Suspension mods for 2WD

[The_Auto_Tech]

What version of IHC suspension kit where you running? Was it an earlier version that reused the stock front struts? Currently, their website shows a complete kit with QA1 double adjustable 4" coilovers for the front, as well as double adjustable rear shocks. I bought this kit 3 months ago, and yet to install it due to my '24 not arriving yet. I wonder if you would have raised your previous kit to a 3/5 drop, would it have handled better and avoid the axle from hitting the frame. I plan on lowering 3/5 to avoid alignment issues and harsh handling. I'll see if I need the helper bags after some driving.

I was running their 4/6 kit, which isn't adjustable, and is still available. The kit you purchased is their 3/5 performance kit, but I didn't want to run that kit as it uses the shock relocation and you have to remove the spare tire, and it's also not adjustable height in the back, just the front. I didn't feel the IHC kit was worth almost 3000 dollars for what it was.

Also, I didn't like that the traction bars hang under the leaf springs and I've been hearing about quality control issues with the QA1 shocks, and went Ridetech because they use Fox. There's also quite a few complaints about the IHC spring plates bending and breaking as well. Can't say I trust that at all.

Sponsored

 

[EL5_Zero]

I figured the IHC kit would be best for my needs since it its aimed towards drag racing and the adjustability for when not running the truck hard. Not a fan of removing the spare tire, but a small sacrifice. I plan on running a tire plug kit with compressor similar to what I run in my other F150 4x4. AAA membership also helps in case of a blowout.

In your opinion, what was worse on the IHC. Was the compression too stiff or rebound too soft, or vise versa?

 

[MGF150]

As an update to my earlier post, I installed the Ride Tech rear kit this weekend and removed the IHC kit. The ride with the new kit is much better and it has no pinion vibration. It was well worth the effort.
I now need to by two lower control arms and two knuckles so I can install the Ride Tech front kit.

If anyone wants a cheap IHC kit to try out, I will take $400.00 for it when I get the front removed.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

I figured the IHC kit would be best for my needs since it its aimed towards drag racing and the adjustability for when not running the truck hard. Not a fan of removing the spare tire, but a small sacrifice. I plan on running a tire plug kit with compressor similar to what I run in my other F150 4x4. AAA membership also helps in case of a blowout.

In your opinion, what was worse on the IHC. Was the compression too stiff or rebound too soft, or vise versa?

If that's all you want then I would have bought a VAS kit instead. There's tons of trucks running 9's which the stock shock locations with zero issues. The only reason I would do inboard shocks is if I had changed rear ends and went to a 4 link or something. The IHC kit was just low quality and rode like garbage. The only upside was that it was "cheap."

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

As an update to my earlier post, I installed the Ride Tech rear kit this weekend and removed the IHC kit. The ride with the new kit is much better and it has no pinion vibration. It was well worth the effort.
I now need to by two lower control arms and two knuckles so I can install the Ride Tech front kit.

If anyone wants a cheap IHC kit to try out, I will take $400.00 for it when I get the front removed.

Yeah, I forgot to mention mine had the pinion vibration as well with the IHC kit. What setup did you have in the front that you need to change knuckles? Ridetech uses the stock knuckles. I got lucky and the place that did the IHC kit before I bought the truck still had the stock control arms. I ended up having to just give my IHC kit away, nobody wanted it.

 

[EL5_Zero]

I'm starting to second guess my purchase

Were you guys running this kit? I can see how this kit would ride horrible.

I purchased this kit from Steeda website for 2600 shipped to my house. Price has now increased to the price shown on IHC website.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

I'm starting to second guess my purchase

Were you guys running this kit? I can see how this kit would ride horrible.

I purchased this kit from Steeda website for 2600 shipped to my house. Price has now increased to the price shown on IHC website.

Yes, I had the 4/6 kit. In theory it should ride as good as stock, but definitely not the case. It rode like crap. lol

If I wasn't doing Ridetech and just wanted something that would handle well and take track abuse but sacrifice some ride comfort, I'd just go this route:

https://www.vasfab.com/product-page/2021-f150-3-5-coil-over-kit

https://www.vasfab.com/product-page/2021-f150-traction-bar-kit

If you're going really low (6" or more) you could C-notch the frame too so the axle doesn't hit the frame, but none of the available load leveling bag kits will fit anymore as it'll just crumple the bags. I wanted to still be able to run the load leveling bags.

