Ok i have a 2006 f150 I have been looking at new wheels online been looking at 18x9 with -12 offset with 275/65r18 but have been told my truck needs to be lifted . why? and if so why are so many leveling kits and why are they so different in price ?

 

I've got a $35 leveling kit on mine, 10,000 miles and it's fine. It's made of aluminum and bolts in just like the $85 one we put on my friends 2011 F150. Some brands you are paying for their name.

 

^^ Yep it's all about name brands. A $30 ebay spacer works just as good. Afterall, it's just a block of material with a few holes drilled in it.

 

I get a kick out of the posts that says things like, "I was told this was the best strut spacer at $175," or, "which brand of spacer is the best?"

It's a glorified washer. It's important that it's made from a material that doesn't distort under pressure, and the fasteners don't strip or pull themselves out. Other than that, they're all the same. I put $40 2" Motofab spacers on mine. The only difference between those and 2" ReadyLift spacers is the thickness of the stack of cash it takes to buy them.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought Autospring has an offset to help slightly improve the geometry.

 

Do research on the results before you purchase, and I'm only speaking of height.

 

In order to correct geometry the off set would need to be in the LCA, UCA or the spindle. An off set in the strut spacer would do nothing to correct geometry.

 

I believe the offset design is supposed to lessen the chances of rubbing on the UCA's.

 

You mean, a taper? I haven't seen that... but it doesn't sound like it would work well. Maybe a minute angle, but a large angle would change where the LCA mates up with the strut.

 

No not a taper, it would have to be offset to the inside. It would have no effect on where the strut meets the LCA. It could, however, move the strut and coil in and away from the UCA.

That being said, except for full drop it is never really an issue.