Have been searching around and trying to get a good idea of what a leveling kit does, can anyone explain it for me? I am interested in susp. lift, small 3", but seems like this is not available yet or never for our trucks. What is the difference b/t a leveling kit/susp. lift/body lift? What does each allow you to do/what are the gains? Big question, but my searching hasn't answered these questions.

 

Well a leveling kits does as it says. If you look at our trucks stock, there is a rake to it, meaning the front is lower then the rear. The leveling kits make the truck sit level. It place a spacer in either on top or below the spring causing "lift" in the front end, hence taking the rake out. There are also lowering shackles that will lower the rear, gaining the same leveled look.

A suspension lift isnt available for our truck. A lift in turn, does the same thing as a leveling kit except its more drastic and usually includes longer shocks, new a-arms possibly, blocks, and an assortment of items, etc. It does both the front and rear also.

A body lift, lifts the body above the frame. It doesnt lift the suspension at all. Just makes the truck higher, body wise.

 

 

To add to what lghtngblt02 has already said,

A leveling kit (most designs) lowers the entire strut, in its frame mount, by going between the mounting location on the frame and the strut itself. Since the strut is displaced, it literally puts your suspension in a less compressed position, like its on its "tippy toes". The balanced ride height now becomes a few inches higher, so your control arms run lower, more angled, as well as everything else on the front end.

Leveling kits generally only come in 1" to 3" varieties, and no larger. This is mainly because they are very incomplete from a suspension stand point. Because the kit lowers the strut, it causes the Cv joint angles to run at angles that are actually out of spec, and will in fact decrease there service life. The same goes for the front end ball joints, the tie rod ends, and this can cause wear at the steering rack, where the inner tie rod meets.

In reality, they are an inexpensive way to achieve lift, and they create several issues for a front end IFS setup.

If you must have some lift, then you install a kit like this at your own risk.

Most manufacturers will state that there leveling kits keep the stock suspension "in spec" but that is simply not true, ever. You simply cannot lengthen the size of a strut in an IFS setup, and everything will stay in spec. It always results in unacceptable angles.

I have installed 3 leveling kits. 2 on a 3rd gen dakota, and 1 on an F150. Each time, the upper control arm ran out of play when the strut was fully extended with the kit installed, the arm in result rests on the coil spring of the strut. This now makes the upper ball joint on the control arm the suspension limiter, and not the shock inside the strut. Thats not too kosher.

With this particular truck (and really all of them) the Cv joints may "work" with a leveling kit, but that are at pathetic operating angles, and will run a shorter service life. The same goes for the inner tie rods and the rack they operate in.

Despite all of this, people still run these kits. They are cheap, easy to install, and easy to remove for service. Some people get lucky and run the kits for years with no issues related to them. Others are plagued with issues from the start. Some get 100k out of there Cv's with the kit, and claim that its reliable. They most likely would have gotten 200k out of the same CV without the kit installed however. Since some parts fail sooner then others, who really can give a concrete answer?

A few quick google searches will reveal some other problems the kits create. Most mechanics I talk to wouldn't go near a leveling kit, they simply know what you can and cannot do to an IFS.

I am not anti-leveling kits, but I feel like everyone should know the CONS of something before they jump into using a product on there vehicle that they spent good money on.

Suspension lift kits on the other hand (complete kits) usually address all of the problems created by a leveling kit. That is why they come with so many parts, and cost a lot to purchase and install.

Body lift kits are all together different, they literally raise teh body of the truck off the frame of the truck. The trucks ride height is really no higher, just the body. It gives the illusion of a lifted truck. These are usually installed to clear very large tires (which actually do lift the truck).

 

thanks for clearing that up monkeywrench.
I to had been wondering about leveling kits.

 

wow okay...i'm gonna say what everyone was probably thinking when they saw the post before they read it "what is a leveling kit? are you serious? holy Crap this can't be a real ?" lol sorry man had to...its one of those days in Korea that i love to be a smart donkey! lol ugh anyone here been to Korea military wise? and knows what i'm talking about?

 

A leveling kit levels the truck? That is what I would think. Just sayin'

 

Aside from the obvious "leveling the truck" my question was meant to help me have the idea of how it works. But, there is always a comedian in the crowd. Also, what the difference is between the types of lifts and how they give the lift to the truck.

 

I was going to put one on mine because i really didn't like the snowplow effect mine had in deeper snow. Yeah, I got stuck a couple times.

Then my wife got me the brush guard and winch for my birthday last year, and had to get the kit just to bring the nose back up to where it was supposed to be, plus a little bit more. Picture I have below is before the leveling kit.

Yes, I know! I need a new picture! It's been over a year now!

 

Dont let it bother ya. Some members just think they know everything. Everyone here for the same reasons to learn from another and make friends. I'll be the first to admit when I don't know something

So ask away!