TN_Ryan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2024
- Threads
- 14
- Messages
- 123
- Reaction score
- 209
- Location
- Chattanooga, TN
- Vehicles
- 2021 F150 XLT RCSB Oxford White
- Thread starter
- #1
Figured I'd go ahead and post this in case anyone else was considering ditching the leaf springs on their truck. I knew from the start that I wanted something different...I've had several high horsepower trucks dating back to the late 90's. And leaf springs with traction bars always seemed to be a compromise to me...I didn't care for the look, didn't care for the ride quality, and to be honest...it just felt like wagon technology of yesteryear.
A couple of buddies of mine down in FL had some pretty fast Lightnings back in the day, and they all went 4-link and never looked back. So I figured I'd give it a go since this truck is a weekend warrior. (Although, Raul of Twisted Metalworkz says he has customers that tow with their 4-link trucks all the time without issue with the addition of some helper air bags). I have another truck that tows all the other toys...so that wasn't a concern for me.
After making a few phone calls to Twisted Metalworkz and speaking with Raul, I was sold. He is very friendly and answers questions almost any time of the day and night. His customer service was outstanding...I will say though, the kit does not come with instructions, so basic fabrication skills are needed. The layout of the kit isn't the hard part, it's all pretty self explanatory. The hard part is installing the C-Notch due to the frame stiffening plates that Ford welds around the frame in the area that the C-Notch needs to be installed. Removing those frame stiffening plates was not my idea of fun! Luckily, I did this during winter and didn't really have anything else better to do...
The kit came with pretty much everything I needed to install, one thing to note...this is NOT a bolt-on kit, it requires permanent modifications to the frame. You will have to remove the front leaf hangers along with the passenger side shock mount at the least. So proceed at your own risk! I decided to go with the street kit, it does not have the bar angle adjustability the drag kit does. But it does come with Delrin bushings on all the bar ends...which I was more interested in since this is mostly a street truck. The kit came with 10" 300lb springs with the Viking coil over shocks, since my truck is not as low as others, I felt the supplied coil overs were too short and the springs were too stiff. If going for the slammed look, then the supplied coil overs may be perfect. A phone call to Viking resulted in a much longer coil over which allowed me to gain a ton of travel back, along with lighter springs. I now run 14" 150lb springs, I must say...the ride quality is something I never expected to achieve with a truck. It rides like a sport truck should! The rear end is some much more planted now, and having the adjustability of the Viking coil overs is a huge plus. I have around 1000 miles on the setup now, and I must admit, I couldn't be happier.
A couple of buddies of mine down in FL had some pretty fast Lightnings back in the day, and they all went 4-link and never looked back. So I figured I'd give it a go since this truck is a weekend warrior. (Although, Raul of Twisted Metalworkz says he has customers that tow with their 4-link trucks all the time without issue with the addition of some helper air bags). I have another truck that tows all the other toys...so that wasn't a concern for me.
After making a few phone calls to Twisted Metalworkz and speaking with Raul, I was sold. He is very friendly and answers questions almost any time of the day and night. His customer service was outstanding...I will say though, the kit does not come with instructions, so basic fabrication skills are needed. The layout of the kit isn't the hard part, it's all pretty self explanatory. The hard part is installing the C-Notch due to the frame stiffening plates that Ford welds around the frame in the area that the C-Notch needs to be installed. Removing those frame stiffening plates was not my idea of fun! Luckily, I did this during winter and didn't really have anything else better to do...
The kit came with pretty much everything I needed to install, one thing to note...this is NOT a bolt-on kit, it requires permanent modifications to the frame. You will have to remove the front leaf hangers along with the passenger side shock mount at the least. So proceed at your own risk! I decided to go with the street kit, it does not have the bar angle adjustability the drag kit does. But it does come with Delrin bushings on all the bar ends...which I was more interested in since this is mostly a street truck. The kit came with 10" 300lb springs with the Viking coil over shocks, since my truck is not as low as others, I felt the supplied coil overs were too short and the springs were too stiff. If going for the slammed look, then the supplied coil overs may be perfect. A phone call to Viking resulted in a much longer coil over which allowed me to gain a ton of travel back, along with lighter springs. I now run 14" 150lb springs, I must say...the ride quality is something I never expected to achieve with a truck. It rides like a sport truck should! The rear end is some much more planted now, and having the adjustability of the Viking coil overs is a huge plus. I have around 1000 miles on the setup now, and I must admit, I couldn't be happier.
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