Level with Spacers or Springs
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Joined: May 2021
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Level with Spacers or Springs
Bought a new 2021 XLT, Lead-foot Grey, FX4... Plan is to level out the rake 2” with either spacers or springs from rough country. Leaning towards the whole strut assembly as I’ve never been a fan of spacers. Have any of you an opinion of which way to go or advice to offer?
Last edited by farm; May 30, 2021 at 12:57 AM.
Moderator
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,194
Likes: 1,215
From: San Antonio, TX
Welcome to FTE !
Spacers are inexpensive. You have brand new shocks. On my truck I had ReadyLift 2.25" spacers installed when it was a few months old. I opted to do so because the shocks were essentially new. 5 years and 50k miles later, they are still in and the trucks rides and drives great. When I need new shocks, I will get replacement struts to keep it at the ride height it is now. Or, I could get brand new front struts (new shocks and springs) for a give away price. Yeah, I know that there are better shocks than OEM out there but I'm not racing Baja either.
Spacers are inexpensive. You have brand new shocks. On my truck I had ReadyLift 2.25" spacers installed when it was a few months old. I opted to do so because the shocks were essentially new. 5 years and 50k miles later, they are still in and the trucks rides and drives great. When I need new shocks, I will get replacement struts to keep it at the ride height it is now. Or, I could get brand new front struts (new shocks and springs) for a give away price. Yeah, I know that there are better shocks than OEM out there but I'm not racing Baja either.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 536
From: barton city mi
Comes down to if you'd like to improve the handling as well as the looks, I'd recommend a full coilover assembly. Bilsteins are popular, but myself there are better ways, I've had them. Finish on them does not hold up to winter salt corrosion, they'll look bad in firstwinter. Inexpensive as far as cost of parts, another but, they're labor intensive, requires complete disassembly, usiing a spring compressor, so IMO, what you save in initial cost, you pay for installation and you're still using OEM springs.
Full coilovers can be had for just under $500 right now, I'm using these on my '20;https://www.4wheelparts.com/b/lift-k...-cm813Z1z0xj9h
They're a good "entry level" set up, but you have a '21, this particular maker doesn't look like they have them for a '21 yet. Other brands are out there, and more $$$.
Nothing wrong with spacers, most cost effective way, and install is just as easy as coilovers, youu just stick a spacer on top of the strut.
I've done my own trucks 6 times or more using spacers, coilovers, bilstiens, even a combination of bilsteins and spacers.
Done a few local kids trucks as well, mostly spacers, kids are cheap, but I always recommend coilovers, much more bang for the $$
Full coilovers can be had for just under $500 right now, I'm using these on my '20;https://www.4wheelparts.com/b/lift-k...-cm813Z1z0xj9h
They're a good "entry level" set up, but you have a '21, this particular maker doesn't look like they have them for a '21 yet. Other brands are out there, and more $$$.
Nothing wrong with spacers, most cost effective way, and install is just as easy as coilovers, youu just stick a spacer on top of the strut.
I've done my own trucks 6 times or more using spacers, coilovers, bilstiens, even a combination of bilsteins and spacers.
Done a few local kids trucks as well, mostly spacers, kids are cheap, but I always recommend coilovers, much more bang for the $$
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,357
Likes: 250
I've used Auto spring spacers on our last three F150s and have had good luck with them. Was going to go with the whole strut assembly the last time but decided to just save the money and do the spacers.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 536
From: barton city mi
I heard of one other guy on the "other" forum that had that happen with the Rough Country set up. I had the Rancho on my '17, then flipped them to my '20 when I got it. 5.0 SCab, no problems yet. I DO know, that when these are gone, I'll likely be going back to Halo Lifts, Fox 2.0 at the least.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 536
From: barton city mi
Yes, there isn't much out there. I'm relying on prior experience with a front/rear setup I had when they were still "F150 Lifts" I had on my '12. The coilovers themselves were very nice, high quality. The rear shocks were OK, but if you hit a hole big enough, or hard enough, the rear end would walk out on you. I have Fox 2.0 on the rear of this '20, and even being a lighter truck, I haven't had that happen.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 534
Likes: 3
From: Chesapeake
Not attempting to thread jack, but I believe this is a related concern. Any issues with particular kits causing issues with the upper control arm ball joints? I saw that Rough Country does offer replacement set. Asking because two friends had their ball joints in two newer Silverados fail/unseat with-in a few thousand miles of installing different sized leveling spacers. No, those trucks were not squatted.
Moderator
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,194
Likes: 1,215
From: San Antonio, TX
Stay at a max of 2.25” and you wont have a problem. I’ve had my ReadyLift 2.25” for 5 years and 50k miles with zero issues. Also, ReadyLift and a few other companies engineer a slight offset into the spacer to keep the upper control arm from hitting.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 26,060
Likes: 4,145
From: Near Cal. Avenue
I leveled my 2011 F150 and only thing is a recent front right wheel bearing replacement.(it runs in all the soup the highway has and hits the pot holes. Good by to the old bearing at 103,000 miles ! 
Can offer if you want to raise it above 2-2 1/2 inches buy good quality lift kit parts and space out the wheel base for stability !
Can offer if you want to raise it above 2-2 1/2 inches buy good quality lift kit parts and space out the wheel base for stability !
Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 59
Likes: 1
For 2021 trucks, you should be using an updated spacers kit that includes cam spacers.
66-2120 from ReadyLift is one such kit. Yes, you may be able to bolt on 2014-2020 but they are not 'approved' due to a change in 2021 trucks.
66-2120 from ReadyLift is one such kit. Yes, you may be able to bolt on 2014-2020 but they are not 'approved' due to a change in 2021 trucks.
