Im Thinkin about liftin my 96 Bronco

[96BuckinBronco]

This is my second bronco. Its a 96 5.0 stock bronco. I wanted to get a 6" lift but im unsure about what else i would have to do if i were to just get the suspension kit installed. For example, drivetrain lengthening, gear ratios, etc. Im a newbie to liftin trucks so if anyone could help me out im open.

 

[Justshootme84]

Welcome to Bronco Zone!!! You'll find some helpful info in the "Important Topics" listed at the top of this forum section's main page (80-96 Bronco). I moved your post from the Tech Articles Forum to here so you'd get more replies, too. In addition to the 6" suspension lift kit, changing the gear ratios in both the front and rear axles will help get your bronco's engine back into it's powerband with larger tires. IF you plan to run 35" tall tires, a good gear ratio is 4.56:1. The driveshafts do not usually need to be lengthened, but I would still check that you do not have any issues when the suspension is at full droop, or the wheels are furthest from the body. You can install extended brake lines or re-locate the stock ones. The extended lines will give you more line to work with when one of the front wheels droops as far as it can from the body. You'll also need to get a frontend alignment after the lift kit install, and re-torque all the bolts on the kit after driving about 100 miles. JSM84

 

[Broncobill78]

There's not much I can add to JSM's comments. As he mentioned the gear ratio will be a function of the size tire you run. 33's can be left stock or you can bump it up from the stock 3.50 to 4.11's. 35's or 36's will be a coin toss between 4.11's and 4.56's. 38's are usually happy with 4.88's and anything upwards of a 38' should probably be paired with 5.13's. Keep in mind that you'll also want to upgrade the axleshafts as well and use hardened 31-spline shafts. A 6" lift is right on the line, most guys get away with using the stock driveshafts but you may want to consider running limiting straps on both axles to be sure that if/when you get it airborne the axles are kept from dropping down far enough to overextend the driveshaft slipyokes. Anything taller than 6" and you should give some thought to having the driveshafts lengthened. A set of extended stainless braided brake lines wouldn't be a waste of your money, but again if for some reasosn you choose not to you can snug up the limiting straps to be sure you don't overextend the brake lines. As JSM mentioned a trip to the alignment shop should be the *first* thing you do once the lift is installed and call me paranoid but I like to retourque *everything* every few hundred miles for a few months after installing a lift.