I am in the same boat. I have a 73 uncut bronco and want to use either the wild horse 2.5 or 3.5 suspension on it. What are the down sides and additional work you have to do for a 3.5 suspension. I want to be able to fit 33x10.50 tires on it, would that be possible for a 2.5 and a 3.5 lift?
Hey Wingo. Not so much "downside" as just the extra work (and associated expense of course!) of additional parts to make the rig maintain a more stock-ish feel. Mostly in the steering department.
1. That would be a dropped pitman arm and dropped trackbar bracket for starters.
2. Then, if needed or desired, an adjustable trackbar to fine-tune the axle's side-to-side position. Not critical, but an option.
3. Another option would be an adjustable draglink. While the dropped pitman arm will get your steering back close to center, it's sometimes necessary to fine-tune your on-center positioning. And that takes an adjustable draglink.
Neither of those two are "required" but can benefit either a 2.5 or 3.5 equipped EB.
4. Longer brake lines go from a desirable option to a necessity with a 3.5.
5. For street use, you can get away with the stock parking brake cables. But for wheeling you must swap in longer ones.
Driveshafts should not need to be changed for a 3.5" lift, but every once in awhile it's needed. If you haven't seen it here yet, we talk a lot about "every Bronco being different" and that's why what is only an option for one Bronco will be mandatory for another, or not even desirable for yet another.
That's about it from what I can pull off the top of my head. Mostly it's fine-tuning a vehicle that you're modifying away from stock, to bring it back to it's safe and comfortable performance levels. Just like changing diff gearing when going to larger tires. It will work without it, but it's
SO MUCH better when you make the commitment to do it right.
Paul
