Car Fix DIY Videos

http://ford-trucks.com/how-tos is the leading Ford F-150 and Super Duty truck resource for technical DIY guides. Lifting the F-250 truck is not a DIY nightmare, but it’s no walk in the park either. For the full step-by-step article, please visit http://www.ford-trucks.com/how-tos/a/ford-super-duty-how-to-install-a-lift-kit-361136

Installing a lift kit requires a lot of wrenching and some muscle to move the heavy parts in and out of placement. This is why it is recommended to ask a friend for assistance when attempting this job.

This moderately difficult job takes 4-8 hours and costs anywhere from $350 to $800. A professional will likely charge upwards of $1,000.

This job requires a floor jack, heavy duty jack stands, large timber wood blocks, a ¾ inch air compressor and tools, WD-40, a lift kit, and most importantly, a friend or assistant. If you don’t have air tools, you can use a breaker bar and a piece of pipe.

Step 1 – Raise truck

First, loosen the lug nuts on both sides of the truck.

Using a hydraulic jack, lift up the truck as high as possible.
Lower the truck onto a pair of high-lift jack stands placed underneath the frame.
Lastly, remove the lug nuts and the wheels.

Step 2 – Uninstall sway bar, track bar and shocks

Remove the front sway bar and set aside. Then, unbolt the track bar from the frame bracket. Remove the lower shock bolt.

Step 3 – Disconnect brake hose bracket from axle

Remove the bolt from the hose bracket that is mounted to the axle. Discard the original mounting bracket because there’ll be a new one provided with the lift kit. Loosen the nut from the hard line and rotate the block up 180 degrees. Then, re-tighten. This will move the brake line hoses out of the way and prevent stretching when the extension kit is installed.

Step 4 – Lower front axle and axle arms

Lower the front axle just enough to remove the coil springs from the shocks. Remove the factory bump stop brackets.
Then, remove the factory radius arm bolts from both sides and lower the axle arms.

Step 5 – Remove track bar bracket and install relocation bracket

Remove five bolts holding the track bar bracket in place.
Once the track bar is removed, install the new relocation bracket and re-mount the track bar using the existing hardware.

Step 6 – Install spring and shock lifts

Install the 3.5″ lift spacer onto the top of the spring. Slide the spring back onto the axle pad.

Before lifting the axle up to insert the spring and assemble back into the pocket, put the new spring isolater on top of the spacer.

Step 7 – Install lower shock extensions

Upgrade the shocks now, so the set up is better suited to your lift kit.

Step 8 – Install sway bar extensions and bump stops

Install the new sway bar extension brackets along with the new bump stop extensions.

Step 9 – Re-attach brake lines

Re-attach brake line axle pad bracket, and install the extended length hard line bracket that comes in the kit. Then, secure the line using the factory block clip.

Step 10 – Re-attach Pitman arm and sway bar

If you removed the Pitman arm, re-install it to the drive link.
Rotate the sway bar and remount to the new extension brackets.

Step 11 – Install the new drive shaft spacer

In order to maintain the correct angle of the drive shaft, install the new carrier bearing spacer on the end of the drive shaft. This spacer is included in the lift kit. This completes the front end lift.

Step 12 – Jack up the rear end

Loosen the lug nuts on your rear-wheels and lift the vehicle by the differential casing.
Slip a small, flat square of wood (or something similar) between the jack and the differential, so it spreads out the lifting force and protects the differential casing.
Lower the truck onto the jack stands, but don’t lower the jack completely.

Step 13 – Remove the axle plate and lower the axle

Remove the lower axle plate and lower the axle just enough to remove the factory blocks.
Once the factory blocks are removed, you can then remove the U-bolts.

Step 14 – Install the new rear axle blocks

Once you have the factory blocks and U-bolts removed, you can place the new blocks into the axle pad.
Position the blocks so while the bottom block fits into the axle pad, the top block fits into the leaf spring. The axle may need to be rotated to achieve a proper fit.
Once you have maintained the proper placement, install the new, longer U-bolts over the leaf spring and into the lower axle brackets.

Step 15 – Install new wheels

Install your new 35 inch tires and sweet new rims. This kit allows up to 35 inch wheels, but your kit may vary.

Once the tires are installed, start up the truck and rotate the wheels so that the track bar fits into its top bracket. Install with the factory bolt.

Double check your work and the tightness of all bolts.

Be sure that you have replaced all cotter pins that were removed with new ones.