Level kit differences
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 939
Likes: 1
Load of B.S. The preload changes the ride and has no positive contribution.
1. Daystar kit: Dangerous...or can be. It requires you to remove the coil-over, compress the spring and disassemble the coil-over. you then insert the plastic puck and re-assemble. Now your coil-over lenght is longer than designed and can lead to early failure...not to mention change in ride quality
1. Daystar kit: Dangerous...or can be. It requires you to remove the coil-over, compress the spring and disassemble the coil-over. you then insert the plastic puck and re-assemble. Now your coil-over lenght is longer than designed and can lead to early failure...not to mention change in ride quality
My take on it was that they are putting in the spacer for the height (stretching the spring) and the preload is taking some of the "spring" out of the spring so therefore it would be the same?????
head over to
BDS Suspension Installation Instructions type in 013200 in the box for the instructions.
In the picture for the directions for the install, (towards the bottom) I noticed that the top spacer is one solid chuck of steel vs the autospring where it has ears in the space between the upper and lower pieces of steel.
Checked into the readylift, they are getting 3inches of lift out of their spacer thats a little bit more than what I wanted and feel comfortable with. But thanks.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
From: Newtown Pa 18940
Daystar is not plastic it is a dense rubber and will not do any damage to the truck. The ride was the same. I used a spring compressor to remove the spring. That was safe and easy. I put both Daystar and Ready Level on my trucks. I do not know where or how anyone can say anything negative about either leveling kits. I installed then and drove them and found no complaints. I wish I would have gone to a 6" lift kit instead of the leveling kit. I liked the feeling of the truck 2 1/2" taller. Need more lift now.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
Likes: 151
From: SE Georgia
Question how is the coil over length longer? arent you compressing that when you put in the preload spacer.
My take on it was that they are putting in the spacer for the height (stretching the spring) and the preload is taking some of the "spring" out of the spring so therefore it would be the same?????
My take on it was that they are putting in the spacer for the height (stretching the spring) and the preload is taking some of the "spring" out of the spring so therefore it would be the same?????
I'm not necesarily saying the Daystar kit is bad, but there are better ways to level the F-150...actually, I will say they are bad. Plastic, Dense Rubber...Give me steel
The NCD and AS are way better and easier to use/install.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
The spring doesn't move!
For the day star kit imagine the truck sitting on the spring....
ok, now lift the body off, but leave the spring right where it is and put the 2.5" daystar leveling kit right on top of the spring.
Now lower the truck back down.
The spring NEVER moves, but now the truck is 2.5" taller b/c of the polyurethane spacer.
Auto Spring is cheaper, stronger, and easier to install, so what's argument over?
AS is the obvious choice.
For the day star kit imagine the truck sitting on the spring....
ok, now lift the body off, but leave the spring right where it is and put the 2.5" daystar leveling kit right on top of the spring.
Now lower the truck back down.
The spring NEVER moves, but now the truck is 2.5" taller b/c of the polyurethane spacer.
Auto Spring is cheaper, stronger, and easier to install, so what's argument over?
AS is the obvious choice.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
From: Newtown Pa 18940
I never put a Leveling kit on a F150 I did a 1998 F250 with a Day Star and a 2005 F350 With a Ready Level kit. I know nothing about an F150. I am very pleased with my F350 it has improved the looks and makes it harder to get in and out.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
Likes: 151
From: SE Georgia
F-150 has a COIL-Over. The Superduties have the Spring sitting on the axle with shock independant of the spring. In effect, the Superduty Daystar kit is exactly the same as the NCD and AS kit for the F-150
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 939
Likes: 1
Alright.. Im gonna go with the AS.
Next question is what size.
Ive measured the diff between front and back several times with the truck parked in several different locations and I measure anywhere from 2 to 2.5.
I know that the newer trucks dont have as much rake and I also have heard that the AS actually yield more lift then what it actually measures. I tow a trailer mostly in the summer months, either hauling the tandem jetski trailer or Landscape trailer with lawnmower equipment.
The last time I had the landscape trailer on with mower I measure the truck and there was a 1-1/2 diff between front and back.
Should I go with the 2 inch or get their 1-1/2 kit, plans are to go with a larger tire also.
Next question is what size.
Ive measured the diff between front and back several times with the truck parked in several different locations and I measure anywhere from 2 to 2.5.
I know that the newer trucks dont have as much rake and I also have heard that the AS actually yield more lift then what it actually measures. I tow a trailer mostly in the summer months, either hauling the tandem jetski trailer or Landscape trailer with lawnmower equipment.
The last time I had the landscape trailer on with mower I measure the truck and there was a 1-1/2 diff between front and back.
Should I go with the 2 inch or get their 1-1/2 kit, plans are to go with a larger tire also.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
You'll be able to fit 33s easily with any size leveling kit.
It takes 2.5" to perfectly level the truck out.
