2" blocks I can probably pick up from anywhere, no problem
BUT
the leveling kit i've been seeing around here.... WHICH ONE?!
I want a fairly easy install if possible, but I want the quality foremost.
There are like 10,000 companies making these "leveling" kits.
I know a lot of you like the daystar ones, why and what's the difference?
I thought jacking up my truck was gonna cost me, but shoot, looks like i'll spend 150-200!
I have the tools and the know how to do most anything on a car/truck, so i'm just looking for quality/ease.
Thanks guys!
Lee

 

I've heard Daystar has the life time warrenty, it ever brakes it will be replaced! no questions, now a company that does that must have faith in there parts. I would go with the daystar, seems to be the most popular and haven't heard bad things about it.

 

Biker is right. They do warranty the item for life, even if your not the original owner who installed the kit on the vehicle.

The polyurathaine cannot be misshaped, compressed or destroyed from use in the truck of weather (so i have been told by daystar) Since they are a puck style spacer that mounts on top of the strut plate, and not inside the spring, it really would be impossible for them to wear in any way.

I live in NY and the salt is killing my truck as it is so the polyurathane seems to shine over metal for me, but I am sure the metal would last too, i mean most of the suspesnion parts are steel right?

Most everyone now seems to be going with the over the strut type of leveling kit, from daystar, autospring and other compaines. But alot of people already have the Trailmaster inside the strut spacer.

Over the strut spacer (like daystar and autospring):

THE PRO: Does not extend factory strut and spring, simply moves the strut down, or displaces it lower on the strut mount location thats on the frame. This keeps the strut and spring at the factory length and rate, so they will last there full normal life. This is why most people go for this kit type. This kit simply required you to remove the strut and mount it to the top plate, you can do it at home easily with hand tools, no spring compression required.

THE CON: When the truck is under maximum articulation, like if the wheels are off the ground, since the strut is 2" lower then the factory location, it allows the suspension to droop 2" more, which will pull the upper control arm down and in, it may contact the coil spring, but no one really has that issue.

The funny thing is, you don't need a kit to do this, you can technically remove the upper strut mount on the frame, and re-weld it a few inches lower to achieve the same type of lift. But that takes fab skills.

Inside the strut spacer (like trailmaster):

THE PRO: the spacer mounts inside the strut, loading the spring more, which makes the lift. This stretches the strut to sit longer. In other words, it uses up some of the articulation of the strut. So if the strut normally sits at "0" and its at "+5" at its maximum length, then it makes it sit at "+2 or +3". Since the strut sits in its factory location on the frame mount, and will still stop drooping at "+5" it will keep your control arms and balljoints within the factory range of motion, which should keep there maximum long life. This is why most people go with THIS kit.

THE CONS: You gain no real extra suspension travel with this kit because it steals some to lift the truck. You also run the risk of blowing or wearing out the strut and spring faster, due to the extended length it causes, and the extra pre-load on the spring. Installation required you to compress the strut spring and install the spacer inside the strut, harder to do at home, but still can be done. Definately a bigger job though.



It comes down to you for which you would prefer. Most of use prefer the over the strut type of kit. (like the daystar) People are getting about an extra 1/2" of lift out of the kit over the trailmaster, which seems to settle at 1.5" of lift. The over the strut type is the most popular, and most trucks run these types of kits.

HOWEVER, if you are a big wheeler, or do some heavy offroading with your dakota, the Trailmaster has a better chance of saving your CV shafts in the long run, and its because it does not allow the strut and front end suspension and CVs to extend any longer then it could from the factory, because like i said before it uses up some suspension travel, but it WONT allow the suspension to travel more then it would then if it were stock.

However, this also means no articulation is gained, and alot of people that wheel think its pointless then.

LOL. Lots to think about!!


I went with the Daystar, lifetime warranty, I talked to there techs about specific questions and they know there stuff, and the kit rides great and the quality top notch.

Good Luck!

 

You forgot a pro for TM inside the strut. Stiffens up the ride, still a bit bouncy but not as wimpy-soft as it was stock, I hated the stock ride

 

You had me at "Warranty"

 

OH, and the best place to buy the kit?

 

If you are still looking for the leveling kit here is were i got mine:

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Lift-Kits...9333&t_pl=7140

They are running a special on it right now from $129.99. now for $116.99...

 

I don't think you would need a lifetime warranty with the TM, as it is just a slab of aluminum, nothing to go wrong there!

LB

 

If you manage to break the TM I'd hate to see what the rest of the suspension looks like, it's a solid milled ring, lol.