Does the 9.5” ratchet strap height the right number for the 2.5” suspension lift?
Yes. All based on the approximation of 7" front and 6" rear for stock height Broncos. Variations exist of course, but keep initial calculations to within a half-inch of that either way and you're usually good to go.
Just run the straps over the frame and under the radius arms near the coils?
Yep.
I was trying to stay away from the drop bracket as I heard it causes problems with the TRO, but it does look like a riser-drop combo might be best.
Still a possibility, which is why I mentioned a custom drop bracket, or an off-the-shelf model that's a little shorter. The Duff one that was shown in another image is a good start. But also companies like Ruff Stuff Specialties probably have something that would work.
You might still run afoul of what owners of lifts of more than 3.5" run into. And that's where you might have to custom make your own, or take an existing one and cut it down and drill some new holes in order to put the two bars as parallel to each other as possible, without having too much drop bracket that might interfere with the tie-rod.
Lots of leeway, but lots of possibility of rubbing with off-the-shelf parts too, which is why companies like us will err to the cautious side and recommend a little more lift.
It's not that we prefer selling you a 3.5 over a 2.5 inch lift. Just that some people do actually run into trouble with the shorter lift, so we have to mention it in basic terms.
But the fact that some members here have installed them on 2.5" lifts too, means it can be done.
But it would be nicer to hear from them directly, and see what they had to do (if anything) to guarantee the fit.
Oh, and the other reason is that we still think in terms of hard core four-wheeling. That means long wheel travel and using it to it's max sometimes. More than likely a Bronco that never sees a country road is not as likely to run into interference issues either.
So there's that...
The shortest drop bracket I could find was 3.5” from JBG so I ordered that and the WH riser.
Sounds good. And if it's possible, as mentioned don't hesitate to drill a new hole higher up in the drop bracket to facilitate a better geometry result.
Not so far. But a lot is still changing.
As of last week we had not been told to close, and for our business it's not as likely. But you never know. They're getting more and more adamant that people stay home unless their work is critical. And what with all the hoopla surrounding the whole Florida beach/Spring Break fiascos and the press they are getting, I would not be at all surprised to hear someone telling everybody to take their toys and go home!
I believe all the shipping companies are at full capacity, delivering everything and it's brother and then some, and cranking out more jobs than you can shake a stick at. But if they make the source shipper close, there won't be a whole lot the shipping companies can do about delivering parts that don't exist.
I can just see the Far Side cartoon now. UPS driver at the big metal roll-up door, leaning their forehead against it in a depressed manner, and banging weakly on it for someone to come out and play.
Guess we'll see Monday which way the wind blows.
Stay tuned.
Paul
