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HOSS 3.0 Lift options?

ronnyek

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The drop bracket was for the front diff, and I just need minor clearancing of the hole. I don't anticipate everyone would have the same problem. If I used holes as is, the diff was sitting too close to cross member for comfort.

I feel like a fair bit of the time it took me on the install was fighting the install following rc's direction. Dropping the inner side of the lower control arm is definitely better.

The other thing was the directions kind of suck. Printed out black and white pictures, and the install PDF was black and white pics as well.

I'd say it's fairly easy work if your are mechanically inclined and have tools. I'd have torque specs for components you remove before hand... The instructions are light on those directions.

Also most of the front end hardware (nuts) are claimed to need to be replaced (single use). If you decide to follow those guidelines, order that hardware up. I put a new axle nut in because mine got mangled, but others I just reinstalled. If at 500 mi or whenever I decide to retorque they are looser... I'll order up new nuts... But I'm really not that concerned about it.
 

Heckler

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Looks like the RC 2.5 lift doesnt come with a Dif Drop, did you buy one separately?

I did install it myself.

After finding a YouTube vid suggesting dropping the inside of the lower control arm instead of the way the directions say (pull axle nut and rock hub assembly down.

I also needed to clearance a hole on the diff drop bracket. The screws on top of my shock assemblies were threaded to the end though appeared to be same length as pics in instructions so I ground em down, and had to chamfer the studs and chase the threads.

It took me a long time because axle nut thread got chewed up and I had to order a new one. I think if you knew going in to drop inside of lower control arm vs rocking the hub assembly down, and you knew to expect slight mods with drop bracket and heat shield, it's a pretty quick and easy job.

I had one final scare... I (or maybe alignment place) bent a dust shield on back of the rotor and it led to a scary sounding problem I thought was way worse than it ended up being.

I agree with others that the ride quality seems identical. At very first, I thought it was possible it was slightly bouncier... But I think that was more in my head. For the price I'm happy.
 

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Geronimo

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Interesting, I guess they just excluded it from the pictures on their website..

1695167345918.png
I was just reading the info on the site and looking at that same picture which I was going to post. You beat me to it. Lol I was told that the black metal L shaped piece to the upper right with two holes in it was the diff drop bracket.
 

Heckler

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That looks more like a track bar relocation bracket to me (for the rear). I think you would need more than 1 bracket for the dif drop and usually there a much wider bracket, like below that's in the 5" lift kit.

Ford Bronco HOSS 3.0 Lift options? 1695167886572


I was just reading the info on the site and looking at that same picture which I was going to post. You beat me to it. Lol I was told that the black metal L shaped piece to the upper right with two holes in it was the diff drop bracket.
 

Geronimo

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That looks more like a track bar relocation bracket to me (for the rear). I think you would need more than 1 bracket for the dif drop and usually there a much wider bracket, like below that's in the 5" lift kit.

1695167886572.png
Well if you look at the three and a half inch lift kit and look at what it says is "in the box" and then look at the picture in that one it says it has differential drop brackets but I don't see them in the picture. Other than two extra spacers and the lift pieces being a little different it basically looks like the same kit, so I'm not sure. 🤔
 

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Well if you look at the three and a half inch lift kit and look at what it says is "in the box" and then look at the picture in that one it says it has differential drop brackets but I don't see them in the picture. Other than two extra spacers and the lift pieces being a little different it basically looks like the same kit, so I'm not sure. 🤔
Well if you look at the three and a half inch lift kit and look at what it says is "in the box" and then look at the picture in that one it says it has differential drop brackets but I don't see them in the picture. Other than two extra spacers and the lift pieces being a little different it basically looks like the same kit, so I'm not sure. 🤔
Texas Dan that put this kit on himself, and I remember when I questioned him he said that the one that I pointed out to you was the drop bracket. My installer I believe also told me it was a drop bracket for the front diff.
 

Geronimo

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That looks more like a track bar relocation bracket to me (for the rear). I think you would need more than 1 bracket for the dif drop and usually there a much wider bracket, like below that's in the 5" lift kit.

1695167886572.png
Also the bracket you show in the picture is usually for a complete drop bracket system like I put in my Tacoma which was a 6-in lift they cut out the whole crossmember and installed a new one. I believe this is done differently but I could be wrong just telling you what I think I know even though I don't know for sure.🫤
 

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Heckler

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Ok you are correct, I looked at the install document and it uses the bracket you pointed out on the drivers side and a few spacers to drop the passenger side, so it looks like a minimal drop so they didn't feel the need to do the whole bracket, which shouldn't be too big of a deal since most other kits do not drop the dif at all unless there above 3.5"

I kind of like the Belltech lift it comes with the full Dif drop as well as a new lifted steering knuckle, claims stock geometry but not sure if that would work with the Hoss 3.0 suspension..

Also the bracket you show in the picture is usually for a complete drop bracket system like I put in my Tacoma which was a 6-in lift they cut out the whole crossmember and installed a new one. I believe this is done differently but I could be wrong just telling you what I think I know even though I don't know for sure.🫤
 

Geronimo

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Ok you are correct, I looked at the install document and it uses the bracket you pointed out on the drivers side and a few spacers to drop the passenger side, so it looks like a minimal drop so they didn't feel the need to do the whole bracket, which shouldn't be too big of a deal since most other kits do not drop the dif at all unless there above 3.5"

I kind of like the Belltech lift it comes with the full Dif drop as well as a new lifted steering knuckle, claims stock geometry but not sure if that would work with the Hoss 3.0 suspension..
Just to let you know, a system like that is very invasive and I swore once I did it to my Tacoma I would not do that to another vehicle. And you are correct on a two and a half inch lift with new upper control arms normally you don't even need a differential drop so the fact that it comes with a small version of one which is very uninvasive to keep the geometry as stock as possible for the CV joints along with the new upper control arms and for the price that it is, I don't see how you can beat it! If you are good with two and a half inches of lift that is! I am super happy with how mine turned out and I put 37's on with absolutely no issue at all. Also love the ride! 😊 Good luck with whatever you do.
Ford Bronco HOSS 3.0 Lift options? 20230901_122143
 

Heckler

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yea thanks! Not sure how it’s invasive I don’t think there is any cutting of anything needed but I’ll take a look at the install instructions, I won’t be cutting up things for a lift so that would be a no for me. Yours looks great!

Just to let you know, a system like that is very invasive and I swore once I did it to my Tacoma I would not do that to another vehicle. And you are correct on a two and a half inch lift with new upper control arms normally you don't even need a differential drop so the fact that it comes with a small version of one which is very uninvasive to keep the geometry as stock as possible for the CV joints along with the new upper control arms and for the price that it is, I don't see how you can beat it! If you are good with two and a half inches of lift that is! I am super happy with how mine turned out and I put 37's on with absolutely no issue at all. Also love the ride! 😊 Good luck with whatever you do.
20230901_122143.jpg
 

Heckler

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I checked
You do need to cut up the crossmember not going there! Lol.

yea thanks! Not sure how it’s invasive I don’t think there is any cutting of anything needed but I’ll take a look at the install instructions, I won’t be cutting up things for a lift so that would be a no for me. Yours looks great!
 
 





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