to do or not to do.... level kit

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - to do or not to do.... level kit

Posted: 12/18/2010 11:05:35 AM EDT

ok so i just bought my 2011 dodge ram and im wondering about putting a level kit on it that would bring the front up 2-2.5". it would cost me about 400$. im sure it would look better but do you think it would
effect MPGs at all?
http://www.readylift.com/c-246-dodge-ram-1500-2011-up-4wd-only-25.aspx

oh and my new rifle ;)

Posted: 12/18/2010 11:06:58 AM EDT

[#1]

DO IT!

Posted: 12/18/2010 11:10:23 AM EDT

[#2]

I always want to do that to my F150, I just can't justify spending the $ on it. I prefer to spend my monies on Guns, ammo, women and liquor...maybe not in that order though

Posted: 12/18/2010 11:18:39 AM EDT

[#3]

dont do it.
buy more ammo for our new rifle, or save the money.

Posted: 12/18/2010 11:28:51 AM EDT

[#4]

Do it. I put a kit on my Commander, 2" plus larger tires, so 3" over stock. Doesnt affect gas mileage much at all.
Stock

After lift

Posted: 12/18/2010 11:43:17 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:

dont do it.

buy more ammo for our new rifle, or save the money.

Something we need to know about?

Posted: 12/18/2010 1:30:30 PM EDT

[#6]

anyone else have any opinions?

Posted: 12/18/2010 1:32:19 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
DO IT!

First post and all.

Posted: 12/18/2010 1:52:36 PM EDT

[#8]

My '07 Ram 4x4 needs new struts and I may put in a leveling kit at the same time. They look better with one and I'll just have to re-aim the headlights.

Posted: 12/18/2010 3:37:29 PM EDT

[#9]

I wouldn't.

Posted: 12/18/2010 3:47:09 PM EDT

[#10]

do it, I hee hawed around about putting one on my F150 and after putting it on I determined that was the best and cheapest improvement I made to the truck. It finally looked like it should've come from the factory. I installed a kit from Auto Spring and it cost $69 shipped+ around $100 to have someone install it and another $50 to have the front end aligned afterwards. I've had the kit on for 24,000mi and have had no ill effects on handling/mileage after installing the kit.

Posted: 12/18/2010 3:52:01 PM EDT

[#11]

There's a right way to level that truck, and the link you provided is not it IMO.

I went through the same thing about a year ago on my pickup. To do it right you need to buy adjustable coilover shocks, and possibly some upper control arms depending on how high you want to go.

Those shim kits make trucks ride like shit IMO.

Posted: 12/18/2010 3:55:29 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
There's a right way to level that truck, and the link you provided is not it IMO.

I went through the same thing about a year ago on my pickup. To do it right you need to buy adjustable coilover shocks, and possibly some upper control arms depending on how high you want to go.

Those shim kits make trucks ride like shit IMO.

out of all the people i have ever heard from no one has said that... how could it make it ride any worse? the install guys have all told me there is no effect on the way the truck rides.

Posted: 12/18/2010 4:01:45 PM EDT

[#13]

My buddy put a leveling kit in an '02 GMC 1/2 ton and it cost him allot more then just the price of the kit.

You will have to get an alignment done afterwards, but seeing as how it's new I can't see you having a problem. He had to replace all of his ball joints (which he wasn't expecting).

Also, FUCK DODGE and Obama motors. Why in the fuck would you buy a Dodge?

Posted: 12/18/2010 4:03:08 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:

Quoted:
There's a right way to level that truck, and the link you provided is not it IMO.

I went through the same thing about a year ago on my pickup. To do it right you need to buy adjustable coilover shocks, and possibly some upper control arms depending on how high you want to go.

Those shim kits make trucks ride like shit IMO.

out of all the people i have ever heard from no one has said that... how could it make it ride any worse? the install guys have all told me there is no effect on the way the truck rides.

You're changing the geometry of the whole front suspension, and you're also limiting the upward travel of the control arms.

My brother has a similar kit on his 08-09' F150, it was relatively cheap, and provided the lift, but the truck has a noticeably harsher ride (in his opinion).

ETA: As targettarget mentioned, the ball joints will also be put outside of their normal operating range (which is why, depending on the lift you might need to get upper control arms)

Unfortunately, all of this shit is pretty expensive, but after my fairly extensive research into the subject, it is the right way to go about it.

Posted: 12/18/2010 4:03:17 PM EDT

[#15]

I dont know about the link you posted. I have a spacer kit from Rough Country that has steel spacers on top of the front struts and on top of the rear springs. The ride is not affected at all.

Posted: 12/18/2010 4:04:06 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:

Quoted:
There's a right way to level that truck, and the link you provided is not it IMO.

I went through the same thing about a year ago on my pickup. To do it right you need to buy adjustable coilover shocks, and possibly some upper control arms depending on how high you want to go.

Those shim kits make trucks ride like shit IMO.

out of all the people i have ever heard from no one has said that... how could it make it ride any worse? the install guys have all told me there is no effect on the way the truck rides.

some of the leveling kits do affect ride quality, the ones that you install in between the top of the spring and the pocket the spring fits into will make the ride harsher because you are preloading the spring. The kind like I got installs above the spring mount and basically moves the whole spring assembly down, but doesn't affect the ride at all because the spring isn't being preloaded. With a leveling kit you will loose a little bit of downward wheel travel and that might affect the ride if you get into really rough terrain, but if you wheel that hard you should really go with an actual lift kit. Bilstein and Rancho makes adjustable struts that are supposed to work really good, but they are alot more than going with the spacer type of leveling kit.

Posted: 12/18/2010 4:11:58 PM EDT

[#17]

Coil spacers may not noticeably effect your daily ride, but it will affect offroad performance. Its not bad enough to not get the kit if you wanna level your truck, though.

That said, I say 'spring' (HAH.. GET IT?!!?) for some adjustable coilovers. Your ride and performance offroad will be improved a little.

Either way you wanna go, I say do it. The whole raked out, street truck look right out of the factory makes me sad. Trucks should be level.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - to do or not to do.... level kit

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