This question may have arose before, but I feel compelled to ask again. Leveling Kits, seems to me they are needed when you want to take away the factory front end slant and make the front level with the back. How do you know what heigth leveling kit you need, ie 2.5" vs 1". Is it easy to just visualize?

Most I researched on the web advertise Coils vs. air bags vs. spacers. Which is better and cost efficient. I have seen them from $99 to $200.00. Some also say do it yourself then recommend a certified mechanic (probably just a clause).

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Picked up a set of 2" spacers from eBay for $80.00 SHIPPED. Installed them this weekend and LOVE the look of the truck. I'm no certified mechanic. But, am handy with tools. It's not rocket science. Just be safe when lifting your truck and removing tires etc. Make sure you have a good lift point and the truck is steady.

1" will not be level with a 4x4 truck. 2" - 2.5" will be. I went with the 2" kit because I do use my bed quite a bit and don't want it slanting backwards. probably the same argument for the 1" kit as well.

On top of that, I added 305/65r-18 BFG AT/KMs and the truck now looks MEAN!!! Even for a White and Gold Lariat. LOL!!!

 

Thanks. I thought the same as you, I would not want a reverse slant. I do not use my bed as much as I would want but felt it would look alot better leveled off. Some sites suggest checking the leveling every 500 to 1000 miles. This threw me a little thinking once its leveled it should stay that way. I don't want to maintenance them Just want it level.

If I visualize my FX2 it seems a 2 -2.5" level in the front would suffice. The back appears noticeably higher then the front. BFG's are my choice too, though I owned some Firestone ATs on a Jeep not too long ago and they were solid, quiet, and wore evenly.

 

I have a 2.5" autospring spacer and the front is still a lil' lower than the back unfortunately. It's much better than stock and it clears my tires, so I'm happy

 

Thanks Fosters. Did you replace the factory front shocks when leveling?

 

You won't need to replace the front shocks, the level kit is a spacer that fit on top of the strut.

 

You don't have to replace the front shocks when you do a leveling kit, but the stock shocks suck and aren't any good after about 30K miles.

If it were me, and all I wanted as about 2" lift up front, then I would get some bilstein shocks with the 2" lift adjustment in them.

Like killing two birds with one stone, and it would come out cheaper than buying them seperatly, or keep you from going back and replaceing the shocks latter.

 

Thanks ya'll. I'll have to check and see if the factory shocks are still on there. I bought it at 40,000K and didn't check. If the stock ones are still there, I may just replace them. Like MBB said, "I'll just kill two birds w/ one stone."

Just for ****s and giggles, I priced out someone else putting on the leveling kit (Dealer vendor) and they quoted me, what they considered to be low at $625.00. I laughed and said I would do it myself. For a leveling kit, which costs $150 max and 2-3 hours of my time, I'll do it my way.

I'll check those Bilstein's vs. the spacers.

Thanks

 

I have the Bilstien kit on my truck. I have Pics in my Gallery. I was jsut going to get the spacer but while I had it apart I figured I would bite the bullet.

Sarge

 

That would be the look I am going for, simply level, not jacked up for rock climbin'. The Bilstein's price is not to much more than the leveling kits. How many miles do you suppose you'll get out of your shocks. Do you notice any different feeling in the ride aside from more rigidity.

I wasn't sure if 2" would be enough. Maybe you can get a better look from the pics in my gallery. Most people tell me that they chose the 2" over the 2.5". Not sure .5" is a big deal.

 

The ride changed but not much, the handling is much better now. It handles like a well mannored car...not a sports car tho. The Bilstin kit is a 0-1.5"-2.0" you choose, I went with the max of 2", the truck sits completely level and looks great. I am very happy with the kit. You will get a lot more miles out of the Bilstiens than the stock struts. I have put Bilstiens on every one of my truck and have them on my Grand National and have gotten over 80,000 miles out of them. The last truck I had now has 130,000 on it and he still has the Bilstiens I put on it and he says it still handles well and they dont leak...that truck was a 2003 F-250 4x4 with a 5.4 in it.

Sarge