A lift or leveling kit can really elevate the ride height, handling, and capabilities of your Ford F-150. No matter if you’d like to make purely cosmetic changes with new wheels or you want enhanced off-road performance, there’s a lift or leveling kit that will get the job done.
What does a leveling kit do for a F-150?
With a front leveling kit, you can lift the front of your F-150 by 1.5 to 2.5″. You can achieve stock-style stances by inserting a rear lift block on the rear leaf springs to achieve a minimal height increase at all four points. You’ll also be able to install larger tires with a leveling kit – up to 33″ in diameter.
Will a leveling kit damage my truck?
A leveling kit will change the overall design of the vehicle, which will result in increased wear and tear on the suspension system. The good news is that there is a way to avoid these problems with professional installation and routine maintenance.
Do leveling kits hurt your suspension?
The weight of the vehicle rests on the suspension. If a front-end leveling kit is installed incorrectly, it can cause increased wear and tear on the suspension system.
Should I put a leveling kit on my F-150? – Related Questions
Is it better to lift or level a truck?
The Difference Between Leveling Kits & Lift Kits
Leveling kits raise the front-end of a vehicle by a few inches, correcting the nose-down stance and making it level with the height of the back. Lift kits provide much more ground clearance—sometimes up to 10 inches—and provide a smoother ride.
What are the pros and cons of a leveling kit?
Leveling Kit Pros and Cons
- Advantage: Inexpensive.
- Advantage: Easy to install.
- Advantage: Slightly more aggressive stance.
- Advantage: Can accommodate slightly larger tires.
- Disadvantage: Limited amount of lift.
- Disadvantage: Minimal change to look and style of truck.
Do I need to replace shocks when installing a leveling kit?
Some leveling kits utilize new performance shocks as part of the kit. If your stock shocks are worn out and you plan to drive like this, they should be replaced when you install a suspension leveling kit.
Does a leveling kit affect performance?
Adding a body leveling kit has no real impact on the suspension system. However, it can affect handling. It raises the vehicle’s center of gravity, making it slightly tippy around corners. A body leveling kit is another relatively inexpensive method for adding needed space for larger wheels and tires.
What can damage your suspension?
The main components of the suspensions system include the springs, shock absorbers, struts, control arms, and more. Being exposed on the bottom of your vehicle, these parts are constantly exposed to debris, rocks, speed bumps, potholes, and other driving occurrences which can potentially damage components.
What can mess up suspension?
Five Driving Habits That Will Mess Up Your Suspension
- Hitting Curbs.
- Speeding Over Speed Bumps.
- Slamming Into Parking Space Markers.
- Challenging Road Debris and Potholes.
- Slamming on the Brakes – All the Time.
Why do I feel every bump in my truck?
Feeling every bump
If you start to feel every bump on the road, it’s a clear sign that there is a problem with your shock absorbers or struts, that needs to be checked. An easy check is the bounce test. Simply push your entire weight down on your car’s bonnet. Release and count the number of times the car bounces.
Why do I feel every crack in the road?
High air pressure causes tires to wear out faster. If the pressure is excessively high or exceeds the manufacturer’s recommendations, the tire might blow out, particularly at high speed. An over-inflated tire will also cause you to feel every bump and crack in the road.
Can suspension mess up transmission?
The greatest, and generally last effect, of a worn suspension system is damage to your vehicle. This damage can extend to something as simple as a bent drive shaft to something as extensive as bent control arms, sheared tie rods, a busted transmission or a dead differential.
Can suspension ruin tires?
Worn or Damaged Suspension or Steering Components
If any of these parts are worn, this can result in uneven tire wear. Since the wheel and tire are no longer held securely the wear typically results in sporadic tire wear patterns.
Can suspension cause steering problems?
If your car becomes hard to steer, especially at low speed, something might be wrong with the suspension. Because your steering is linked to the suspension and the two rely on each other to get their respective jobs done, it’s important to pay attention to the steering – it’s the way you control your car.
Does suspension make you slower?
The simple answer is yes,a lot of the pedal power and speed momentum will be absorbed by suspension and lost.
What is the life expectancy of a suspension?
Some shock absorber manufacturers say you should replace them at 50,000 miles, but that’s more for their benefit than yours. Having the shocks and suspension parts inspected at 40,000 or 50,000 miles, then annually after that, is a better idea.
How long does the average suspension last?
“With heavy use, you could be looking to replace them at 40,000 or 50,000 miles or sooner. Under normal conditions, 75,000 to 90,000 miles might be reasonable.”