 

[EL5_Zero]

Yup, I considered the VAS kit. I didn't go with it for two reasons.
1. the rear shocks were not adjustable, and
2. the traction bar adjustability seems to be better with the IHC kit from videos I've seen.

I guess I'll try to make it work now that I have it. I will be checking driveline angles before and after I lower it to best match the stock angles using shim angles on the diff or on the transmission crossmember.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

Yup, I considered the VAS kit. I didn't go with it for two reasons.
1. the rear shocks were not adjustable, and
2. the traction bar adjustability seems to be better with the IHC kit from videos I've seen.

I guess I'll try to make it work now that I have it. I will be checking driveline angles before and after I lower it to best match the stock angles using shim angles on the diff or on the transmission crossmember.

The Fox 2.0's are single adjustable in the back, and you can upgrade to the Viking rear shocks that are double adjustable.

As far as the traction bars go, VAS has the same setup as Ridetech using the heim ends, just that they mount under the leaf spring rather than on top like Ridetech does. They don't take anything to adjust besides loosening the two nuts and spinning the middle of the bar in or out. I personally don't like the setup IHC uses with the delrin bushings on the end, because them things get squeaky. I had that problem with the IHC kit that the front control arm bushings needed lubed fairly often to keep them from getting squeaky.

 

[MGF150]

I'm starting to second guess my purchase

Were you guys running this kit? I can see how this kit would ride horrible.

I purchased this kit from Steeda website for 2600 shipped to my house. Price has now increased to the price shown on IHC website.

My truck had the kit at the top of the page. The ride was terrible. Now that the rear has been replaced it is much better, but I am still doing the front.

To answer the question above, I was reading the IHC install instructions and they said they send a bit to bore out the bolt hole in the knuckles for their A arms. I am making the assumption that the stock arms will not bolt up correctly anymore.
Please correct me if I am wrong, that will save me some money!

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

My truck had the kit at the top of the page. The ride was terrible. Now that the rear has been replaced it is much better, but I am still doing the front.

To answer the question above, I was reading the IHC install instructions and they said they send a bit to bore out the bolt hole in the knuckles for their A arms. I am making the assumption that the stock arms will not bolt up correctly anymore.
Please correct me if I am wrong, that will save me some money!

I didn't have any issues with the ball joint fitment in the top of the knuckle with the Ridetech arms after using the IHC kit. I'm assuming it must just bore the bottom taper out a small bit for the ball joint threads to pass through, but it doesn't change the taper itself.

The big thing that sucked was trying to pound that sleeve back out of the lower ball joint taper so the stock ball joint would fit. Also, the lower ball joint nut setup on the IHC kit definitely feels sketchy. lol

 

[MGF150]

I didn't have any issues with the ball joint fitment in the top of the knuckle with the Ridetech arms after using the IHC kit. I'm assuming it must just bore the bottom taper out a small bit for the ball joint threads to pass through, but it doesn't change the taper itself.

The big thing that sucked was trying to pound that sleeve back out of the lower ball joint taper so the stock ball joint would fit. Also, the lower ball joint nut setup on the IHC kit definitely feels sketchy. lol

Thank you for the info. It looks like I can pick up some lower control arms for a decent price in Dallas, so I will get them coming today.

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

Thank you for the info. It looks like I can pick up some lower control arms for a decent price in Dallas, so I will get them coming today.

Let me know if you run into any issues on yours, because I didn't on mine. Did you notice the Ridetech rear hardware and setup definitely seemed a lot better built than the IHC stuff? lol

 

[MGF150]

Let me know if you run into any issues on yours, because I didn't on mine. Did you notice the Ridetech rear hardware and setup definitely seemed a lot better built than the IHC stuff? lol

The Ride Tech defiantly has a better geometry setup. I bought it after reading the instructions on line. It just looked like superior kit.
The only thing I did not like was getting it all together and setting it on the ground, then figuring out I needed to lower the bolt in the shackle one notch. Pulling the springs twice was not fun in the Texas heat!

 

[The_Auto_Tech]

The Ride Tech defiantly has a better geometry setup. I bought it after reading the instructions on line. It just looked like superior kit.
The only thing I did not like was getting it all together and setting it on the ground, then figuring out I needed to lower the bolt in the shackle one notch. Pulling the springs twice was not fun in the Texas heat!

Yeah, that was my thoughts as well that the Ridetech geometry on the leaf springs/axle was far better, probably why the IHC setup sometimes has vibration issues.

Did you need the raise the rear end then? I believe mine is set on the tallest slot, which would lower it the most.

Sponsored