Lowering a RCSB 4x4 2/3 or 3.5 or whatever it ends up being

[GOMR]

Has anyone removed the rear fiber overload spring? It appears to be roughly 1" thick at the center and I doubt I actually pull anything heavy enough to use it.

I recently purchased a 2024 f150 RCSB 5.0 4x4 fully intending to lower it some. On the ride home after taking delivery, I knew I was going to have to do something fast as this thing rides higher stock than most 3/4 ton trucks of previous generations. After countless hours of searching the internets, Instas and spacebooks, numerous googlies looking pics of different lowered trucks looking for the stance I wanted, reading, reading again, and re reading long threads on this forum and ones like it, I have come to the conclusion that the only way I'm going to get 4" of rear drop is to either have the rear springs de-arched or come up with some kind of longer lifting front spring hanger with a flip kit and lifting shackles. So, for now, being that I'm not sure if I'll be happy with 2/3whatever this thing ends up dropping and may go with something different in the future. I have decided it's best to initially lower my truck with minimal expense. This is a daily and I use it as a truck, so I don't mind a little bit of rake for when I'm pulling a trailer or hauling something in the bed. I can't go super low as I still need to traverse deer lease roads so I'm hoping to find a happy medium.

So far, the truck has roughly 9.5" of fender well in the rear and 6.5" in the front. To make swapping parts on my limited timeframe quicker, I sourced some take off 4x4 front struts to experiment cutting the springs with. Yes, I know the 2wd struts will give 1" of drop but it seems those are harder to come by. I got these struts off the Spacebooks market palace for an even hundo. I also sourced some 2wd rear u bolts and bump stops for a cool fiddy doll hairs, I also picked up some 2" rear drop shackles of the amazons along with some 2.5 degree shims for roughly 76 bucks before tax. I'm into a bottom dollar drop kit for roughly 226, even lower if I resell my original struts for what I paid for these. I can live with spending that kind of money for an experiment. Especially being that I'll be confident in buying nicer lowering parts in the future to replace the originals with knowing I'm going like the drop I end up with.

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[Jmet8]

Hi I have a 3/5 IHC Ride quality kit on mine. Mine is 4x4 5.0 The hight is just right when you get in and out with out having to jump up in or lower your self down. I have there helper bags to so I can haul mulch or tow somthing with out it squatting.. if you can get the front control arms for up front is where you will see the best as ride for a dairy driver as they will put the front end geometry back in to spec so it want eat tires like with just shocks. On the helper bags I run 15 psi every day then last week I had 47 bags of mulch back there I put 37 psi in them the truck didn’t sag at all.

 

[Dale B]

I installed the Ridetech 3/5.5 lowering kit on my 2024 RCSB 4x4 5.0 shortly after I got it this spring. I added the rear swaybar and airbags from Ridetech that were designed for the kit as well. I am very pleased with it. The handling is much improved over stock and I bet that the airbags have increased my load capacity yet my center of gravity has dropped 4”. I left the helper springs in place, but may remove them.

I have had no clearance issues at all. I can get in and out of the truck and bed without running boards or steps and I can check my oil without a stepladder. I don’t understand why the factory puts such a lift on a short wheelbase vehicle.

 

[GOMR]

Thanks for the replies. I just think the 3/5 is going to be a bit too low for me. I should add that Im probably going to be running a 33" tall tire as opposed to the factory 31.6" tall tires so going lower in the future may be when I end up doing. But for now, im going to see what a 2/3whatever does.

Im still really interested to see what removing the rear helper spring deal does. I may be doing that to see.

 

[JamieV]

Funny thing I considered removing the block and the composite leaf also. But after installing the ford drop shackles I quickly realized I could never get it low enough to look right.

I just installed the Ridetech 3/5 kit on mine and I think it’s fine (not too low)I went to some take off F150 wheels that are 32.8” tall.

here are some pictures for you.

 

[NavyChief]

Ridetech is adjustable

 

[NavyChief]

@Dale B where in GA?

 

[GOMR]

Funny thing I considered removing the block and the composite leaf also. But after installing the ford drop shackles I quickly realized I could never get it low enough to look right.

I just installed the Ridetech 3/5 kit on mine and I think it’s fine (not too low)I went to some take off F150 wheels that are 32.8” tall.

here are some pictures for you.

What drop was the second pic?

 

[GOMR]

Ridetech is adjustable

Im probably going to go with a nicer front strut like the ride tech later. the rear is my main concern but if I can achieve slightly higher than the stance of the second pic JAMIE V posted Id be happy. Just want to drop it down some and take out some of the rake.

 

[JamieV]

What drop was the second pic?

2nd & 3rd pic are the same just different wheels/tires.
Ridetech kit give 4 settings in the rear (via drop shackle) each one gives about 1/2” difference. I am at the second to highest (which is the same as the stock shackle)

 

[GOMR]

Ridetech is adjustable

Thats the advertised drop for a 2wd is my guess, especially when you compare to similar kits. 4wd will be a larger drop because you're starting higher to begin with. In the rear you're moving the axle from under the springs and 1.5" block to the top of the springs rather than just from under the springs with no block. It would be rear 5-7.5" for me. The front drop measurements would be different as well since the 2wd and 4wd front struts have different lower spring perch locations. More than likely the front for a 4wd would be -2.5"-4"

 

[Dale B]

@Dale B where in GA?

I live in Danielsville, about 17 miles from Athens.
FYI, I put mine on the lowest setting. The air bags allow you to easily adjust the rear height if you need to move it up or down.

 

[NavyChief]

I live in Danielsville, about 17 miles from Athens.

Bummer, I have the kit coming but I’m in Hinesville at the moment so too far away to recruit you lol.

@GOMR I think with the Maxtech shackle along with removing the axle block nets about 2.5” and I think there is a shackle the can get you to 3” with some trimming of the bottom of the bed.

 

[1slo5oh]

I have the ridetech kit and love it. I started out with it on the lowest setting then bumped it up one hole on the rear shackle and adjusted the coil overs to level it out and think it's perfect for me now. I have only had it a month so haven't hauled much but did load it up with a couch and junk to make a dump run and didn't bottom out on the stops at any point which honestly surprised me especially since they didn't let me dump in the rolloffs and made me truck it off road to unload in the landfill. I will be adding the helper bags for piece of mind later down the road though.

 

[TN_Ryan]

I have the ridetech kit and love it. I started out with it on the lowest setting then bumped it up one hole on the rear shackle and adjusted the coil overs to level it out and think it's perfect for me now. I have only had it a month so haven't hauled much but did load it up with a couch and junk to make a dump run and didn't bottom out on the stops at any point which honestly surprised me especially since they didn't let me dump in the rolloffs and made me truck it off road to unload in the landfill. I will be adding the helper bags for piece of mind later down the road though.

Do you get any vibrations above 65 MPH? Is your truck 4X4?

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