Heavy Duty Billet Top Hats

The same part does two jobs: it replaces a known failure point, and it can add ride height without touching your springs. Pick the phase that matches the lift you want.

Ride height is added by adjusting preload on the factory spring — no new front springs and no lower spring collars required. Order the stock height version if all you want is the stronger mount.

The factory top hat locates the top of the front shock through a rubber bushing. On a stock truck driven normally that is fine, and it is quiet, which is why manufacturers use it.

Add an aftermarket spring, a heavier tire or a few seasons of desert running and the rubber becomes the problem. It deflects under load, so the shock is no longer held in a fixed position; it degrades with heat and oil; and eventually it tears. What the driver notices is a clunk over big hits and vague steering feel, which most people chase to the arms or the tie rods before they find it here.

A billet top hat replaces the bushing with a spherical uniball. There is no rubber to deflect or perish, and the shock is located precisely through its whole stroke.

We build a standard billet top hat as well. These are the differences that make this one the heavy duty part:

• Bigger uniball. A WSSX14T 7/8" FK uniball in place of the standard 3/4" — close to double the strength.
• Threaded top retainer. Secures the uniball ring clip so the bearing cannot shift or walk out under load. This is the failure most people do not see coming.
• Support where it is thinnest. The threaded top supports the bearing race at its weakest section, which is what extends uniball life under heavy load.
• 17-4 stainless steel uniball spacers — they do not corrode or wear like plated steel.
• 6061-T6 billet aluminium, CNC-machined in-house.

Finishes: raw billet aluminium, or anodised in Fox Orange or Black for extra corrosion resistance.

The WSSX14T FK uniball is also sold on its own (0.875" bore, 1.061" OD) as a service part, because a uniball is a wear item and you should not have to buy a whole top hat to refresh one.

OEM-compatible fitment across the Ford range, using 10mm or 12mm studs depending on the platform:

• Gen 1 Raptor (2010–2014) — stock height, or Phase 1 at 1.5"
• Gen 2 Raptor (2017–2020) — stock height, Phase 1 at 1.5", Phase 2 at 2"
• Gen 3 Raptor (2021–2025) — stock height, Phase 1 at 1.5", Phase 2 at 2"
• Gen 3.5 Raptor (2024+) — Phase 1 at 1", Phase 2 at 1.5"
• F-150 (2015–2025) — stock height, Phase 1 at 3/4", Phase 2 at 1.25"
• Bronco Raptor (2022+) — stock height, Phase 1 at 1", Phase 2 at 1.5"

Do I need new springs to get the lift?

No. That is the point of the design. Ride height comes from preload adjustment built into the top hat, so the factory front springs and shocks stay in the truck. No lower spring collars either.

What is the difference between Phase 1 and Phase 2?

Only the amount of lift built in. Phase 2 is the taller option where it exists — see the chart above, because the figures differ by vehicle. The Gen 1 Raptor has Phase 1 only.

Do I need the heavy duty version or the standard one?

If the truck is stock-ish and street-driven, the standard billet top hat is a real upgrade over the rubber factory piece. If you run aftermarket springs, oversized tires, or you actually get the truck airborne, buy the heavy duty version for the 7/8" uniball and the threaded retainer.

Will a uniball top hat make the truck noisier?

Slightly, and honestly. Removing a rubber bushing removes some isolation, so you may hear more from the front suspension on rough pavement. That is the trade for precise shock location and a part that does not tear.

Is the uniball serviceable?

Yes. The WSSX14T FK uniball is a wear item and we sell it separately. The threaded retainer is what holds it properly in the first place.

10mm or 12mm studs — which do I have?

It depends on the platform. Fitment is listed on each product page. If you are unsure, call (480) 718-9800 with your year and model.

Do I need an alignment after fitting these?

If you are adding ride height, yes. Any change in front ride height changes camber and toe.

Made in the USA?

Yes. CNC-machined in-house in Mesa, Arizona.

Lift Collars & Leveling Kits · Shocks & Bump Stops · Raptor Suspension Kits · Billet Tie Rod Kits