We love the new Ford F-150 for its comfortable ride, solid chassis, and overall good looks, but we also love aftermarket products, which is exactly why we adore Fantastic Four installments on a different truck each month. These stories give us the perfect opportunity to see what different trucks of assorted makes and models would look like and perform when paired with new parts. Of course, we keep our readers' best interest in mind since these articles are the best way we can think of to physically show just how and why to conduct certain modifications to a truck that's parked in your driveway. You've made the commitment to purchase a new vehicle, now take the next step in making it better suit your personal preferences.
This month, we had a chance to play with an '09 Ford F-150, and being fans of trucks built for the street, we placed an order for a mild drop kit from Ground Force, new wheels and tires from Falken, a rumbling dB Exhaust system, and as an added bonus, Spectre Performance built a cold-air intake kit for us from scratch. Spectre also benefitted from crafting the one-off creation, as they mocked up a few configurations and will be putting the best performing system into full production soon, so keep your eyes peeled. To get things started, we stopped at JBM Motoring, in Orange, California, to bring our F-150 closer to the ground, so follow along as we custom-tune our new Ford to handle better, perform at its peak, all while improving its overall cosmetic appeal.
Ground Force's 2/4 drop kit...
Ground Force's 2/4 drop kit came complete with leaf springs and shocks for the rear, new springs for the front, and all hardware necessary for the suspension transformation.
JBM Motoring's head technician,...
JBM Motoring's head technician, Adolfo Brisenio, began the installation by removing the lower spindle bolt, and applying a firm whack to loosen things up in order to disconnect the outer tie rod.
With more room to work with,...
With more room to work with, the coilover assembly was unbolted top and bottom...
...and yanked, but not before...
...and yanked, but not before the top spindle nut was taken off (not pictured).
Using the stock shock, Adolfo...
Using the stock shock, Adolfo slipped on the Ground Force spring and secured it to the factory perch.
Installing the new setup was...
Installing the new setup was just as easy as reversing the order of disassembly.
Moving to the rear, Adolfo...
Moving to the rear, Adolfo first unbolted the shock, which will soon be replaced by the Ground Force unit...
...then did away with the...
...then did away with the factory U-bolts.
Next in line to be loosened...
Next in line to be loosened and 86'd, was the factory leaf spring.