Hey joebronco, welcome to classicbroncos. Well, a little late maybe, as it looks like you've been posting a bit already, but not sure if I'd said anything before.
Can you show us pics of what is being sold? Or give a full description of brand and age and such? Specifically the rear springs are the most important part that might have changed, or even if not older, can still make or break your happiness with the product.
Other than that info, a lot depends on what you intend to do with the Bronco. A 2.5" height increase is a great look for the EB's, and can perform very well too.
If no off-roading is in your future, then you probably do not need longer brake hoses for the axles. But if you need to replace yours anyway, due to age or damage, then getting the slightly longer ones for a lift would be prudent.
You don't "need" to change the steering linkage, but here again, if you're going to for age or damage reasons, most definitely upgrade to a beefier, better and just more adjustable setup such as this: (shameless plug to follow)
http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Tie_Rod_Drag_Link_3way_Adjustable_6675yr
Depends too on what size tire and wheel combo you're planning.
Power steering or no? If not, in the near future perhaps? This can determine the C-bushing offset to get.
You should replace the C-bushings up front while you're at the suspension lift, but if yours have already been done, well, that might or might not make a difference.
For a '73 with power steering though, I would put 7° bushings in even with just a 2.5" lift.
The steering linkage mentioned above gets you an adjustable draglink, which is something I consider a critical component. A not-quite-as-critical, but still good to have component would be an adjustable trackbar.
Not required, but a nice way to perfectly center your axle if the drop bracket doesn't do it.
And speaking of which... Even though most still consider a dropped pitman arm and dropped trackbar bracket non-essential until you get to 3.5" of lift, I recommend them. You can still feel the difference a 2.5" lift makes on the street (don't feel it on the trail, just the street) and these two components are there to correct that.
And if you're more used to newer vehicles and not older trucks, you'll appreciate this.
Sounds like you've had EB's before though, so likely you're famiilar with how they drive.
To the shocks, again it depends on what you want to accomplish and what your budget is. Right now, for my money and because WE sell them at WH so I don't know the same detail of other brands, I can happily recommend the slightly more expensive Bilstein shocks over our own brand and the Ranchos we sell.
They seem custom tailored to our lifts and 2.5" road manners. More than our own shocks, but still $15 less per shock than the Rancho 9000's, they're a great bang-for-the-buck product.
So that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. Any further info needs more info on your part. Let us know what you're wanting to do, and what exactly you're looking at buying.
That's about it.
Paul
