DeltaNu1142

I recently bought a 2.5" front spacer and rear block to raise & level my new truck. I've been doing research by looking through leveling threads on the forums in order to understand what impacts that spacer leveling, especially at 2.5", has on long(-ish) term reliability and operability of our 13th-gen F150s.

I understand the opinions. I've read a lot of, "well, I've heard that 2.5 is as high (or higher) than we should go without significantly altering suspension geometry and stressing the front drive components..." and so on.

I'm starting this poll as a way to quantify the experience of 2015/2016 owners with leveling their trucks. Please try only to respond if you have applicable experience. I think it would be a good resource, for me, at least, and maybe to others.

Thanks guys.

2011XLT5.0

Put a 2.5 Leveling kit on my 2005 F150 with 35,000 miles. At 70,000 miles the whole truck would shake when braking because the ball joints and tie rods needed replacement. Never had an issue with CV shafts.


I also replaced the 1.75" block with a 3" block in the rear. The back end would jump around when I hit small bumps at high speeds. Had to get longer shocks which I did and that problem was fixed.


I haven't had an issue with my current 1.5" set-up. I only have 15,000 miles with it.

DeltaNu1142

Do you attribute the ball joint & tie rod problems with running the spacers? Maybe I should have said "any effects," rather than, "drive line effects."

2011XLT5.0

Might have not just been the spacer. Could have had some to do with the 325/65-18 mud terrains I also had. They were very heavy tires. I also had an issue with axle wrap in the rear after the bigger block.


The only effect I had is hard to describe..... The compression felt fine but the rebound seemed maxed out if that makes sense. It was very noticeable on longer humps at higher speeds.

ab46501

I had a 2005 F150 with a 2.5 spacer and replaced the entire front end after about 30,000 miles, 60,000 total on the truck. I swapped out the spacer for the Rancho quicklift set up and ran all the way to 154,000 without any other issues when I sold it.

I went withe the Rancho quicklifts in my 2015 for that very reason.

Turbo_Bimmer

Is the Rancho Quick lift a new longer strut only? (no suspension arms)
If it's the case, the angle of the ball joints, and cv will be the same as a spacer and wear should be the same, no?

May be there is a difference in strenght between the suspension arms/ball joints of the 2005 and the 2015?

I'm also curious to know if the people who respond to this tread have driven a winter long in 4X4, or went offroading a lot.
Having a front lift and never engaging the 4X4 won't put any wear to the CV joints.

ab46501

Correct, it is just a longer strut so you would think it basically operates the same. I can only go on what my experience is.

Also the Rancho on my 05 was more like 2-2.25 of level so it could be that 2.5 is just too much.

Husker

iTrader: (4)

I wandered in here by accident and have no input.

dkgreyf150

I don't think you can every really tell that a spacer or lift truly caused the issue 100%. How do you know the truck wouldnt have had the issue if it was never put on. Now, I'm not saying that the heavy wheels, tires and added spacer cant cause an issue, but you really just cant pin point it. I had a both 4x4 actuator replaced that was attributed to a bad check value. Ford swore up and down it was the installation of the lift that caused it, until they ford the check valve issue...

bigdad84

I have 2" spacers on my '15. Put them on around 40,000 miles and now at 46,000. No issues here. Just have to wait and see. I drive washboardy gravel roads everyday so hard to say if the spacers lower the lifespan of balljoints and such.