jonbar87

I couldn't care less about the shocks. I'm just in awe that everyone thinks level kits are so awesome when in reality they destroy your front end geometry thus causing catastrophic failure down the road. But what do I know, don't listen to this guy whine. Run your bilstein's and let it destroy your front end, I don't care, it's not my pickup. Just don't come whining to us here on the forum when you can't figure out why our ball joints are screwed and you're sick of dealing with bump steer. How do you people NOT know this stuff? I hate it when ignorance spreads like a disease on forums and no one puts a stop to it, that's why I am.

Here, apparently this is too hard for some of you.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=level+kit+ball+joint+wear

Let me know what you guys think of your bilsteins after you click the link above. My point is there is nothing wrong with the bilsteins, it's what the bilsteins DO to the front end...I'm sure they're great shocks...but there's so much more to it than just throwing on a set of shocks and calling it a day.

Luch

I got mine installed today too. And I am a little concerned. It is definately a little stiffer ride but I think that is also due to the tire and wheel combo that I put on too. 285/55/22 Nitto terra graps. Running 78 lbs of air with 8 ply tires, and the added weight of the wheels probably have something to do with it. But there seems to be additional noise coming from the front end. It seems to have a slight shudder and almost a rattle over certain bumps. A friend who owns a shop did the work for me and I was there while he did it so I made sure everything was tightened and doublechecked everything. Another friend of mine rode in it and is trying to convince me that when you lift or lower something and put wheels on it it just makes additional noise because its not stock anymore. Something just doesnt seem right. Any thoughts? Anyone else notice this? Or is the ride comparable to stock after you mod with 5100s and wheels and tires.

TheBlack2011FX4

I get what you're saying, but do you think it is the same with the bilsteins? A level kit is a spacer, whereas the bilsteins are the shock.. I don't know if it would yield the same wear since they are not the same thing. Then again, I'm no genius. just sort of thinking out loud.

jonbar87

Yup. That's exactly what I'm getting at. The reason it makes the additional noise is because it's not the PROPER way to lift a vehicle. You'll also encounter bump steer...I personally would never go with any kind of level kit. 98% of the people on here will tell you it's normal but 98% of the people on here are city slickers who know nothing about mechanics...as long as it "looks good and everyone recommends it" it must be functioning properly, right guys?

Sorry to hear about your problems but that's EXACTLY what I'm trying to warn people of!!

jonbar87

Not a problem, at least you're trying to learn. They all do the same thing. They all increase the distance (but just go about it different ways) from the strut tower to the lower control arm. This in return pushes the lower control arm, the steering knuckle, tie rod, cv shaft, and upper control arm DOWN as well. Now the entire geometry has changed and THAT is what causes the premature failure of the u/ball joints because they are not designed to operate at such severe angles! (kinda like a u joint operating out of it's normal curvature range). A lift however, has brackets and and a LONGER steering knuckle so that even though the distance from the upper strut tower to the lower control arm has increased, it makes up for it, which in return keeps the upper control arm level. The bracket that comes with a lift is added in order to keep the geometry of the cv shaft and tie rod the same so that that doesn't wear out prematurely also.

Don't listen to me though, it's not like I have 25 years of growing up on a farm and dealing with this kind of stuff. I'm just being hateful

Ever heard the saying "You get what you pay for?" Why do you think levels/shocks are so cheap but lifts are so expensive? All a leveling kit/shocks are is a band-aid with salt and vinegar under it.

okie1fifty

jonbar87

How about some pics of your steering knuckle, cv shaft, tie rod, and upper control arm please?

TheBlack2011FX4

Oh I gotcha now.. So it's putting everything at bad angles, which therefore cause the problems. So would a 1" level wear slower than a 2.5" level because of the increased angle? Or would changing the angle cause it to wear the same rate?

HCFX2013

Yet you lifted your truck.

jonbar87

Yeah a 1" level would wear a lot slower... because everything isn't so out of whack.