If you have ever looked at any truck’s side profile, you might have noticed the rear of the truck raked up higher than the front. This is to compensate for putting weight in the rear to allow it to sit flat with a full load. This can come in handy for those that are using their truck for hauling various materials.
Not all owners are hauling or towing with their trucks. Often enthusiasts will purchase a truck to take it off-road as they were also designed to do. To gain more ground clearance, owners typically install a set of wheels and tires. The issue is that sometimes the tires barely don’t clear the front fenders. A simple solution that many enthusiasts have resorted to is leveling kits.
Why Do I Need A Lift Or Leveling Kit?
When it comes to taking your truck off-road there can be debris that the factory ride height can’t clear. Hitting the undercarriage can be catastrophic depending on the item. A blow to the oil pan, transmission, driveshaft, or differential could force the fun to a halt in a matter of seconds.
Simply installing a lift kit or leveling kit can give your truck the extra clearance it needs. In order to safely travel most trails, a factory height truck will have a hard time as the lack of ground clearance forces the vehicle to move over rough terrain much slower in fear of bottoming out.
Leveling the truck matches the front ride height to the rear. Many kits are simply a strut spacer that easily bolts onto the top of the strut assembly. Other leveling kits bolt to the bottom of the strut body for a much easier installation.
Most lift kits raise the whole truck two-four inches all around, but this can come with consequences if not remedied properly. Installing a simple lift kit can cause a shift in suspension geometry. Most cheaper lift kits do not correct the ball joint mounting point or the angle at which the control arms rest. Kits that offer additional suspension components like control arms, struts, and tie rods are reliable and safe as they maintain proper suspension geometry.
#1 Southern Truck Bolt-On 2-Inch Leveling Kit
For those that want to maintain their factory ride quality while matching front ride height to the rear, the Southern Truck bolt-on 2-inch leveling kit is the perfect solution. Simply bolting on to the bottom strut mount, the Southern Truck leveling kit provides a solid mounting point while raising the front suspension.
Utilizing the bottom of the strut mount offers a quick install without having to disassemble the strut assembly. Saving time, improving aesthetics, and maintaining the factory ride quality is all achieved with the Southern Truck leveling kit. No modification is necessary for install as it simply bolts to the lower strut mount to lift the suspension.
Click Here To Purchase Your Southern Truck Lower Strut Spacers
#2 Daystar 2-inch Leveling Kit
Daystar developed the 2-inch leveling kit to provide an easy installation while retaining the factory suspension geometry. The Daystar leveling kit consists of two strut spacers that install on the top of the strut assembly. This method maintains the factory suspension dynamics, and ride quality which is essential for some owners.
Achieving more ground clearance is attainable upon the installation of the Daystar kit. Every bolt and washer is provided to ensure an easy install with the reliability of high-quality hardware. Owners can clear 32-inch tires with the Daystar 2-inch leveling kit which makes it the perfect option for daily drivers.
Buy Your Daystar Top Strut Spacers Here
#3 Tuff Country Complete Front Leveling Kit
Tuff Country developed the ultimate front leveling kit that offers much more than typical strut spacers. Providing a complete kit, Tuff Country bundled into the best package for your Silverado. Offering SX8000 RR shocks to update the suspension provides a smooth ride without sacrificing the overall dynamics.
The strut spacers provide reliability as the billet construction ensures no possibility of breaking. This is the ideal solution for those looking to update their suspension without spending a fortune. The incorporation of this leveling kit not only improves the styling and handling but offers high-quality products making the Tuff Country kit the best bang for your buck.
Purchase Your Tuff Country Leveling Kit Here
#4 Belltech 3-inch Leveling Kit With Front Struts and Rear Shocks
Some owners want to refresh their suspension all the way around while improving looks. The Belltech 3-inch leveling kit is the most practical kit on the market which does just that. Offering a strut spacer to raise the top mounting point will achieve a factory suspension geometry while raising the vehicle.
Along with the kit are street performance struts and shocks to refresh the ride quality with something more high-quality. The installation of this kit will allow owners to fit a 33-inch tire with a maximum wheel backspace of 5-inches. The incorporation of the Belltech lift kit doesn’t require any modification and retains the OEM suspension geometry.
Click Here To Buy Your Belltech Leveling Kit
#5 Kryptonite Stage-3 Complete Leveling Kit With Fox Shocks
Kryptonite took all the guesswork out of creating the ultimate suspension refresh kit. Along with refreshing the suspension, a complete change to the suspension dynamic is achieved through the included Fox shocks. The Kryptonite kit delivers the best of both worlds by leveling the ride height and improving the ride quality.
Complete suspension geometry correction is achieved with the provided upper control arms and ball joints. The incorporation of the upper control arms gives overs the most clearance and highest comfortability. All-new control arm bushings and hardware are included to offer the best experience when off-roading without worrying about sloppy bushing causing damage to other components.
The Kryptonite kit is the ultimate solution for the serious off-road enthusiasts that wants the best suspension handling. Kryptonite takes the headache of piecing together various components by offering it in a complete kit. Installation is as simple as replacing the factory front control arm and shocks all around. The superior handling that is achieved with the Kryptonite kit is unparalleled.
Purchase Your Kryptonite Complete Kit With Fox Shocks Here
Whether you are refreshing the suspension or simply lifting the factory setup, there are numerous products that all do the same thing. The difference is how each product executes the leveling process. The strut spacer method is an ergonomic way of lifting the vehicle without spending heaps of money to do so. Whether it is on top or bottom of the strut, the suspension geometry is slightly altered.
The slight shift in geometry is not enough for daily drivers to notice which makes the spacers a viable option. The ultimate way to level any vehicle and retain the ability to off-road is with the use of a complete leveling kit. The upper control arms correct the angle at which the ball joint pivots which is what changes after lifting any vehicle. Due to this, off-roading requires this to be corrected as it is vital to the steering response while off-road.
Each kit offers unique characteristics to improve the handling which can have exponential impacts on suspension performance. Ride quality is a significant feature of a vehicle that should highly be considered when it comes to taking a vehicle off-road, or every day driving. Leveling a truck can truly add a whole new feel which can transform the overall dynamic on the road or trails.
