2.5" or 3.5" lift

[kcc0521]

I am trying to decide if I should go with a 2.5" or 3.5" suspension lift on my 74 bronco. I already have a 1" body lift and cut out fenders. I have 32x11.50 tires and it will see limited off-road. I am curious how many additional changes are required when bumping up to 3.5" lift.

 

[bronconut73]

Here's the thing...

You can skip some stuff like drop bracket and drop pitman with a 2.5".
But the 2.5" works alot better with the two items above....So no real cost savings...

No need to really go 3.5" with your set up but you won't save anything but a little caster....

 

[savage]

I think the 2.5 and your 1 inch body lift is a great combo, plus you have the fender cut out's. So if you want to bigger tire's , you should be ok.

 

[Joe473]

I am trying to decide if I should go with a 2.5" or 3.5" suspension lift on my 74 bronco. I already have a 1" body lift and cut out fenders. I have 32x11.50 tires and it will see limited off-road. I am curious how many additional changes are required when bumping up to 3.5" lift.

If you are cut already and you have the body lift I would just do the 2.5 for that size tire. Check some old threads on here. With a cut 3.5" and 1" BL I think you would need 35's to look good.

Chuck Tom's duck build. I think that's 3.5 +1 with 35's and looks real good.

All depends on tire and wheel combo too. I'm stock height uncut with 1" BL 30x9.50's on stock steel.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Timmy390]

3.5 SL's often require more caster than you can get with just C bushings. The fix for that is the cut the front axle "C's" and rotate them to get more caster or drop radius arm brackets. You'll also need longer brake lines from the body to the axles.

You can get away without an adjustable track bar with 2.5 but for a 3.5, you're probably going to need one to get the body centered.

I run a 2.5 and use 7 degree C bushings, drop pitman arm, drop T-bar mount and adjustable T-bar. Drives like a dream at any speed. Running 31's now but will be going 33's or 34's very soon. I'm cut in the rear but plan to do grafter rear quarters this coming winter.

Tim

 

[kcc0521]

If the 3.5" will make it drive worse that would be a deal breaker for me. After i work all the bugs out of it I plan to drive it a lot. I doubt I will ever want to go bigger than 33x12.50 tires.

 

[Glass Pony]

If the 3.5" will make it drive worse that would be a deal breaker for me. After i work all the bugs out of it I plan to drive it a lot. I doubt I will ever want to go bigger than 33x12.50 tires.

If that is the biggest tire size you see in the future, the 2-1/2"sl with your 1" bl is a great way to go.

 

[73azbronco]

Not considering looks or tire size or cut, use the smallest lift which works. Unless you want it higher for looks. JMHO.

1bl, 2.5sl is sweet spot I think, more only if you push 37's or other reasons, I have 2bl for nv and I could have just went 1.

 

[sprdv1]

stick w/the 2.5 if you aren't going any taller in tires... 3.5 and up if you gonna wheel it

 

[SHX669]

No one mentioned this and not trying to " get personal" - LOL - but ; how tall are you and how old are you ? - LOL
I'm not sure about the 1" change in height but our '76 is exactly 2" taller than our '68 - and FOR ME - It's a Pain in the A** 2" - harder to get in ,harder to adjust idle on carb , harder to check oil ,harder to reach in from outside and get stuff and etc.

 

[Bronco Junkie]

here's the thing...

You can skip some stuff like drop bracket and drop pitman with a 2.5".
But the 2.5" works alot better with the two items above....so no real cost savings...

No need to really go 3.5" with your set up but you won't save anything but a little caster....

x2.............

 

[kcc0521]

I am 5'10'' and 37. I am not worried about climbing in the truck. I think I am just going with a 2.5". The truck currently has 2.5" in the rear with added leaf and the stock front. I am thinking about going with a whole new kit to try to get it to ride better. It currently rides like a go-cart.

 

[bronconut73]

You're in VA, Duff's is fairly close.
Get a kit from Duff's.
The ride will blow your mind if your riding like a go kart now.... Seriously....

 

[LilMixedUp]

X2!! I just lowered mine from 3.5 SL and 2"BL to 2.5 SL and 1"BL. and cut fender wells and still able to run 35's with minimum front tire rub and max turn. I think you'll like the 2.5 only difference I went with Bilstein shocks on all 4 corners

 

[kcc0521]

You're in VA, Duff's is fairly close.
Get a kit from Duff's.
The ride will blow your mind if your riding like a go kart now.... Seriously....

I thought about them but their kits seem rather expensive.

 

[bronconut73]

I remember thinking that about 30 years ago...Lol...
They are alot more now but they have improved too.

I ended up buying their stuff a piece at a time.

Coils and C-bushings

Then later

Track bar drop bracket and dropped pitman arm

Later still

Rear springs..

Toyed around with shocks for awhile.
You will have to spend quite a bit of money to get a better shock than Duff's.
I am presently running XL RS9000's.
But the Bilstein shock is very very popular right now.

 

[bronconut73]

Costs will be pretty similar across the board.
Shipping is a real killer. With Duff so close by to you it will save you alot of money. If I was that close I would just drive over.

But maybe you do not know that they are the best in the business. They have been doing this since '67. Far longer than anybody else.
50 years of building eb exclusive parts.
And you live close enough to drive over.

They used to be in Washington. They were by far, the furthest eb vendor from me here in Central Florida. But I paid the big shipping costs to run Duff parts. Yes, they are "that" good.

Mike and Suzy are very active on this forum as well.
The Duff's in general are very active in the eb community. James and Judy as well.

You will not regret buying the best eb parts made, from the original eb parts supplier..

 

[BluebroncoNC]

I went 2.5 no body lift, 33" tires. Only thing I had to add was 7degrees to the rear differential to get rid of some vibration. Think it was 7 degree, somewhere on here there is a way to figure it out all technical like.

 

[kcc0521]

Costs will be pretty similar across the board.
Shipping is a real killer. With Duff so close by to you it will save you alot of money. If I was that close I would just drive over.

But maybe you do not know that they are the best in the business. They have been doing this since '67. Far longer than anybody else.
50 years of building eb exclusive parts.
And you live close enough to drive over.

They used to be in Washington. They were by far, the furthest eb vendor from me here in Central Florida. But I paid the big shipping costs to run Duff parts. Yes, they are "that" good.

Mike and Suzy are very active on this forum as well.
The Duff's in general are very active in the eb community. James and Judy as well.

You will not regret buying the best eb parts made, from the original eb parts supplier..

Duff is actually 7 hours from me so it is not worth it to drive over. I just ordered a set of their 2.5" coil springs and their 70-30 shocks. Since my bronco has and added leaf in the rear it should be level. Wen I feel like spending more money I will order a set of their 11 pack leaf springs. Thanks for all the help.

 

[bronconut73]

You will be very happy.

I bought my stuff in stages too.

I now have what is equivalent to their biggest/baddest system.

It is incredible. Especially the 11 leaf pack and the coils.
You will be very pleasantly surprised.