I have a 2" leveling kit and I tow occasionally and when just towing my boat it doesn't have that as* dragging look that the 2.5" kit would give with a slight load.
IF you tow real often with a fairly heavy load that will make the back end squat then put the 1.5" kit.
It takes 2.5" to perfectly level the truck out.
I have a 2" leveling kit and I tow occasionally and when just towing my boat it doesn't have that as* dragging look that the 2.5" kit would give with a slight load.
IF you tow real often with a fairly heavy load that will make the back end squat then put the 1.5" kit.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
Likes: 151
From: SE Georgia
I personally have the 2.5". and I wish I had the 2". The truck sits dead level...and I mean exactly. Looks great until you load it down.
Also, the 2007+ trucks have 1 less rear leaf spring than the 2004-2006 trucks. I think that is why there is a huge difference in determining the amount of "lift" guys get. I haven't confirmed it yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if the 07+ trucks sit lower in the rear than the 04-06 trucks.
for all years: with the 2.5" you can fit 35x12.5 on 17/18/20 A/T tires with stock rims. there may be slight rubbing at full steer, but every day driving will be just fine
most 35" M/T tires will also fit the stock rim as well...you just have to be carefull about the extremely aggressive side lugs tires like Iroks, Thornbird. they may contact your upper control arm
stay away from tires that are wider than 12.5" if you intend to run OEM rims. sky is the limit with aftermarket rims though
Also, the 2007+ trucks have 1 less rear leaf spring than the 2004-2006 trucks. I think that is why there is a huge difference in determining the amount of "lift" guys get. I haven't confirmed it yet, but it wouldn't surprise me if the 07+ trucks sit lower in the rear than the 04-06 trucks.
for all years: with the 2.5" you can fit 35x12.5 on 17/18/20 A/T tires with stock rims. there may be slight rubbing at full steer, but every day driving will be just fine
most 35" M/T tires will also fit the stock rim as well...you just have to be carefull about the extremely aggressive side lugs tires like Iroks, Thornbird. they may contact your upper control arm
stay away from tires that are wider than 12.5" if you intend to run OEM rims. sky is the limit with aftermarket rims though
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Joined: May 2004
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Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 939
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Well I emailed AS a day or so ago and they told me that 305/55/20 wont fit but 305/50/20 would with a 1.5 kit.
If I go run the numbers on a tire calculator (305/55/20) it says its 33.2 high and a 305/50/20 is 32 high. Were only talking about 1.2 inch diff.
So if I get a extra 1.5 of lift why wouldnt the 33's fit?????
Am I gonna have any problems using 4 wheel drive after installing the AS?
Let assume that I measure 37 upfront and 39 1/2 in the back (2.5).
I go with the 2 inch and Im assuming that im gonna get a tad bit more than that. So lets call it 2-1/4. That leaves me with 1/4 to play with
Now if I hook up the trailer and im at 1.5 without the AS. I think im gonna be nose high by what...3/8?? is that right.
If i put a add a leaf on with the 2 inch kit then then Im gonna have a 2 inch diff between front and back??
If I go run the numbers on a tire calculator (305/55/20) it says its 33.2 high and a 305/50/20 is 32 high. Were only talking about 1.2 inch diff.
So if I get a extra 1.5 of lift why wouldnt the 33's fit?????
Am I gonna have any problems using 4 wheel drive after installing the AS?
Let assume that I measure 37 upfront and 39 1/2 in the back (2.5).
I go with the 2 inch and Im assuming that im gonna get a tad bit more than that. So lets call it 2-1/4. That leaves me with 1/4 to play with
Now if I hook up the trailer and im at 1.5 without the AS. I think im gonna be nose high by what...3/8?? is that right.
If i put a add a leaf on with the 2 inch kit then then Im gonna have a 2 inch diff between front and back??
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
Add a leafs for these trucks are 1.5"
IF you put the 2.5" front and 1.5 rear, you'd be 1.5" higher in the rear, but hauling heavy loads you wouldn't get that squating look.
I put the 2" and clear 34" tires (true 34s not 33.6") without any problems.
The tires you're looking at might be wide...which is why they won't fit...
32s clear stock (that's what came on my truck)
Don't see why with 1.5" extra lift you couldn't fit 33...
IF you put the 2.5" front and 1.5 rear, you'd be 1.5" higher in the rear, but hauling heavy loads you wouldn't get that squating look.
I put the 2" and clear 34" tires (true 34s not 33.6") without any problems.
The tires you're looking at might be wide...which is why they won't fit...
32s clear stock (that's what came on my truck)
Don't see why with 1.5" extra lift you couldn't fit 33...
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 939
Likes: 1
Yeah so if I did the 2 inch and the 1.5 AAL then I would be.
1in diff between front and back no trailer.
And with trailer on (assuming same load as measured before) I would be .5 higher in the rear.