Leveling kit question
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2010
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Leveling kit question
I understand that when you increase the ride height of your truck that the mpg' suffer and I've heard that ride quality will suffer too.
Does this also apply to trucks that have a leveling kit?
I've not cared to know much about suspension stuff so far so I have not payed any attention to it. I assume a leveling kit just raises the front of a 4x2 truck so it's level from front to back, correct?
Thanks,
Drake
Does this also apply to trucks that have a leveling kit?
I've not cared to know much about suspension stuff so far so I have not payed any attention to it. I assume a leveling kit just raises the front of a 4x2 truck so it's level from front to back, correct?
Thanks,
Drake
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 10,977
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From: Lancaster, Pa.
A leveling kit, shackles (like i have) or a single spring kit your fine in the front, your just leveling it. Its more so when you lift your truck and what 95% of people do is go with larger tires is where you loose those mpg"s. My front end is a little bit stiffer but its ok with me.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Ellensburg, WA
If you put mini spring packs the ride stays the same. I put mini spring packs on mine and the ride is exactly the same. Don't know if they would work on a 4X2 though, I haven't played around with 4X2's yet.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,286
Likes: 263
From: North of Greenville
I'm running a 2-inch coil spring spacer on my 2WD, and have been for about 3 years now. Below is a summary of my experience...
1. MPG did sufffer a tad, but moreso from upping to 285's than from the lift kit by itself.
2. I installed new Bilsteins with the spacers (stock size replacements), and ended up with a travel limited shock which sits at almost full extension. Did that help wear out my tie-rods and help send my ball joints to a premature death? Not sure about that, sort of doubt it, but it DID require me to install dual adjustable camber bushings and I also had to do some grinding on both the c-frame and the knuckle in order to get proper alignment.
3. I ended up having to also shim my center carrier bearing by 1/4" to eliminate drive line vibration at 45-50 mph after changing the front suspension geometry with the spacers.
Suggestion... use some shock extenders with either your existing or new shocks if you lift the front by only 2 inches. If you go up to 4 inches, then you'll simply need to get longer shocks.
1. MPG did sufffer a tad, but moreso from upping to 285's than from the lift kit by itself.
2. I installed new Bilsteins with the spacers (stock size replacements), and ended up with a travel limited shock which sits at almost full extension. Did that help wear out my tie-rods and help send my ball joints to a premature death? Not sure about that, sort of doubt it, but it DID require me to install dual adjustable camber bushings and I also had to do some grinding on both the c-frame and the knuckle in order to get proper alignment.
3. I ended up having to also shim my center carrier bearing by 1/4" to eliminate drive line vibration at 45-50 mph after changing the front suspension geometry with the spacers.
Suggestion... use some shock extenders with either your existing or new shocks if you lift the front by only 2 inches. If you go up to 4 inches, then you'll simply need to get longer shocks.
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