Guys this may be a really dumb question... But I just ordered a Daystar leveling kit for the 05 superduty and I am hoping that I don't need shocks. It says that longer shocks are recommended, the truck is an FX4 and already has the ranchos on it. If someone could help me out I'd be very greatful.

 

My 06 has the heavier snow plow prep springs which sit about 1.5" taller than the regular springs. When I put my 2" Fabtech spacer on, the stock Ranchos were virtually maxed out. You will be able to tell when you install the coil spacers, just pull the shock all the way out and see how much travel your going to have. Its best to do this once the spacer is in, everything else is bolted back together and the trucks weight is back on the tires and suspension is at rest.

Chances are you can run like this for awhile, but once you see how much travel you have left, you will probably want a longer shock. Rancho makes a RS5000 series shock in a +2.5" length (#RS5043) that is better then the stock fake Rancho and still looks like the factory FX4 package. That shock is usually a special order and might take a week or so. Since mine was a little taller, I went with a +4" shock (#RS5044) and Summit Racing had them in stock for about $40 ea.

If you have regular height springs and add the Daystar kit, you might only have about an 1" of travel in the front shocks. You can feel them top out over big bumps, not good. Its best to have the shock in the middle of its travel at rest, so you have plenty of room for compression and some negative travel as the front gets light over bumps. You might be able to put a spacer on the threaded area of the shock to get another 3/4" of travel, but still, really only a temporary fix. Definitely no offroading ability with the stock shocks and a leveling kit.

 

If you add a leveling kit, 1.5" or so, you have 1.5" less up travel (if the shock is the limiting factor). "Suggesting" new shocks is exactly what I would do, if you care about the travel. Most of the time, for daily driving it's not a big deal. You'll see a ton of trucks with 6" lifts with the shocks maxed. Most won't be able to offroad well, and many will break shock mounts going over speed bumps (ask me how I know ). With a spacer lift you should be ok, but I'd get better, longer shocks if it were me.

 

Well this truck rarely sees any offroad action, maybe a gravel road LOL. I put an add a leaf on my 01 superduty and it works fine with the stock shocks, I was just a bit curious about the new 05's. If it will work for highway driving then that's great. I'll try to buy some longer aftermarket shocks for it when money's not so tight. Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it.