Leveling Kit

[Neutron]

What would yall recommend for a leveling kit? I haven't determined what it would take to level my truck. How would I do so?

 

I just ordered the Vette Servo to upgrade the transmission. In the next month or two I'm going to get new tires and maybe new wheels as well.

[Stevens03]

RC 1.5" or 2" kit. Very easy to install and levels the truck nice

[orlan85]

Rough country leveling kit seams to be what everyon is using around here. The price compared to the other leveling kits out there can not be beat. Do a search for leveling kit or rough country. There must be at least to post every week on this. You'll find some pretty good information about this kit

[cbsaf]

I used a Top Gun Customz kit. It was the 1.5" that used three steel plates so it could be adjusted to different heights. They have different kits that range from .5 inch to 2.5 inches.

 

As far as I know the Rough Country kit comes as a one piece polymer spacer now that can only be used as a 2 inch lift. They used to have an adjustable metal kit but discontinued it.

[texasblueline]

I'm going with the Bilstein 5100 adjustable shocks (there's some info there comparing them to leveling kits) after reading about a few others here who have them. I got mine in last week and just haven't had a chance to install them yet. You can set them for 0.6", 1.2", or 1.75" worth of front lift when you install them. I'm going with the 1.2" setting to give my 285s a little extra room and to bring it a little closer to level, but to hopefully try to reduce the accelerated wear that leveling kits can cause on front end components. Of course knowing me, after they're all installed I'll probably decide I want the 1.75" setting and will have to take them off and change them, but that's the fun of modifying your truck. They're pricier than the RC kit (I paid about $210 shipped), but I hope slowing any wear will negate that in the end. We'll see.

[Neutron]

Leveling kits can accelerate front end component wear?

[biggjay96x]

I used a Top Gun Customz kit. It was the 1.5" that used three steel plates so it could be adjusted to different heights. They have different kits that range from .5 inch to 2.5 inches.

 

As far as I know the Rough Country kit comes as a one piece polymer spacer now that can only be used as a 2 inch lift. They used to have an adjustable metal kit but discontinued it.

After your post i picked up a top gun 1.5 kit for myself too.

next week ill post some pics.

 

should i do a write up/pics on how to install this style kit for other members or is it to self explanatory.

[texasblueline]

Leveling kits can accelerate front end component wear?

Yes, to some degree. But to me and many others the look, height, and tire clearance are worth the trade-off of a little quicker wear. I don't know exactly how much quicker you can expect things to need replacing, but from my limited experience with my '02 Silverado (with the torsion bars cranked which also accelerates wear), I didn't notice any huge issues with things wearing out too quick. That's why I figure the 1.2" setting on the Bilsteins will be a nice compromise.

[nootron69]

What would yall recommend for a leveling kit? I haven't determined what it would take to level my truck. How would I do so?

 

I just ordered the Vette Servo to upgrade the transmission. In the next month or two I'm going to get new tires and maybe new wheels as well.

 

I have seen so many posts about vette servos, researched it on old threads, but what is the skinny? My truck does great on shifting, what gives?

[cbsaf]

Should I do a write up/pics on how to install this style kit for other members or is it to self explanatory.

 

Ironically enough even though I bought the Top Gun kit I used Zone Offroad's instructions for loosening the OEM parts. The only part I was worried about was any spring tension that could cause injury. It is important to know that once the truck is jacked up and off the ground all the spring tension is gone between the control arms. You can disassemble in any order.

 

The only thing to be cautious of is spinning the upper ball joint and tearing the rubber boot. When I retorqued the upper ball joint I Tighten by hand using a box wrench and an allen wrench to control the spinning. I then torqued at 20ft/lbs and watched for spinning. If any spinning started I spun it back and tightened a little more using the standard wrench and allen wrench. I kept this up in increasing torque increments until it was torqued at 44 ft/lbs with no rotation.

[biggjay96x]

Should I do a write up/pics on how to install this style kit for other members or is it to self explanatory.

 

Ironically enough even though I bought the Top Gun kit I used Zone Offroad's instructions for loosening the OEM parts. The only part I was worried about was any spring tension that could cause injury. It is important to know that once the truck is jacked up and off the ground all the spring tension is gone between the control arms. You can disassemble in any order.

 

The only thing to be cautious of is spinning the upper ball joint and tearing the rubber boot. When I retorqued the upper ball joint I Tighten by hand using a box wrench and an allen wrench to control the spinning. I then torqued at 20ft/lbs and watched for spinning. If any spinning started I spun it back and tightened a little more using the standard wrench and allen wrench. I kept this up in increasing torque increments until it was torqued at 44 ft/lbs with no rotation.

 

thanx for the tips. ill do the same.

[duck44]

I went with the Daystar level kit. There was no need to twist the struts or swap sides. They ride very well and I am super satisfied. If you go to 4 wheel parts there is and interesting video on their product. I had a Skyjacker on my last truck and you had to swap side to keep everything aligned.