bowhuntinbrian

I just finished installing my leveling kit on my 09 F150. It is a 4x4 XLT. I had some problems getting the kit on my truck, so I took some pictures to post and give some explanation for others with the same kit.

Here is a picture of my truck before the leveling kit...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream

First, lift the front of truck with a jack and support with stands, then remove the tire. Move the jack under the lower control arm and jack up slightly. Remove the nut from the upper ball joint (13/16" socket).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream

Next, remove the 3 nuts on the inside of the engine compartment that hold the top of the strut in place (15mm socket).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream

Remove the nut that is located under the lower control arm that holds the sway bar link in place (18mm socket)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream

Separate the ball joint by lifting up on the upper control arm while raising and lowering the jack that is holding the lower control arm in place. I used a ball joint fork, but I don't really think I needed to use it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream

Now you can lower the lower control arm and remove the jack. Be careful that it doesn't drop too fast and destroy a brake line. Remove the nut from the bolt that secures the bottom of the strut (30mm socket).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream

Once the bolt is removed, you should be able to position the strut in such a way that it will come out of the socket.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream

After the strut is out of the truck, install the spacer on the top of the strut. Use the same nuts from the strut when mounting the spacer to the strut.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream

This is the part that the instructions do not mention. I had to call technical support to get help, but their solution worked. At this point, there is a cap in the middle of your hub. It looks like this...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream

Remove that cap with a flat head screwdrive by popping it off. Remove the nut under that cap (1/2" socket).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream

This will allow the half shaft to slide out of the socket. I tried doing it without removing the nut, and I ended up being too short on space to get the strut with the spacer in place.

Next, you have to remove 2 self tapping screws that hold brackets for brake lines in place. This will give you enough slack to drop the lower control arm low enough to get the strut in place. These screws take a 10mm socket.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream

At this point, all thats left to do is to install the strut and tighten everything down. Slide the strut into place by putting the top in first with the nuts only finger tight. Push down on the lower control arm and force the lower part of the strut into place.

Slide the lower bolt into the bottom of the strut and tighten the nut. Tighten down the top nuts that are provided with the kit (15mm socket).

To get the ball joint back into place, I lifted the lower control arm with my jack to compress the strut. I still had to force it down, but it eventually went back together. Make sure the sway bar link is in place before lifting the lower control arm or else you will have to take it apart again.

Tighten the lower strut nut and bolt, sway bar nut, half shaft nut, and 2 self tapping screws for the brackets. Finish off by tightening the ball joint and putting the cap back in place on the center of the hub.

Once the tire is back in place, you should be half done with the install. Do the same thing on the other side, then make sure you get a front end alignment. Here is an after picture...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5885256...in/photostream

Now all I need are some bigger tires and I'll be set. Let me know how these instructions work out for you. Hopefully you won't struggle as much as I did without the info about dropping the half shaft and brake line brackets.

mbingha

Yippie21

Nice write-up and pics. Looks like you ended up slightly high up front?... or maybe I'm just used to seeing the raked look..

bowhuntinbrian

That picture was taken without the front end aligned, plus it was on my driveway, which is on an incline. I'll post another pic on Friday after it gets aligned, from the flat road...
Anyone have any ideas how to figure out what size tires I could possibly go to? I would like to go larger, is that even possible now that I leveled it?

2010FX4F150GILROY

I did the same level and 295/70R18 was max without rubbing as it sits flat and level...

bowhuntinbrian

Do you have a picture you could post or send me?

2010FX4F150GILROY

Here are a couple

bowhuntinbrian

Thanks for the pics, the truck looks good. I started wondering if my offset or backspacing could be different, and if that would change what size tires would fit. Do you know what the offset and backspacing are on your rims? I'm trying to figure out what the figures are on the stock 17" rims. Does anyone know the dimensions for the stock rims?

PawPaw

7.5 inches wide with 5.5 inches of BS, at least that's what was on the 04-08 truck's and I don't think they've changed.

2010FX4F150GILROY

Stock rims i dont know.. Mine are 33mm offset Vtec raptors