I'm terrible sorry if I'm flogging a dead horse on this, but I can't seem to find an answer anywhere in the threads...

It's time to get my suspension replaced. It's been however many thousand miles since I last did it and I'm noticing that it's worn out. I'm trying to see if there's a simple way to pick up an inch or two on the lift, but I'm not really experienced enough to find what I'm looking for here. I already have a PA 3" that I managed to install myself, and due to the ridiculous amount of effort and frustration I put into it I'm not exactly willing to let it go and swap it with a superlift. Since it's time to replace the suspension anyways I was wondering if there was any way to... I don't know... Just get longer shocks or something? Is that possible? I work a lot and am, thus, short on time and would ideally like some advice on an easy way to do this. If it exists at all. I seem to understand that lifting the suspension provides additional ground clearance versus a hard body lift just lifting the frame(?) and that's what I'm looking for.

So, is this actually a thing? Can I get longer shocks or coils or whatever? Sorry, fellas, but I just don't have the automotive technical knowledge to figure out what I should do. Advice? Suggestions? SOLUTIONS?! Please. And thanks!

 

1. some info on your truck would be very helpful. year? model? is it 4x4 or 2wd?
2. what is the mileage?
3. what do you mean by "its time to get the suspension replaced"? are you looking to replace all the ball joints and bushings? or just shocks? does your truck have torsion bars or is it coil spring?


there are several things to consider when answering this question but i cant help if there is no info.

if the truck is coil spring front end, making it 97(?) and older or 2wd, i am pretty sure you can simply do a coil spacer to get a little more lift. if the truck has torsion bars (98+) there are several threads and even a sticky on how to get more lift out of the t-bar front end. as for the rear you can do several things to lift it. new longer shackles, add-a-leaf kit, explorer spring swap just to name a few.

 

Aw man, yeah those are some valid points.

I have an '04 Edge 4x4 with the 4.0L. It's got about 90,000 miles. And by "it's time to get the suspension replaced" I imply that the bounce has gotten really soft and I can hear some disturbingly audible clunking on speed bumps taken at less than 5mph. It's got the t-bar, and I've already cranked it to rake the vehicle out.
I'll be honest and admit that I don't know much about suspension tech. When last I had the suspension worked on I only had the shocks replaced, so everything else is stock. What would be good to replace? Forgive my ignorance...

 

i would replace the shocks. i have the rancho rs5000 and i love them, especially for the price. if it is clunking you probably need new ball joints. if the shocks are worn out the truck will boumce more than one time when going over a speed bump

 

So... Ball joints and shocks. Gotcha. Anything I **could** easily add for an inch or so of clearance, as well?

 

cranking the torsion bars is all you will get for the front. you can get the belltech 6400 shackles to drop a chevy 1500, they lift the rear of a ranger approx. 1-2.5" if i recall correctly. i have done both as well as a procomp add-a-leaf for the rear. i netted another two full inches of lift on the rear after that. i also have a 3" bodylift

 

I'll look into it. Thanks!