How to Install Belltech Street Performance Shock Set for +1 in. to - 3 in. Front / 2 in. Rear Drop (09-13 2WD) on your Ford F-150

It is very important that the vehicle is properly supported during this installation to prevent personal injury and chassis damage. Make sure that the support stands are properly placed prior to performing the following procedures. We DO NOT RECOMMEND using wheel ramps while performing this installation. 

2. REMOVING THE O.E.M. FRONT STRUT

2a) Unbolt the brackets securing the ABS lines to the upper  control arm. Make sure this line is not stretched or tangled  in subsequent steps. On some models it may also be  necessary to remove the ABS line bracket from the frame  to prevent tension on the lines as well.  

2b) Un-bolt the top mounting nuts to the sway bar end-links to  allow the control arm to move independently of the end- link. (photo 1)  

2c) Loosen and remove the bottom mounting bolt of the  spring/strut assembly. (photo 2)

2d) Loosen and remove nut securing the upper ball-joint to  the spindle. Secure the spindle and brake assembly to the  chassis using a strap so that the ABS line is not stretched  once the ball-joint is broken free. Break free the ball-joint  using the proper ball joint puller or by tapping the side of  the spindle with a hammer. Once free from the upper  control arm, push the spindle, brake and lower control  arm assembly down to free it from the lower shock mount  and out of the way while still supported by the strap.  (photo 3)  

2e) Remove the top three mount bolts of the front spring/strut assembly. (photo 4) Slide the spring and shock assembly down and out of the front suspension. For ease of reinstallation, mark the outboard side of the spring and upper shock mount with a paint pen.  

3. OEM STRUT DISASSEMBLY

CAUTION!The coil springs is held in place under extreme compression. Belltech recommends the use of a heavy duty spring compression suitable for truck springs to perform this step. If unsure of your spring compressor capabilities, take this to a professional installer. Use caution during the following steps to avoid personal injury and/or damage to vehicle. 

3a) Mount the entire spring/strut assembly in the  spring compressor fixture. To ease the  installation of the new strut, mark a white line  down the center of the assembly for alignment  purposes only showing the front of the top  mount. Note the orientation of the upper mount  relative to the bottom shock eyelet.  

3b) Compress the spring until the spring is no  longer touching the upper mount. Using an  open end 17mm wrench and a smaller 8mm  wrench to prevent the piston shaft from  spinning, loosen and remove the top nut.  (photo 5) THE STOCK SHOCK WILL DROP  TO THE GROUND IF NOT SUPPORTED.  Remove the OEM shock.  

4b) Slide the specified  number of spacer  rings onto the  Belltech Street  Performance shock  body. Slide the  supplied Belltech  spring perch on-top  of the spacer rings.  (photo 6) Finally  install the thin black  plastic vent disk at  the base of the piston  rod followed by the  progressive bump  stop with the smaller  end facing down.  

4c) Position the new shock inside the still compressed stock spring and upper spring perch. Secure the shock and mount with the supplied Nyloc using an open end 17mm wrench and a smaller 7mm wrench. Uncompressing the spring when the shock, spring and upper spring perch are correctly oriented.  

NOTE: FOR 2009 - 2012 VEHICLES, INSTALL THE SUPPLIED 10mm WASHER AND SLEEVE FOUND IN THE 2009 HARDWARE PACK PRIOR TO POSITIONING THE SHOCK INSIDE THE SPRING AND UPPER SPRING PERCH (photo 8). ALSO PLACE AN ADDITIONAL WASHER ONTOP OF THE PISTON ROD AND UPPER MOUNT PRIOR TO THREADING THE SUPPLIED NYLOC WASHER. TIGHTEN THE NYLOC TO 33 FT LB USING 17mm WRENCH AND 7 mm SOCKET. 

5. RE-INSTALLATION OF FRONT SUSPENSION

5a) Re-install on the new strut assembly the same  way the O.E.M. strut was removed.  

5b) In reverse order, follow Step 2 using the OEM  nuts and bolts  

5c) Check to see that all bolts are torqued to  factory specifications..

6. ALLIGNMENT MONDIFICATION

This process is not normally needed for the Belltech 2” drop but is recommended when lowering more than 2”. This process will allow for additional adjustment to obtain factory spec alignment. If lowering vehicle less than 2”, please skip to step 7. 

6a) Remove the bolts from both lower control arms.

6b) Pull the lower control arms down and out of the way. (photo 9).

6c) Insert a stock bolt in the slot locations on the  lower control arm mount, position the bolt  against the inner slot side then scribe a line  along the bolt flange (Photo 9). This should be  3/8” from the original alignment slot. It is helpful  to outline the profile of the bolt flange so it can  be easily followed while cutting. Perform this  marking technique on all eight slots.  

Note: For 2009-2012 vehicles this slot can be expanded another 1/8” for a total of 1/2” (photo 11)