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Help Me Pick A Leveling Kit

cbsaf

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cbsaf Enthusiast

cbsaf

Posted
Posted

Alright, after much consideration I have decided to lift the front of my truck 1.5" rather than lower the rear 2". Now the question is what leveling kit to use? I have it narrowed down to four various 1.5" kits and I would like opinions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, there is the Rough Country leveling kit. They can be had for $64 plus shipping and they seem to have a good reputation. The only downside are that the newer versions seem to be a polymer rather than steel or aluminum.

 

RoughCounty.jpg

 

Also it looks like the Rough Country kit puts additional stress on the lower shock bolts. In the second picture you can see that the small lip on the A-arm (red arrow) that helps keep the shock in place now helps keep the spacer in place. The shock, however, is held entirely by the bolts. Shouldn't the spacer also have a little lip for the shock to rest against? (green arrow)

 

install.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, there is an Ebay one piece copy of the old metal Rough Country kit. This kit looks nice and is made from aluminum. I would think it has no finish though. It also has no extra lip to add additional support to the bottom of the shock. It is $49 plus shipping.

 

EbayKit.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, there is the Fat Bob's kit. It is a 3/4" aluminum spacer and mounts over the strut using the stock strut bolts. There is no need to swap strut sides or cut the studs like on the 2" above the strut kits. This kit is $69 plus shipping.

 

FatBobsGarage.jpg

 

This kit does worry me though because after the 3/4" spacer is in place, there is only 1/2 inch of thread left to bolt the three nuts back onto.

 

FatBobsGarage2.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, there is the Top Guns Customz kit. These kits are about $45 plus shipping. It seems to be the best of both worlds. It is steel and distributes the spacing on top and below the strut assembly. The top spacer is thin enough to let the strut bolts have enough length. The bottom spacers are very similar to the older steel rough country but they are only 1/4" thick.

 

TopGunCustomz.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

I think I like the Top Gun Customz kit. It seems like a better deal as it is steel and divides the spacing above and below the strut. What do you think?

stlavsa Senior Enthusiast

stlavsa

Posted
Posted

I ran the old style RC kit (with adjustable stacking plates) at the full 2" lift for about a year with no problems.

 

I dont think its worth all the effort to do the spacer above and below for 1.5" of lift. Alot of people here like the RC kit, and have alot of luck with it. I think its best to go with only 1.5" instead of the 2 or 2.5" just to preserve the drivetrain and suspension components.

Silverado4x4 Senior Enthusiast

Silverado4x4

Posted
Posted

Stick to the rough country and dont worry about the lip thats what the hardened bolts are for. The 2nd block like the RC looks home made and someone is try to sell them ( they better hope RC doesnt see them). The upper spacer ones require to remove the whole strut where the RC doesnt. Plus I would think the aluminum lower block would corrode and pit over time.

blackout07 Senior Enthusiast

blackout07

Posted
Posted

I ran a 2" leveling kit (top mount) for the first year I had my truck and it rode just as good as it did stock. I am now running a 1" leveling kit from Top Gun Customz (bottom mount) and in the short time it's been on the truck it seems solid enough. However, I see your concern about the lower mounted kits. It may be purely my perception, but I "feel" that the upper mounted kits are more solid and secure. After all they are held in place by 3 bolts as opposed to 2, and do not have the downward stress that is applied to the lower mount. I'm sure in day to day situations they are fine, but under the right circumstances, I could see the bottom bolts snapping much more easily than the top ones.

stlavsa Senior Enthusiast

stlavsa

Posted
Posted
I ran a 2" leveling kit (top mount) for the first year I had my truck and it rode just as good as it did stock. I am now running a 1" leveling kit from Top Gun Customz (bottom mount) and in the short time it's been on the truck it seems solid enough. However, I see your concern about the lower mounted kits. It may be purely my perception, but I "feel" that the upper mounted kits are more solid and secure. After all they are held in place by 3 bolts as opposed to 2, and do not have the downward stress that is applied to the lower mount. I'm sure in day to day situations they are fine, but under the right circumstances, I could see the bottom bolts snapping much more easily than the top ones.

 

i see your point but I personally have never heard of anything of that nature happening...

SeirraRR Senior Enthusiast

SeirraRR

Posted
Posted

I have the older style of the RC kit and am runnig the full 2" and have had no problems with it. It doesn't sit like the one in the pic. All mine sit flush and are very easy to but in. I installed them myself with normal hand tools.

03blackz71 Senior Enthusiast

03blackz71

Posted
Posted

I would go with the rough country leveling kit. I have the old style 2" kit and it has been on my truck for 2 years with no issues or problems.

blackout07 Senior Enthusiast

blackout07

Posted
Posted
i see your point but I personally have never heard of anything of that nature happening...

 

 

Nor have I heard of anything like that happening and I don't think they are unsafe. Otherise I wouldn't be running one. The lower mounted spacers are definately much cheaper and easier to install. Op, I would go with whatever kit you like best.

Nytemare Senior Enthusiast

Nytemare

Posted
Posted
i see your point but I personally have never heard of anything of that nature happening...

 

 

Nor have I heard of anything like that happening and I don't think they are unsafe. Otherise I wouldn't be running one. The lower mounted spacers are definately much cheaper and easier to install. Op, I would go with whatever kit you like best.

 

Maybe it just looks unsafe in the picture...it looks like its just weight holding the shock in place.

 

I haven't seen this type of kit before BTW....obviously :rollin::dunno:

stlavsa Senior Enthusiast

stlavsa

Posted
Posted
i see your point but I personally have never heard of anything of that nature happening...

 

 

Nor have I heard of anything like that happening and I don't think they are unsafe. Otherise I wouldn't be running one. The lower mounted spacers are definately much cheaper and easier to install. Op, I would go with whatever kit you like best.

 

Maybe it just looks unsafe in the picture...it looks like its just weight holding the shock in place.

I haven't seen this type of kit before BTW....obviously :rollin::dunno:

 

 

The thing its mounted the exact same way with out the leveling spacer in there... all they do is provide a spacer and a longer bolt. The mounting location and style is the same as OEM.

tobias Senior Enthusiast

tobias

Posted
Posted

The Polymer RC kit will be plenty strong. RC's kits have been trouble-free on hundreds of trucks across this site and others. Don't over-think it, just order. :rollin:

MacA Enthusiast

MacA

Posted
Posted
The Polymer RC kit will be plenty strong. RC's kits have been trouble-free on hundreds of trucks across this site and others. Don't over-think it, just order. :rollin:

 

:dunno: +1

 

I just insalled the Rough Country 2" leveling kit on my 07 Silverado Crew Cab and was please with the quality of the parts and the ease of installation. When done I got exactly 1 7/8" height increase.

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