2014+ Leveling Kits

Northernmoris · December 9, 2016

I'm also wondering if it will be easier to pop the 15mm nuts of the lower control arm so the bolts will drop through. Then install the nuts under the arm compared to above the lower strut?

Northernmoris · December 9, 2016

Disclaimer: I have been wrenching on my vehicles for a long time and just about anything short of serious engine work is in my wheel house. So take my assessment with a grain of salt.

Installed the one on my truck at the top of the page the other night. Nothing other than some basic hand tools, a floor jack, hammer and some jack stands. Ratchet wrenches make the upper strut bolts a breeze. Did one side at a time. 3 hrs start to finish with a dinner break and I wasn't in a rush at all. Just go get an alignment after for $80 and save some coin on the install. Its an easy project. Have a 1/2" electric impact and you can cut some serious time out of the project.

Follow MotoFab's directions and it goes smooth.

There are a few little things that I will scrutinize about the kit, but its just nitpicky stuff. I would still recommend the kit to any K2xx owner.

1) The 2.5 kit that uses only an upper spacer is intended for you to install the strut 180* from how it is originally placed in the truck. (I assume any of their upper spacer only kits are the same) In theory this should work, but the lower shock mount is clocked about 10* to match the angle of the lower control arm at standard ride height. When you re-install the strut 180* out, the angle of the lower mount does not align with the upper and you have to push the strut back into the tower AND jack the control arm up at the same time. Kind of cumbersome, but not a big deal. Just annoying. If I did it again, I would just pull the front end apart and switch the struts left and right to solve that problem. From looking at the part numbers, there isn't anything special about valving or spring rates as far as I can tell so it shouldn't affect the truck one little bit. I could go into a whole thing about shock/strut placement and angle, but at the end of the day, for a street truck that occasionally sees some dirt, no big deal, so I wont over-complicate it for the masses.

2) The upper strut mount hardware they supply is specified as 16mm, mine was 17mm. No big deal, just a different socket.

I'm having trouble with jacking up the control arm while lining g up the lower strut. Can anyone confirm I can just swap strut assemblies so the angles match?

TNSmokee · December 9, 2016

Anyone here with a zone offroad 2" level

I just had the Zone 2" level kit put on my 17. It was as close to perfect level as you could get. There was less than 3/4" rake in the rear. I filled it completely with fuel and it leveled it perfectly. I'm going to add the RC 2" rear block just to give it a little rake, especially when full.

quise2024 · December 9, 2016

I just had the Zone 2" level kit put on my 17. It was as close to perfect level as you could get. There was less than 3/4" rake in the rear. I filled it completely with fuel and it leveled it perfectly. I'm going to add the RC 2" rear block just to give it a little rake, especially when full.

Nice, thanks for the reply. Riding good? Ill have one put on my '15 tomorrow. If it levels like yours ill be nose high for a bit since im hauling my old tires/wheels plus 150lbs of salt bags in the bed. I filled up last night too lol.

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TNSmokee · December 9, 2016

I've only had it done for a couple of days. I wanted a little more rake so that's why I will be adding the 2" to the back. I am a newbee to 4 wheel drives. This is my first, my son and future son-in-law told me I had to level it. I did and I love it. It seems to ride just a little stiffer but that might be my imagination. It's a 4x4. If you want it level then this is the kit for you. I did have the shop install the bolts from the top so there is no rub on the tie rod.

Crafty34 · December 9, 2016

Tested my new set up today. Kings paired with Cognito UCA's. The ride is outstanding! Getting a lot of rub on the carpet so ill need to trim it this weekend and maybe crank the coilovers up a little higher.

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abominable z71 · December 10, 2016

Tested my new set up today. Kings paired with Cognito UCA's. The ride is outstanding! Getting a lot of rub on the carpet so ill need to trim it this weekend and maybe crank the coilovers up a little higher.

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What's the verdict on the kings versus the quick lifts, I'm sure they're better but are they 5 times better to justify 5x the cost ?

Crafty34 · December 10, 2016

What's the verdict on the kings versus the quick lifts, I'm sure they're better but are they 5 times better to justify 5x the cost ?

I think the Kings are 100% better than the quicklifts. Yes the price is steep but I plan on keeping this truck 8-10 years so I want it to ride nice. It is so smooth over rough terrain and speed bumps. I would definitely recommend if you are planning on keeping your ride for longer than just a couple of years. Im now saving for the rear to match the front.

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asalinasz39 · December 10, 2016

This is where my local dealership sends them to get leveled. "One stop shop" Paid $299 for a upper strut steel spacer including labor and alignment.

Before front: 36.75"

After front: 39"

Before rear: 40.25"

After rear: 39.25"

So it is sitting pretty damm leveled lol....but still have to ride it and let the suspension settle out.

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JoJoSilverado · December 11, 2016

This is where my local dealership sends them to get leveled. "One stop shop" Paid $299 for a upper strut steel spacer including labor and alignment.

Before front: 36.75"

After front: 39"

Before rear: 40.25"

After rear: 39.25"

So it is sitting pretty damm leveled lol....but still have to ride it and let the suspension settle out.

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So you didn't do anything to the back end? When they added the 2.5 FRONT level, the back went down? Or was the tank filled up before you did the "after" measurements?

quise2024 · December 11, 2016

Zone Offroad 2" Level (front only)

LTZ16 · December 11, 2016

Asalines, Did you just do a 2' level lift, I have the same truck as you and was going to purchase the zone 2" level kit, install it next weekend, but worried the front will sit a little higher then the back.. How the ride, and how many miles have you logged sense the lift

abominable z71 · December 11, 2016

I'm having trouble with jacking up the control arm while lining g up the lower strut. Can anyone confirm I can just swap strut assemblies so the angles match?

Geometricaly this won't work, not because the struts are different parts left to right, but because it's a mirror the strut will still be clocked about 20 degrees the wrong direction, I leveled my truck with the 2.5 moto fab and hated it, the truck rode like crap so I went with quicklifts instead. You need a drift punch to help line up the lower strut holes, its a pain but do able.

Edited December 11, 2016 by abominable z71

asalinasz39 · December 11, 2016

So you didn't do anything to the back end? When they added the 2.5 FRONT level, the back went down? Or was the tank filled up before you did the "after" measurements?

Yeah i just had it leveled today and the tank is about halfway. So the rear dropped about 1" after the 2.5 front only spacer. I made sure to park in the same spot on my driveway to take after measurements. I think i still have to drive her a few more miles and to allow the suspension to settle.

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asalinasz39 · December 11, 2016

Asalines, Did you just do a 2' level lift, I have the same truck as you and was going to purchase the zone 2" level kit, install it next weekend, but worried the front will sit a little higher then the back.. How the ride, and how many miles have you logged sense the lift

Mine is a 2.5" front top strut spacer lift so your 2" should give you a slight rake. The ride feels the same to me. Just did the lift today and drove her for about 50 miles and not a noticeable ride difference in my opinion.

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