Revolution and evolution are essential parts of the trucks that roll off the assembly lines and onto the dealer lot. A new concept is drawn up, put into metal and rubber, brought to the market, and refined over the course of several years.
For the '04 models, Ford wiped the F-150 slate clean, but left a trace of past offerings to guide the way. The rugged dependability of the '80-'96 twin-traction-beam 4x4 front suspension has been combined with the superior handling found in the A-arm F-150's produced in the '97-'03 models. The big news for the new F-150 was factory coilovers, complemented by a beefy rack-and-pinion steering assembly, which was topped off with aluminum lower control arms. The frame has been substantially reinforced, and the rear shocks were set outboard of the framerails.
So what's the verdict? The new F-150 is both revolutionary and evolutionary; revolutionary because of the new design, and evolutionary because it's a modern complement to the F-150s of the past.
Pro Comp took the Blue Oval's evolution further by giving enthusiasts added height and a smoother ride. Height was gained with a 6-inch drop cradle for the front differential and lower control arms, while custom knuckles bridged the wider gap and left the upper control arms in the OEM mounts. The smoother ride was garnered with a pair of 2-1/2-inch shocks manufactured completely in-house. Custom valving filled the shocks and eliminated the guesswork.
Installation was a simple process, well within the reach of the mechanically inclined possessing basic tools. Cutting and welding were unnecessary. Although the kit can be installed in a driveway, the truck must be realigned after the install is complete.