02 F350 Leveling kit
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: USA
02 F350 Leveling kit
I have a 02 F350 4X4 without the training wheels (duals). I want to level the front end as it sags with the PSD. Is it just a simple Add a Leaf or is it more detailed. If it is an add a leaf, can someone do this at home in driveway with floor jacks and 1/2 impact wrench or will a shop need to do it and redo the alignment?
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Joined: Feb 2000
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From: LAKE FORK TEXAS
I have a 02 F350 PSD also,,, I did the 2 1/2" Rough country add a leaf in my garage floor, no problem at all. I did remove the calipers as the brake lines were stretched pretty tight when i started to drop the axel,, have heard of people not removing the brakes though. Overall i think it was money well spent,, raised my truck about 2 3/8 in the front when it was all said and done. The truck dosent lean near as bad in curves now,but really I dont think the ride is any harsher at all. Its a firm ride on a bad road and a great ride on a great road much like the factory ride.. Just make sure you grease the leafs very well on both sides before you put them in,, It'll be messy but prevent the squeaks for a long while.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 57
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From: Port Orchard, WA USA
FabTech 3.5 leveling kit
Hi, I did my 02 PSD with the fabtech 3.5 leveling kit. I went to 16X10 wheels and 315/75x16 tires with no problems. Air tools are handy for the work, which I did myself in the driveway. You need a really tall set of jackstands to get the frame high enough to drop the front axle and get the new tires on. A jack that lifts high, is also nice to use. It is more than just a spring, and is an new frame piece for the front of the spring and a piece added and inverted for the rear. I would not do it without getting the adjustable track bar. Otherwise you end up having a hard time pushing the axle to the side to get the stock one to connect. Good luck, Mike KG7VL
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Altoona, Pennsylvania
I have as well installed the 2.5" tough country, I am very pleased with it and the way it handles. As far as re-alignment there are no real adjustments that the kit affects other than the track bar relocation which seemed to line up pretty well with the new bracket. I was able to install the kit in about 3.5 hrs in my garage. Do make sure you get tall jackstans though and have at least 2 jacks. Before the kit i had 4.5 - 5 " difference from front wheel well to back, it leveled it right up. brought the front up about 3.5" and the rear down an inch.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 12,835
Likes: 3
From: Silver Lake Dunes, MI
there are many different kits out there with many different methods of lifting. some use leaves some new spring hangers. my experience have been with add a leaf only on old body styles and add a leaf with track bar relocatation bracket this was a tuff country or rough country can't remember which is which. both are pretty easy. use the advice already given. but as a mechanic i say to all of you get an alignment!!! the track bar is adjustable for a reason and your steering wheel will most likely be crooked. lifting a truck no matter what it is changes the alignment and alignment kills tires and bad tires cost money.
if you have any question just post em i will be more then happy to help
tjbeggs
if you have any question just post em i will be more then happy to help
tjbeggs
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Altoona, Pennsylvania
Yes, Tbeggs is right, i forgot to mention the steering wheel alignment, I was able to adjust the steering bar link by turning the adjuster coupler. It took many trial runs down the road to get it right but in the end it ended up perfect. As far as the track bar it's purpose is to keep the entire axle aligned left to right. This can be easily adjusted by hanging a plumb ball on a string from the frame and measuring each side. As far as camber and tow these items are not affected because you have a solid front axle and are not moving the original spring position with the add a leafs and new centering bolts. Saved my self a good $60.00 and been going on 15,000 miles now with no abnormal tire wear.
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From: Altoona, Pennsylvania
I have a 7' garage door opening but the actual garage height inside was 8'. Because the truck was on a down slope before the kit it kicked the back end of the cab up almost level with the clearance lights (crew cab). After the kit was installed the front of the truck raised up about the height of the cleareance lights and the back of the cab dropped down. I had about 3 to 4 " clearance on the way in the garage and about an 1.5" on the way out. If you get into a bind you can let air out of the tires to remove it from the garage. You definately need the extra height inside the garage though cause the truck must go way up on the frame to do the install.
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From: USA
I have a crew Cab 4X4 and it barely clears the garage door now, the rear of the cab is within 1/2" of door. Just wondering if anybody else did a bone stock F350 4x4 Crew Cab PSD and did it fir in the garage after?
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: SW Missouri
Just talk to a local 4x4 specialist. They have the add a leaf leveling kit for around $180 and said they would install it on my 99 F350 PSD CC SRW for total just under $300. I didn't think that was a bad deal for just an extra C note! Will probably make an appointment for next week if I can afford to be without my PSD for an afternoon. They told me with the 2-2.5 leveling kit they havn't needed to use the track bar bracket and they wouldn't have to do a tire alignment. They would adjust the steering wheel.
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From: Dixie
Originally Posted by so2315
I have a 02 F350 4X4 without the training wheels (duals). I want to level the front end as it sags with the PSD. Is it just a simple Add a Leaf or is it more detailed. If it is an add a leaf, can someone do this at home in driveway with floor jacks and 1/2 impact wrench or will a shop need to do it and redo the alignment?
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Joined: Sep 2004
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Originally Posted by MRBASS
I have a 02 F350 PSD also,,, I did the 2 1/2" Rough country add a leaf in my garage floor, no problem at all. I did remove the calipers as the brake lines were stretched pretty tight when i started to drop the axel,, have heard of people not removing the brakes though. Overall i think it was money well spent,, raised my truck about 2 3/8 in the front when it was all said and done. The truck dosent lean near as bad in curves now,but really I dont think the ride is any harsher at all. Its a firm ride on a bad road and a great ride on a great road much like the factory ride.. Just make sure you grease the leafs very well on both sides before you put them in,, It'll be messy but prevent the squeaks for a long while.
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