IHC 4/6 kit questions?

[The_Auto_Tech]

Anyone running the IHC 4/6 kit and run into issues with the axle hitting the frame? Also, are there any kits that lower more than 4/6? Just curious as I know there is a frame notch kit available from VAS that says it's for 6"-8" drops. Thanks!

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[The_Auto_Tech]

Wanted to update this - apparently if you have the stock rear spring shackle, the 4/6 kit ends up being a 7" drop in the rear, which would probably explain why the axle was hitting the frame so easily, especially when there was any sort of weight in the bed.

 

[Jmet8]

Hi I know that the 4x4 single cabs can only go 3/5 because any thing lower the transfer case will bump on to the bottom of the cab At the back . Saw YouTube shop cut out a piece of the cab so they could run 4/6 . Once the interior was back in you couldn’t tell.

 

[Graygoose2021]

want lowered and custom, these guys do amazing SEMA builds.

https://phatphabz.com/

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

Hi I know that the 4x4 single cabs can only go 3/5 because any thing lower the transfer case will bump on to the bottom of the cab At the back . Saw YouTube shop cut out a piece of the cab so they could run 4/6 . Once the interior was back in you couldn’t tell.

Interesting! I didn't know that was an issue. I've got a 2WD truck, so I didn't know that would be a problem.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

want lowered and custom, these guys do amazing SEMA builds.

https://phatphabz.com/

That would be awesome if I was going to build something I didn't drive every day and in the snow/salt! Haha I assumed if you wanted it to lay frame yes, you would need to do some massive modifications. I'm mostly just concerned with going as low as possible without running into a bunch of clearance issues on things.

I assumed you couldn't get a taller shackle for the back without cutting the bed cross support based on the clearance the Ridetech shackle has and how close it is to that bed support. I think I had read somewhere about having to do that with the Maxtrac shackle. Also, I hadn't considered that the pinion angle correction numbers in the Ridetech instructions only applying to the current leaf spring setup, because obviously it would change depending on the angle of the leaf spring.

Something I was thinking about - what if I were to pull the traction bars and remove the front leaf spring bracket from the Ridetech kit and install it back into the factory location? Could the IHC or VAS traction bars be installed instead then? I'm assuming that would lower it quite a bit since the front leaf spring bracket brings the leaf spring downwards a good 2"?

 

[Jmet8]

I would look up ondegas on YouTube they build a ton of these trucks in tx . There are some speed shops in Houston that would be able to tell if that combo would work.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

I would look up ondegas on YouTube they build a ton of these trucks in tx . There are some speed shops in Houston that would be able to tell if that combo would work.

I watched a bunch of their videos over the last week, and from what I can see they are running either VAS 3/5 kits, or they are full custom welded up rear ends with ladder bars, etc. One of the custom builders on there said that you can't get the 15+ trucks that low without a lot of modification. The other thing they mentioned is that due to the wheel well openings being so big on the F-150 that they end up not looking as low as other trucks too.

From what I understand a 4/6 setup is the max you can go without the axle basically sitting on the frame, and without helper bags you're going to run into issues with the axle hitting the frame. I've heard from others with the 4/6 kit they ran into this issue too, especially with any weight in the bed at all. It would require a C-notch on the frame to fix the issue of the axle hitting the frame. At that point I guess most people would say it's worth going all out to get it on air ride if you're gonna be cutting and welding on the frame and axle.

 

[NavyChief]

This was my 22 4x4 with the 3/6 (used stock shackle). I did have the airbag kit installed. Second pic is 1300lbs of wheelchairs in the bed. Never bottomed out or hit the Tcase. I did not like the IHC kit so my next one will be different. I imagine the weight of the supercharger dropped my front a little as well.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

This was my 22 4x4 with the 3/6 (used stock shackle). I did have the airbag kit installed. Second pic is 1300lbs of wheelchairs in the bed. Never bottomed out or hit the Tcase. I did not like the IHC kit so my next one will be different. I imagine the weight of the supercharger dropped my front a little as well.

IHC has two different kits they offer for the 4x4, but they're both listed as a 3x5 kit. For the 4x2 they have the 4/6 kit. That may be why you didn't have bottoming out issues compared to my truck besides just having the air bags in back. I think the 4/6 kit was fine for the price, but the Ridetech kit is infinitely nicer.

 

[NavyChief]

IHC has two different kits they offer for the 4x4, but they're both listed as a 3x5 kit. For the 4x2 they have the 4/6 kit. That may be why you didn't have bottoming out issues compared to my truck besides just having the air bags in back. I think the 4/6 kit was fine for the price, but the Ridetech kit is infinitely nicer.

Yea it was the 3/5 using the stock shackle made it 3/6. Ridetech is the kit I’m doing next as it uses the stock lower control arm which is way better than the IHC one as it uses the ball joint from like a 2000s Chevy. Has major issues with the nut galling on the threads and they don’t have replacements. Had to fab one myself.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

Yea it was the 3/5 using the stock shackle made it 3/6. Ridetech is the kit I’m doing next as it uses the stock lower control arm which is way better than the IHC one as it uses the ball joint from like a 2000s Chevy. Has major issues with the nut galling on the threads and they don’t have replacements. Had to fab one myself.

I too did not really like the control arm setup on the IHC kit. I understand the idea was to try and keep the ride stock by using the stock spring and shock, but the way it relocated the suspension geometry I don't think was ideal at all. I also didn't like that they needed to use a sleeve insert to take up the slack in the control arm hole for the ball joint, or the fact the nut engagement was so short either. The Ridetech components are MUCH more quality, I can definitely say that, they just don't go as low as the 4/6 kit.

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