• Welcome to F150Lightningforum.com everyone!

    If you're joining us from F150gen14.com, then you may already have an account here!

    If you were registered on F150gen14.com as of April 16, 2022 or earlier, then you can simply login here with the same username and password!

Sponsored

Lowering Lightning height by a couple inches

PungoteagueDave

Well-known member
First Name
Dave
Joined
Feb 20, 2021
Threads
3
Messages
965
Reaction score
901
Location
33435
Vehicles
Tesla MX, Porsche C4S, Ford F-350 KR, Ford F-150 K
Occupation
retired
Does your Lightning have 20" wheels? Smaller 18" wheels would give you the lower height you seek. GL
Uh, no, the outside diameter of the various Lightning models with 18", 20" and 22" wheels is exactly the same. The only difference is tire profile (there is less sidewall height on 22" wheels than on 18" wheels, but the diameter is the same).
 

Sealevel

Well-known member
First Name
Martin
Joined
May 22, 2021
Threads
3
Messages
181
Reaction score
153
Location
Memphis, TN
Vehicles
23 XLT Lightning SR
Occupation
Engineer
Uh, no, the outside diameter of the various Lightning models with 18", 20" and 22" wheels is exactly the same. The only difference is tire profile (there is less sidewall height on 22" wheels than on 18" wheels, but the diameter is the same).
I understand what you are saying - 275/65 R18, 275/55 R20 and 275/45 R22 are all about 32" in outside tread diameter. I referred to several tire sites for Lightning Tire sizes. The 20" tire size listed for the Lightning is 275/60R20 which has an outside tread diameter of 33". That is where the height of the truck will be 1" lower.
 

VTbuckeye

Well-known member
First Name
Joseph
Joined
Jan 15, 2022
Threads
3
Messages
854
Reaction score
820
Location
Vermont
Vehicles
19 Bolt, 16 XC90T8, 22 XC40 P8 Recharge, 17 Tacoma
I understand what you are saying - 275/65 R18, 275/55 R20 and 275/45 R22 are all about 32" in outside tread diameter. I referred to several tire sites for Lightning Tire sizes. The 20" tire size listed for the Lightning is 275/60R20 which has an outside tread diameter of 33". That is where the height of the truck will be 1" lower.
32 vs 33 diameter will result in 1/2 inch height change (only half of the diameter is from the ground to the axle center). The 18s will lower the truck a bit, but to get any significant lowering some suspension changes will be required.
 

Sponsored

Sealevel

Well-known member
First Name
Martin
Joined
May 22, 2021
Threads
3
Messages
181
Reaction score
153
Location
Memphis, TN
Vehicles
23 XLT Lightning SR
Occupation
Engineer
32 vs 33 diameter will result in 1/2 inch height change (only half of the diameter is from the ground to the axle center). The 18s will lower the truck a bit, but to get any significant lowering some suspension changes will be required.
Correct. My error. Good thing OP only needs 3/8" lower height. :ROFLMAO:
 
Last edited:

GurmukhHundal

Member
First Name
Gurmukh
Joined
Jan 22, 2023
Threads
0
Messages
11
Reaction score
23
Location
New westminster
Vehicles
Platinum Lightning, Lariat Lightning
Occupation
Plumber
Belltech makes a direct fit strut for a 2013 f150 that utilizes the factory spring and fits the rear of our lightnings for 1-3" drop. I used them on my lightning for a while and ride was same as stock. Recently switched to a different setup to get even lower though. As of yesterday swapped all the parts from the white truck to the black platinum.
Ford F-150 Lightning Lowering Lightning height by a couple inches Adobe_Express_20230121_2308120_1~3
 

skyak

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2022
Threads
10
Messages
159
Reaction score
146
Location
Texas
Vehicles
F250, 911, Lightning
Belltech makes a direct fit strut for a 2013 f150 that utilizes the factory spring and fits the rear of our lightnings for 1-3" drop. I used them on my lightning for a while and ride was same as stock. Recently switched to a different setup to get even lower though. As of yesterday swapped all the parts from the white truck to the black platinum.
Adobe_Express_20230121_2308120_1~3.png
Do you have a link to the belltech part or part #?
 

TheBigBezo

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 6, 2022
Threads
14
Messages
353
Reaction score
385
Location
Earth
Vehicles
F-150 Lightning Lariat ER
Belltech makes a direct fit strut for a 2013 f150 that utilizes the factory spring and fits the rear of our lightnings for 1-3" drop. I used them on my lightning for a while and ride was same as stock. Recently switched to a different setup to get even lower though. As of yesterday swapped all the parts from the white truck to the black platinum.
Adobe_Express_20230121_2308120_1~3.png
Damn man that looks super clean. Any parts or install info? I'd love to mirror the look.
 

Sponsored

GurmukhHundal

Member
First Name
Gurmukh
Joined
Jan 22, 2023
Threads
0
Messages
11
Reaction score
23
Location
New westminster
Vehicles
Platinum Lightning, Lariat Lightning
Occupation
Plumber
Damn man that looks super clean. Any parts or install info? I'd love to mirror the look.
I've got belltech 25027 on the front and for the rear I've got "ride tech shockwave hq" air struts with a "wireless one" ride height control kit
 

Henry Ford

Well-known member
First Name
John
Joined
Dec 21, 2022
Threads
4
Messages
615
Reaction score
863
Location
Michigan
Vehicles
2022 F150 Lightning
Uh, no, the outside diameter of the various Lightning models with 18", 20" and 22" wheels is exactly the same. The only difference is tire profile (there is less sidewall height on 22" wheels than on 18" wheels, but the diameter is the same).
That seems unlikely. The spare on my Platinum is smaller than the other wheels. If all Lightnings were the same size I would expect the spare to be the same as well.
 

brewski

Well-known member
First Name
John
Joined
Sep 21, 2022
Threads
29
Messages
289
Reaction score
335
Location
GA
Vehicles
2023 F150L Platinum
Occupation
Yes
Your black truck pictured is lowered how much?
 
Last edited:

PungoteagueDave

Well-known member
First Name
Dave
Joined
Feb 20, 2021
Threads
3
Messages
965
Reaction score
901
Location
33435
Vehicles
Tesla MX, Porsche C4S, Ford F-350 KR, Ford F-150 K
Occupation
retired
This
That seems unlikely. The spare on my Platinum is smaller than the other wheels. If all Lightnings were the same size I would expect the spare to be the same as well.
this is fact. The only difference in diameters is the wheel itself. This is true of almost all auto manufacturers. When my Tesla had a 19” or 21” wheel option, the outside tire diameter remained the same. That s that same for my Platinum Lightning vs the various other versions. My 22” wheels just have shorter sidewalls and bigger wheels, same diameter tires.
Sponsored

 


 


Top