling kit, so it uses leaf packs that are added to the front leaf springs. Extended U-bolts and an upper track-bar relocating bracket are also included. According to the company, you can retain your factory shocks with this kit. Tuff Country's other kit for the Super Duty is a 5-inch-lift kit that gets its height courtesy of EZ Ride front leaf springs. Other components include a track-bar relocating bracket with a camber adjustment bolt, antiroll-bar end links, brake-line relocating brackets and, for the rear, 5 1/2-inch blocks and add-a-leaves.
Optional accessories: Ladder bars, daul or triple shock hoop
More info: Tuff Country, 4165 W. Nike Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84088, 800/288-2190, www.tuffcountry.com.