Cognito 8/9-Inch Elite Lift Kit with Fox 2.5 DSC Shocks | 2017-2022 Ford F-250/F-350 Super Duty 4WD

The Obsidian Vision

The Cognito 8/9-Inch Elite Lift Kit with Fox Factory Race Series 2.5 DSC Reservoir Shocks is the complete lift solution for the 2017–2022 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty 4WD — delivering 8 inches of front lift and 5.5 inches of rear lift on 2017–2019 trucks and 2020–2022 Tremor models, and 9 inches of front lift and 6.5 inches of rear lift on 2020–2022 trucks. SM Series caster-adjustable radius arms correct steering and suspension geometry at the elevated ride height. The HD adjustable track bar — 1.25-inch Heim joint at the chassis end, 1-inch uniball at the axle end, 1.5x0.25-inch DOM tubing — maintains axle centering with field-adjustable length after installation. Fox Factory Race Series 2.5 DSC Reservoir shocks front and rear deliver race-proven damping performance on pavement and off. Deaver mini packs replace the factory overload spring with a progressive-rate design that adds up to 1.27 inches of adjustable rear lift. All Cognito components engineered, manufactured, and assembled in the USA.

Concierge Fitment Guarantee

Every order is manually reviewed by our technicians to ensure 100% compatibility with your build before we ship.

Engineering Breakdown

• Corrects front suspension and steering geometry at 8–9 inches of lift via SM Series caster-adjustable radius arms and an HD adjustable track bar — 1.25-inch Heim joint at the chassis end, 1-inch uniball at the axle end, 1.5x0.25-inch DOM tubing with semi-gloss black powder coat — with field-adjustable bar length after installation to fine-tune axle centering without removing the bar from the vehicle.
• Delivers front and rear damping through Fox Factory Race Series 2.5 DSC Reservoir shocks — smooth body design with a remote reservoir, dual-speed compression (DSC) adjustment, and race-derived valving developed under Fox off-road competition programs — providing improved damping performance across all terrain types at the elevated ride height of this platform.
• Increases rear ride height via Deaver mini packs that replace the factory bottom overload spring with a progressive-rate design, offering 0.25, 0.59, 0.93, or 1.27 inches of additional rear lift by removing any combination of the three included spacer blocks — paired with a Cognito 1.5-inch 4140 chromoly HD front sway bar (heat-treated, hot-formed, polyurethane bushings and larger clamps included) to control body roll at the elevated front ride height.

The SM Series caster-adjustable radius arms are purpose-built for the 7th-generation F-250/F-350 Super Duty platform, correcting the caster angle that the factory radius arms cannot maintain at 8–9 inches of lift. The Fox Factory Race Series 2.5 DSC shocks use a smooth body aluminum construction with a remote reservoir to eliminate oil aeration and maintain consistent damping performance under sustained use. The dual-speed compression (DSC) adjuster allows independent tuning of low-speed and high-speed compression damping without removing the shock from the vehicle. The Deaver mini packs are compatible with the stock spring pack only — new center pins are included. At 266 lbs, this kit ships standard parcel — no freight required.

Audit Table

Verified Fitment (OFAS Standard)

✅ CONFIRMED — Ford F-250 Super Duty (7th Gen, 2017–2022) 4WD:
2017–2022 Ford F-250 Super Duty XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum 4WD
2018–2022 Ford F-250 Super Duty Limited 4WD

✅ CONFIRMED — Ford F-350 Super Duty (7th Gen, 2017–2022) 4WD:
2017–2022 Ford F-350 Super Duty XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum 4WD SRW & DRW
2018–2022 Ford F-350 Super Duty Limited 4WD SRW & DRW
2020–2022 Ford F-350 Super Duty XL Plus 4WD

✅ LIFT HEIGHT BY MODEL YEAR:
2017–2019 F-250/F-350 4WD: 8" front / 5.5" rear
2020–2022 F-250/F-350 Tremor 4WD: 8" front / 5.5" rear
2020–2022 F-250/F-350 4WD (non-Tremor): 9" front / 6.5" rear

❌ REQUIREMENTS & CRITICAL NOTICES:
⚠️ 4WD ONLY: This kit is engineered for 4WD models only. Not compatible with 2WD F-250/F-350 Super Duty.
⚠️ 7TH GENERATION ONLY (2017–2022): Not compatible with the 8th generation F-250/F-350 Super Duty (2023–2026). For 2023–2026 applications, see the applicable Cognito kit for the 8th gen platform.
Requires front alignment immediately post-installation — caster and toe correction is critical at 8–9 inches of front lift before any driving.
Requires ADAS recalibration if equipped with forward collision alert, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, or front radar systems.
Requires rear driveline angle verification post-installation to confirm U-joint operating angles are within Ford specification before towing at rated capacity.
Deaver mini packs require stock OEM spring pack — not compatible with aftermarket replacement spring packs.

Installation & Technical Notes

Estimated Install Time: 14-hour DIY install — with a 2-post lift, comprehensive hand tools, torque wrench, and alignment appointment scheduled immediately after installation.
Alignment Required: Yes — professional front alignment is mandatory immediately after installation. Caster and toe must be set to Ford's specification for the installed lift height.
Track Bar Adjustment: The HD adjustable track bar length can be fine-tuned after installation to center the front axle. Adjust with the suspension at ride height under load.
Fox DSC Shock Setup: Set the Fox 2.5 DSC compression adjusters on all four shocks to Cognito's recommended baseline settings before driving. DSC low-speed and high-speed compression can be independently tuned without removing the shock.
ADAS Recalibration: Models equipped with forward collision alert, lane departure warning, or adaptive cruise control require front camera and radar recalibration after installation.
Torque Specifications: Refer to Cognito's included instruction sheet for all component torque values — torque all fasteners with the suspension at ride height under load.
Re-Torque Interval: Re-torque all suspension fasteners after the first 500 miles of driving post-installation.

Wheel & Tire Fitment

Maximum Confirmed Tire Size: 38x13.5" on a 10-inch wide wheel with 4.75-inch backspacing — verified clearance with this kit at the installed front and rear lift height on the 2017–2022 F-250/F-350 Super Duty 4WD platform.
Contact the OFAS team to verify inner fender clearance and offset requirements for your specific cab, bed, and fender configuration before finalizing wheel and tire selection.

Our team is standing by to verify your specific model year lift height configuration, ADAS equipment, and 38-inch wheel and tire setup for your F-250/F-350 Elite build. Purchase with confidence; we review every build.