What Is A Leveling Kit? A Complete Description

What is a leveling kit? A leveling kit is a practical tool used to raise a truck’s front so the body may travel further away from the axles. Leveling your 44 will increase your vehicle’s overall ground clearance and enable you to use wider tires (if desired). How then do leveling kits function?

A Leveling Kit Contains What?

A strut spacer that ranges in size from 1 to 3 inches is typically included in leveling kits. The truck’s chassis and the upper spring perch are separated by the spacer. Without significantly changing the suspension geometry of your car, the result is to raise the truck’s chassis by that much space.

The leveling kit may come with spacers that are made from three or more laser-cut steel pieces or that are fabricated from a billet aluminum block, depending on the manufacturer and application. A leveling kit comes with a fresh set of torsion bar keys for torsion rod front suspension-using applications like the 2011–2017 Silverado 2500HD and 3500HD.

A Truck Leveling Kit Is What?

Most truck manufacturers incorporate light to medium amount of rake into the design of the truck. Rake describes a truck’s front and back is slightly different heights. The bubble would be positioned toward the back of the truck if a carpenter’s level were placed on the bed rails. This design is very intentional, especially for a vehicle with a large cargo capacity. Any vehicle’s suspension will compress as it receives additional weight.

Trucks have a maximum load carrying capacity. The truck’s rear will be higher than its front when empty. The truck’s rear end may be slightly lower than the front when it is fully loaded.

A truck leveling kit raises the front of your truck to even out the overall stance of the vehicle. If you don’t frequently load your truck or tow a heavy trailer, installing a leveling kit will allow you to fit bigger wheels and tires on your truck for a relatively low cost.

What Kinds Of Leveling Kits Are There?

Coil Spring Spacers

Your spring buckets’ top or bottom are filled with these spacers. Some coil spring spacers may come with shock extensions and bump stop relocation to account for the increased lift, depending on the height of your leveling kit.

Torsion Bar Keys

This kind of kit is a little more complicated than the other two because it replaces factory parts rather than merely augments them. These are used to modify the height of torsion bar suspension systems. Compared to the factory keys, these OEM replacements are more durable and designed to handle the additional lift.

Strut Extensions

Simply place these extensions on the top or bottom of your existing struts to use them; they work exactly as their name implies. These are utilized on cars with front Coilover struts.

Lifting & Leveling Advantages

One of the biggest benefits of leveling a truck is that it enables the use of larger tires on all four corners. While most pickups have ample clearance in the back, upfront, larger tires can occasionally contact the fender or bumper when turning. For this kind of problem, a slight height increase is all that is necessary. Additionally, if a large object is added to the front of the truck, such as a winch or plow, the suspension may sag, resulting in a ride height that is even lower than stock. In this situation, using a leveling kit will allow you to raise the front end back up to the right height. Leveling kits are affordable and simple to assemble.

There are benefits to lifting a diesel with a suspension system. Many people opt to use extremely large wheels and tires, like 37-inch tires mounted on 20-inch wheels. Only a lift kit will be able to remove the rubber in this situation, giving the car a smooth ride and good handling. Additionally, many modern trucks are constructed with low-to-the-ground features that give them a car-like appearance. Rocks, debris, and even just being smashed up on rough roads can all harm low bumpers, exhaust, and running boards. When the going gets rough, a lift kit prevents all these mechanical and body components from being damaged. When traveling off-road, lift kits are also very helpful. Having bigger tires, more suspension travel, and better ground clearance are huge benefits for lifting a truck, whether it’s through rocks, mud, or deep snow.

Lifting & Leveling Disadvantages

Potentially harmful side effects must be considered before any modification to a vehicle is made. The biggest disadvantage of leveling kits is frequently that they lack style because they are so simple. Many people order a leveling kit in the hopes that it will change the appearance of their truck, but frequently, looking stock-ish is insufficient, so they upgrade to a lift kit later. Some people might not like the stance because it can frequently be nose-high, especially when towing a trailer.

Fuel economy is the main issue with suspension systems that we hear about. More suspension components will be exposed to the wind with a significant lift, in addition to heavier and wider wheels and tires. All other things being equal, the additional weight and aerodynamic drag results in a roughly 20 percent decrease from the previous observation. For some, the price increase at the gas pump is well worth the difference in utility and style that a lifted truck brings.

Uncontrolled steering oscillation also referred to as “death wobble,” is more likely to happen after installing leveling or lift kits than it would with a stock truck. There are ways to prevent or treat this (see page 128), but it might play a role in either decision.

How Much Lift Can A Leveling Kit Provide?

You can lift up to 2-2 with the majority of leveling kits.5 inches (5-6.4 cm), while even some can provide significantly smaller lifts. However, your vehicle’s model and the amount of rake in the stance should be taken into consideration when choosing the best leveling kit. You’ll discover that some 4x4s require a little bit more lift than other trucks to achieve a level stance.

However, it might be preferable to use a lifting kit if you intend to install leveling kits to increase the overall lift of your truck. Your truck will lift significantly farther from the axles with a full lift system, increasing ground clearance.  

What Tire Size Can I Use Once A Leveling Kit Is Installed?

Considering that most leveling kits only provide 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6.4 cm) of lift, you won’t have too much flexibility when choosing tire size. But you can fit wheels that are up to two sizes bigger than the stock wheels thanks to the nose lift. 

Your vehicle’s usage, your acceptable tire rub limits, and whether you feel comfortable trimming your fender are all things you should take into account when choosing your ideal tire size.

After Installing A Leveling Kit, Will Truck Require New Shocks?

Some leveling kits still use the factory shocks, so not all of them require new shocks. If your truck’s shocks have been in use for a while and you’re the aggressive off-road driver, you might want to replace them. Fortunately, some premium truck leveling kits include performance shocks that assist in controlling the larger, heavier tires, particularly on rough terrain.

Can The Cheapest Leveling Kits Perform Well?

Like the majority of products, inexpensive units are typically of lower quality than their more expensive counterparts. If all you want is a leveled stance, a cheap leveling kit may be useful. However, purchasing high-end leveling kits is strongly advised for off-road performance and the transportation of potentially heavy items.

Which Coil Spacer Is Better: Steel, Aluminum, or Polyurethane?

While each material used in coil spacers has advantages and disadvantages that can vary, polyurethane stands out because it is impervious to common road chemicals and automotive fluids. 

When compared to steel or aluminum, polyurethane has more flex, which helps absorb the tension that would otherwise be transmitted to the frame and reduce chassis noise.

Can Leveling Kits Be Installed at Home?

The most straightforward lift kits to install as a do-it-yourself project are leveling kits. However, your ability to complete the task depends largely on your wrenching skills. To lift the front of your truck successfully, you’ll need strong jack stands, a reliable floor jack, and a number of hand tools.

Even though some car owners might think it’s easy to install these kits, it’s always best to leave it to the professionals, especially if it’s your first time. Cars with independent front suspension require more work, which is why, if you have any doubts about your ability to complete the job thoroughly, you should hire experienced professionals.

Conclusion

In order to increase ground clearance, leveling kits raise the front portion of a truck to a height that is equal to the stock height at the back. These crucial kits offer a two-inch elevation, eliminating the raked stance that most entirely stock trucks have.