Superlift offers numerous systems for the solid axle / coil spring family of Fords.  Caster angle and track bar / steering geometry, all areas of concern are addressed in each lift system.

Note:  1976-77 models with power steering and inverted "Y" steering linkage can convert to 1978-79 inverted "T" style linkage by using part numbers #1104, #1114, #1115-1, #1115-2, #1115-3.  Conversion is recommended for 4" lift; required for 6.5" lift.

This Ford suspension design features a solid (one-piece) front axle with coil springs and radius arms; the rear is a common leaf spring design. Front lift is achieved via new pre-set coils. Note that Superlift raises the vehicle’s rear slightly less than the front in order to reduce the factory “nose-down” stance.  The most popular and least expensive rear lift method is via lift blocks. The block height listed in the Application Guide should level-off the vehicle (front to rear) if your stock rear springs are in good condition. If a vehicle this old actually has “good condition” springs, it generally means that the sagging factory springs were replaced at some point or beefed-up by adding leafs. If sagging rear springs have not been addressed, you will need additional lift. In this case we recommend using our add-a-leafs or replacement rear lift springs as opposed to taller lift blocks.

Caster Correction Methods

The factory radius arms (one per side) connect the front axle to the frame rails.  The arms’ rear ends are stationary, so as ride height is increased the upper ball joints rotate forward and proper caster angle is lost. Vehicles with insufficient positive caster angle tend to drift and wander, especially on sub-standard driving surfaces.  The lift height at which caster-related driveability problems surface depends on what the caster reading is at pre-lift ride height; caster can vary by several degrees on different vehicles in the same model year.  For each 1˝ of lift, you lose approximately 1.2 degrees of caster.  We offer two different products for Caster correction; C-bushings and radius arm lowering brackets.  Depending on lift height, it is common to use both products on the same vehicle.

C-bushings… are the “insulators” that install between the radius arms and the axle housing.  New molded Urethane C-bushings, available in different degrees of caster correction, rotate the axle housing to restore caster.  Urethane C-bushings also have molded “lips” to better secure them in place, plus they offer a much longer service life.  Our Urethane C-bushings, radius arm and track bar bushings are recommended for all early-Fords. 

Radius arm lowering brackets… correct caster by lowering the rear (frame mounted) ends of the arms.  This correction method addresses a couple of issues that C-bushings do not.  First, the bottoms of the coil springs rest in “seats” which bolt to the tops of the radius arms.  As ride height increases, the seats angle forward causing the springs to likewise bow forward.  Spring bow results in lost ride height, premature spring fatigue, spring-to-spring tower contact and warped or “creaking” coil seats.  Secondly, an improved radius arm-to-frame bracket contact angle prevents accelerated radius arm bushing wear. 

Track Bar Correction

The track bar locates the body / frame in relation to front axle, and spans from the passenger side of the front axle up to the driver side frame rail.  As ride height is raised, insufficient track bar length causes the body / frame to shift towards the passenger side.  You may also notice a slight amount of “roll and yaw˝.

Superlift offers adjustable length track bars to remedy this problem.