03' vs 05' suspension
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2007
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From: Florida
03' vs 05' suspension
I have been looking for sometime at leveling kits. It seems that there is limited choices for an 03'. Plus the price goes way up on 03' choices. Anyone know if there is a big difference with an 05'? I'm trying to find out if I could order a kit for an 05 and use it on my 03. I know alot of people have only done a leveling kit. Any thoughts would help.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,351
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From: North Florida
I have been looking for sometime at leveling kits. It seems that there is limited choices for an 03'. Plus the price goes way up on 03' choices. Anyone know if there is a big difference with an 05'? I'm trying to find out if I could order a kit for an 05 and use it on my 03. I know alot of people have only done a leveling kit. Any thoughts would help.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,951
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From: Foothills, CA
I thought there was some trick of reversing or swaping the spring mounts to raise the front? Or was this for pre-SDs? Sorry if I'm going down a rabbit trail here, just remember someone I met talking about it on a Ford F350... 
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Coal Country, ND
With the pre sd's (something like 1980-1997) you could do a shackle reversal (put the shackle at the rear of the spring instead of the front) and get a decent amount of lift, and a better ride.
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Freshman User
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From: Florida
That all makes sense. i never did just go look at the difference. To do the add a leafs I found one kit that states its for and 03 f350 and then there is a more expensive one that has 2 choices. One for a gas eng and one for a diesel eng. Should I go with the diesel one or will the first one work since it just says f350? Also, anyone have any good recomendations for good leveling kits?
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Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: SW Virginia
You probably need to go with the one that's for a diesel. Should be a stiffer spring with slightly higher rating for the added weight of the diesel engine.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
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go to a steel shop and buy some .250wall 2x4 square tubing and get some longer u-bolts i leveled my truck for under 50 dollars some guys frown on doin it that way but mine has 200000km and the blocks have never moved i drilled a hole in one side for the pin on the axle and welded in a pin on the other side for the leaf spring when my truck is out of the shop i could post some pics if anyone is interested im not saying its the right way to do it but if its done right it will give no trouble
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2007
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From: Florida
So far the best leveling kit I've found is by Tuff Country. They have and add a leaf kit for $250 and a replacement leaf kit for $465. Both come withe new U-bolts and bracket for the track bar. Anyone come up with any others, post em up.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2008
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Blocks on the front, is a very dangerous way to go. Might have insurance issues if you were ever involved in an accident and it was determined the homemade blocks were the cause. There is a reason no one makes front blocks.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Albemarle, NC
eBay Motors: 99-04 Ford F250 F350 Leveling Lift Kit Super Duty 2.7" (item 260301925405 end time Apr-15-09 11:45:58 PDT)
i have this on my truck and it worked to level the front enough to run 35's. the spring pack is bolted to the stock springs, so it actually functions like a block to a degree, but by being bolted it can't get spit out under any circumstance. will this kit, you keep your stock shocks, since they bolt on top of the spring pack. cheap enough too. basically a knock off of the Icon/DR ones.
i have this on my truck and it worked to level the front enough to run 35's. the spring pack is bolted to the stock springs, so it actually functions like a block to a degree, but by being bolted it can't get spit out under any circumstance. will this kit, you keep your stock shocks, since they bolt on top of the spring pack. cheap enough too. basically a knock off of the Icon/DR ones.
Senior User
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if it is done right i dont see any way how they could come out my u-bolts are torqued to 450pounds a peice thats just my opinion i got my truck safetied like that and the tech looked right at them and never said a word i am up in canada so maybe they cut a little more slack up here
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Foothills, CA
Summit® Front Suspension Leveling Kits - summitracing.com
On sale for $237 -- I think they might have others too...
On edit: it looks like this kit has the whole spring pack in it...