Leveling Kit

[Daryl LBZ]

Im looking to get a leveling kit at the end of the month and was wondering what you guys thought about this one? I really wanted one where I didn't have to get the front end aligned though.

 

http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts.aspx?partfamilyid=1696

[Tsmith]

It'd be best to at least have the front end checked for alignment afterward. Be cheaper than your tires prematurely wearing out.

[Ron505]

I tend to agree, I think with just about any lift, you'll need an alignment. I bought my Tough Country 2" for $162. Included front strut spacers, and rear add-a-leafs (or you could opt for the rear blocks) and all hardware. Great instructions and fairly easy install.

 

You can find several lifts here, where I got mine from http://rockymountainsusp.com/GM_IFS_07_PICKUP.htm

[blackout07]

It's a good kit. But a front end alignment is a must regardless of which kit you use.

[Daryl LBZ]

Ok I read somewhere before that some kits didn't require a front end alignment, but that was when I was looking at them for my 05? I'll look around and see what else I can find too.

[C. Charles Hahn]

Ok I read somewhere before that some kits didn't require a front end alignment, but that was when I was looking at them for my 05? I'll look around and see what else I can find too.

 

It doesn't matter what you read, or what year truck you read about, if someone tells you an alignment isn't necessary they don't know what they're talking about and/or they're lying to you. Any time you do any work on a vehicle's suspension, especially when it involves replacement of parts with something different than OEM-spec, you WILL need to do an alignment. Period. You're changing the suspension geometry, loosening and moving parts that are critical to the front end's alignment, and that must be properly corrected in order to minimize premature wear on the rest of the suspension and the tires.

 

Don't be a cheap-ass, just spend the extra $60-80 to get an alignment from a reputable shop after you're done installing your new parts. It will be far cheaper than having to replace more parts later on because you skipped it.

[Daryl LBZ]

Ok I read somewhere before that some kits didn't require a front end alignment, but that was when I was looking at them for my 05? I'll look around and see what else I can find too.

 

It doesn't matter what you read, or what year truck you read about, if someone tells you an alignment isn't necessary they don't know what they're talking about and/or they're lying to you. Any time you do any work on a vehicle's suspension, especially when it involves replacement of parts with something different than OEM-spec, you WILL need to do an alignment. Period. You're changing the suspension geometry, loosening and moving parts that are critical to the front end's alignment, and that must be properly corrected in order to minimize premature wear on the rest of the suspension and the tires.

 

Don't be a cheap-ass, just spend the extra $60-80 to get an alignment from a reputable shop after you're done installing your new parts. It will be far cheaper than having to replace more parts later on because you skipped it.

 

 

 

 

Im not being a cheap ass, im just stating what I read from the manufacturer when I was looking at the kits last time. I just didn't want to do an alignment because the truck is brand new and Id prefer not to mess with that stuff when I didn't really need to. So now I will just skip it for now until the truck has more miles on it and acctually needs an alignment. Next time you could be a little nicer when someone asks a question instead of being a total dickhead! FYI a front end alignment around here is $40. Thats pretty cheap to me for being a Cheap ass like you said I am.

[vikinghogue]

your lucky if a alignment for a 4wheel drive with a lift/leveling kit is only 40 bucks here it was 100 bucks and they half ass did it then when i got my new tires finally put on about 10k miles later they checked the alignment and they asked if its been aligned and i said yea then they asked who did it because they only half did it then i said yall then they tried to say is settled then they said it only had a 3 month 6k mile warrenty but the aligned for free btw it was NTB im through dealing with them. and fyi you dont need to get it aligned but its best if you do, i drove mine for 6 months after i put mine and i kept a close eye on my tires but they wore normal from what i could tell and i have the 2" RC lift with all 3 blocks

[C. Charles Hahn]

Next time you could be a little nicer when someone asks a question instead of being a total dickhead!

 

[Spurshot]

Daryl,

If you wait until your truck needs an alignment, you may be waiting forever. As long as your tires are wearing well and the steering stability is good, an alignment may not be necessary until you change a component related to alignment or disassemble adjustable portions of the steering/suspension.

 

My 99 2500 didn't get an alignment until I replace the balljoints, and steering components at nearly 200,000 miles.

[Daryl LBZ]

Daryl,

If you wait until your truck needs an alignment, you may be waiting forever. As long as your tires are wearing well and the steering stability is good, an alignment may not be necessary until you change a component related to alignment or disassemble adjustable portions of the steering/suspension.

 

My 99 2500 didn't get an alignment until I replace the balljoints, and steering components at nearly 200,000 miles.

 

 

Thanks for the info. I'll just look around some more at other ones and decide. Theres some other things Id like to do to it too so maybe I'll do them first because they are a little cheaper.

[Daryl LBZ]

Next time you could be a little nicer when someone asks a question instead of being a total dickhead!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haha You seem like the type of guy that should own a Tundra not a Sierra...

[Spurshot]

Charlie's alright. Typing a comment isn't always the easiest for everyone all the time. How it's meant isn't always the way it reads. You can't put voice tones in a web forum and things come across differently than intended. Sometimes we forget that actual people are on the other end reading this stuff and type something we'd never say to someone in-person. It starts a little down a path and ends up in the toilet. Flush it and start all over. He'll grow on you.

 

I chose the Bilstein 5100 adjustable height shocks because I thought they were the best for the job. I still think that's true. They only give just under 2" of lift at the highest setting, and are probably the most expensive way to get that lift. Don't be a cheap-ass (just kiddin), get the Bilsteins.

[Spurshot]

...reminds me of this joke...

 

An Asian man walked into the currency exchange line in a New York bank with

2000 yen, and he walked out with $72. The following week, he walked in with

 

2000 yen, and was handed $66. He asked the teller why he got less money

than he had gotten the previous week. The lady said, "Fluctuations." The

Asian man stormed out, and just before slamming

the door, he turned around and said, "Fluc you Amelicans, too!"

Sometimes a little miscommunication can go the wrong way.

[Luvbelly]

Charlie's alright. Typing a comment isn't always the easiest for everyone all the time. How it's meant isn't always the way it reads. You can't put voice tones in a web forum and things come across differently than intended. Sometimes we forget that actual people are on the other end reading this stuff and type something we'd never say to someone in-person. It starts a little down a path and ends up in the toilet. Flush it and start all over. He'll grow on you.

 

I chose the Bilstein 5100 adjustable height shocks because I thought they were the best for the job. I still think that's true. They only give just under 2" of lift at the highest setting, and are probably the most expensive way to get that lift. Don't be a cheap-ass (just kiddin), get the Bilsteins.

 

I've done leveling kits on other trucks but, not wanting to be a cheap-ass for this one, am interested in the Bilsteins. Do you have any other info on them. Any negatives at all, how expensive is expensive, and a good place to buy? Thanks