4WD Pick Up Levelling Kit?

Venetian · 01-25-2021, 05:51 AM

Not to take away from "Lift Kit" thread but what about pick up truck levelling kits? Primarily used to improve the stance of 4WD pick ups by raising the front end up to 2 inches. Any positive or negative comments?

flatbutt · 01-25-2021, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venetian

Not to take away from "Lift Kit" thread but what about pick up truck levelling kits? Primarily used to improve the stance of 4WD pick ups by raising the front end up to 2 inches. Any positive or negative comments?

Do you want to run larger tires?

Venetian · 01-25-2021, 06:02 AM

No bigger tires. Just to improve the stance or look.

Porchdog · 01-25-2021, 06:05 AM

I'm driving a 2017 GMC K1500. I was scraping the air dam under the bumper in the first hundred miles, just driving on a rough dirt road, not even really going off road. I do actually go off road so that wasn't working for me.

My cousin is the dealer I bought the truck from. He told me that more than half the 4x4 trucks he sells he installs levelling kits on before he delivers them - that's what his customers want. He buys the kits from Summit.

I installed a levelling kit myself about a month after I bought the truck. It's not a difficult job to DIY. You do need to reset the toe after installation. I measured toe using my homemade tool before and after - I needed to to make up about 3/8" after installation. No uneven tire wear after 30K, so I think it's fine.

I will probably be pulling that kit out and installing the adjustable Bilstein's soon. I have started to notice some hobby horsing on uneven freeways and I'd like some more flexibility on ride height. I'm running stock size tires. My air dam is pretty beat up at this point, I'm going to take it off.

flatbutt · 01-25-2021, 06:05 AM

AFAIK the kit is just to allow the larger tires. If it's just cosmetic well then of course it's up to you. Though not my cup of tea.

speeder · 01-25-2021, 06:50 AM

My answer completely depends on the truck and what type of leveling kit. On my old F-250 with leaf springs in front, the only acceptable kit is replacement springs. The kits w spacer blocks are garbage.

Arizona_928 · 01-25-2021, 06:59 AM

I think they're dumb. My Cummins has a stance, but when i put a heavy trailer on it. It levels out.
It's fun to see everyone drive with a camper through town with the front end sticking up bc they did a 2 inch leveling kit.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

If you just want to bring the front end up and still have OEM shocks and struts Bilstein 5100's have 3 settings for the front that can bring it up 2.25" and give better handling.

Porchdog · 01-25-2021, 08:42 AM

There are at least 7 other K1500's from the same series in the work parking lot. All but one have been leveled. Some have oversize tires, mine doesn't.
I had a full half ton in the bed last week (safe) - The truck still had some rake to the front.

I'm kind of annoyed that the truck came with the nose so low. It's a Z71 extended cab with the 5.3 and 6 speed. My 98 Z71 extended cab with 5.7 and 4 speed isn't nearly as low at the nose and only gets about 2MPG worse gas mileage. You would think in 20 years they would be able to do better for mileage with screwing up the off-road ability.

The Bilstein 5100's seem like the best answer - a couple guys at work have them and the improvement in ride/handling is noticeable.

Ford 1/2 ton 4x4's seem to have the same issue. You need to get a 3/4 ton (or now, the AT4) to get decent ground clearance in the front. The downside is they're a lot more expensive and get even worse gas mileage.

Radioactive · 09:13 AM

On my 2018 GMC 1500 CC Z71 started with spacer/lift for the front. Changed shocks to Bilstein 5100, the fronts are adjustable for the ride height. Ride and handling improvement.
its a no brainer.

908/930 · 908/930's Garage

My 2500 was cranked up, I lowered it down some, the 2500 sits high, one thing I find is in parking lots you cant see crap in front of the truck.

Venetian · 01-25-2021, 10:26 AM

Thanks for the comments. The truck is 14 years old so new shocks probably a good thing anyway. I will look into the Bilstein option. Sounds like an easy solution.

VINMAN · 01-25-2021, 11:50 AM

I have a leveling kit on my Super Duty dually. Had one on my previous truck too. I hate the stock stance of the truck ( its not a hot rod..) Had zero issues with it.

David · David's Garage

Maybe a bit more than you're looking for but the Bilstein 6112 front coilovers look really nice.

They're 60mm shocks so much better damping than some shocks costing even more that are only 2".

I keep thinking about adding a truck so I've been having fun researching suspension for a vehicle I don't even have

A930Rocket · 01-25-2021, 06:30 PM

The Bilsteins are good. The only issue with a level is going to high and creating a ball joint binding issue.

onewhippedpuppy · 01-26-2021, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigster59

If you just want to bring the front end up and still have OEM shocks and struts Bilstein 5100's have 3 settings for the front that can bring it up 2.25" and give better handling.

I put Bilstein 5100s on every truck I buy. Massive improvement in handling and ride quality, the ability to level is just a bonus.