Lifting my 04 ST XLT

[sakirfp]

I would like to lift my 04 ST 1.5 to 2 inches and put some bigger tires on it..Now I mostly use this truck for road driving. I just want a bigger look for it..

Where can I start?

Tires?
Shocks?
Springs?

 

[chad551]

Torsion twist and shackles, will get you about 1.5-2" of lift.

 

[FUN LS1]

Torsion twist and shackles, will get you about 1.5-2" of lift.

But then don't you just top out your suspension?

 

[chad551]

I dont think so, I still had plenty of suspension.

 

[Project_Sparta]

with a TT it will top out your suspension, in my experience, HARD bumps, and you feel everything. It takes the travel out of your suspension. BTW Forsyth? I used to live in Rockdale cty, and gwinnett county.

 

[JohnnyO]

Only if you max out the torsion bars. Simply don't max them out. 1.5" or less and it will be fine. Done it on an '02 Ranger and '05 Sport Trac, no problems.
New shocks are a given anyway. Stockers are so soft that I would call them unsafe.

 

[Project_Sparta]

Yea i should have mentioned that. thanks Johnnyo

 

[brianjwilson]

My measured downtravel (stock) was only 2.5" in the front. Crank them for 1.5" lift and all you have left is 1" of downtravel. You will top on driving over potholes and sewer grates, coming out of driveways, etc.
Tons of people do it, but I didn't like it much on my ranger, and I only did 1-1.5" on it.
Yours is 2wd right? Spend a few more dollars and do it right. Buy a spindle lift (3"), and install a warrior rear lift shackle (1.5" of lift). It will sit level and ride like stock. Better shocks are good too.

 

[FUN LS1]

My measured downtravel (stock) was only 2.5" in the front. Crank them for 1.5" lift and all you have left is 1" of downtravel. You will top on driving over potholes and sewer grates, coming out of driveways, etc.
Tons of people do it, but I didn't like it much on my ranger, and I only did 1-1.5" on it.
Yours is 2wd right? Spend a few more dollars and do it right. Buy a spindle lift (3"), and install a warrior rear lift shackle (1.5" of lift). It will sit level and ride like stock. Better shocks are good too.

Do you have links for those kits?
The warrior and spindle lift I mean.

 

[brianjwilson]

Shackles http://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Products-WAR153-Rear-Shackles/dp/B000FPYDVW
They measure 1.5" lift compared to my stock sport trac shackles. I ordered them elsewhere but it's the same part number.
For the spindle lift, you'll need a 01+ ranger edge 2wd spindle lift (same as sport trac 2wd suspension), I believe fabtech makes a kit, as do some other manufacturers. I have no experience with them personally.

 

[sakirfp]

What are some good shocks?

How about Tire and rim size...

 

[JohnnyO]

I put Monroe Sensa Tracs on my '05 and thought they were fine. Other people like the Monroe Reflex which is a little bit stiffer and costs a little more.
In your case I'd recommend a 15x8 rim with 3.75" backspace and a 32x11.50-15 tire.

 

[TacosSportTrac]

If you put longer shocks, would that cancell out the travel taken up by the tt? Or just throw everything out of alignment? Im trying to do the same to my '04 4wd.

 

[JohnnyO]

Longer shocks are not needed with a TT and won't make any difference anyway. The travel on the Ford IFS is limited by the geometry, not the shocks or torsion bars.
When you do a TT all you are really doing is adjusting the suspension downward and what you lose in downtravel you gain in uptravel (not necessarily a good thing).
The Superlift kit lowers the mounting points of the front suspension and differential to lift the truck but does not change anything in the travel because, again, it is limited by the suspension geometry.

 

[N2FORD]

Not trying to argue with what you are saying but when I did my TT I was topping out my shocks. I tried to find longer shocks but could not. So I made an extension for the top that gave me another inch or so and it made a big difference in the way it rode. That was my experience on my 01 4x4 with enought TT to get 33's on it.

 

[sakirfp]

I am not sure where I found this pictures..but I would like my 04 ST to look like this one..I do not want to go any bigger than this..I do not know if there was a body kit lift or just a suspension kit or both.

 

[JohnnyO]

I will defer to Johnstone if he weighs in, but to me it looks like a TT/shackle lift with maybe 32x11.50-15 tires on 15x8's. I say this because given that there is a front grille guard that bolts to the tow hook brackets, the valance would be FUBAR'd if it had a body lift.
.02.

 

[TacosSportTrac]

Not trying to argue with what you are saying but when I did my TT I was topping out my shocks. I tried to find longer shocks but could not. So I made an extension for the top that gave me another inch or so and it made a big difference in the way it rode. That was my experience on my 01 4x4 with enought TT to get 33's on it.

so, n2ford, your saying that by adding the spacer to your shocks, you improved the ride quality, even though technically the travel was the same because you had the same lower control arm?

 

[Sams01XplrSprt]

sakirfp

where u find pics of that sport trac it looks like my friend kevins sport trac and he lives in michigan

 

[N2FORD]

Yes, thats what I am saying. I can tell a difference over speed bumps and dips in the road. You may not agree but to me it allows the lower control arm a little more drop before topping the shock out. The sway bar links seem to be the limiting factor now. I have bent 2 and broken 1 end link so far. I also had longer shocks on my 91 X when I put the taller springs in it. It did make a difference on it also. Anyone else try longer shocks?