I just installed a Protech leveling kit on my 04 scab 4x2. The truck is very level now, if not a little higher in the front. I havent really driven it around yet, so I dont want to say the front is higher yet. My question is this: if I decide the front is TOO high, and I take the spacer out (the spacer that goes on top of the strut assy) and leave the spring spacer in, it should lower the front back down a little. If I did that I would not need to get the truck aligned, since the top spacer is the only thing changing the steering geometry, right?

Even if i leave all the spacers in, it doesnt seem like the alignment would be changed hardly at all.

Just wondering if anyone has installed one of these kits and left out the top spacers??

 

I installed a Daystar a few weeks ago. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I am under the impression that the spacer that goes on top of the strut does not effect the ride height of the truck but the stiffness of the spring. I think that the only thing that lifts the truck up is the spacer that is installed on top of the strut assembly.

Now, my opinion is based off of the impression that the Daystar and Protech are similar in all aspects. FYI, the Daystar came with 4 spacers........Two that you need to remove the springs to install (the spring stiffiners) and two that go on top of the whole assembly to lift the truck up.....

 

I would think the spacer on top of the strut assembly would have to affect ride height since that is where the assembly meets the body. I was thinking removing that spacer would lower the front about the width of the spacer. I could be wrong though...thats why Im asking. I think the spacer we are talking about would be the only thing that affects the alignment of the truck.

X-star: yes, the Protech kit also has 4 spacers like the daystar, only they are aluminum.

Im trying to get this figured out before I get it aligned.

 

Imagine with me for a minute the the new spacer that actually retains the spring was 4 inches tall........The only difference that this would make is compressing the spring more and more.

There is a threded bolt that goes through this spacer the recieves a nut to hold the entire assembly together. There is no way without replacing the entire strut to get this bolt longer. If this bolt was longer then the entire assembly would be longer which would result in a higher stance.

If you were to change one of the struts back to stock and hold them together, I think you will find that the assembly is not higher at all, only a more compressed spring.

 

You are right, the assembly is the same length...but since the spring rate is not linear, the spring being compressed does not allow the truck to compress the "shorter" spring as much as it did the previous "longer" spring, thus making the truck sit higher. The amount of lift you will get is related to the thickness of the spring spacer AND the spring coefficient. The spacer you put on top of the strut assembly is for added lift without having to compress the spring any more in order to get the strut assembly back together. I proved this to myself today...took the 1/4" spacers off to lower it a bit. It lowered the front end about 3/4", but with only the spring compressed (Spring spacers only) the front is still about 2 1/4" higher than stock. See, because of the progrssive springs, you get 3/4" lift from a 1/4" spacer, and ~2 1/4" lift from a 1 1/2" spring spacer. I am still wondering if I need to have the thing aligned, since as you said, without the top spacer I dont think I have changed any of the geometry...only the stiffness of the spring. I hope this makes sense...I had to blow the cobwebs off of all of those Dynamics equations.

 

So what was the outcome? Did you level the top (large spacer) in and take out the spring (small spacer)? Also, d you change the tire size? If so what size did you go with? Was the ride different, good or bad?
Sorry for all the questions, I just got the same truck and want to do some mods as well.

Do you know if anyone makes a 1 - 2 inch spacer block for the rear leaf springers? Or do you think I would be better off getting and 'add-a-leaf?

 

Fatty-
the outcome was as I stated above, I took the small 1/4" spacers out and the truck now sits pretty level. i have sand in the back now, I think when the sand is gone, the back is about 1/2" higher than front, about perfect for me. I DID have to get the truck aligned. It was toed in about an inch too much on either side. The guy that aligned it wondered how it wasnt trying to hop going down the hwy. Glad I took it in. After thinking about it, if the front is raised at all, the geometry of the steering has to change, thus GET IT ALIGNED. Im very happy with how the truck sits now. I sold my camera and am still looking for a replacement, I will post pics when possible.