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front end issues with leveling kit

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Old Oct 29, 2015 | 10:55 PM
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devins97flareside's Avatar
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Default front end issues with leveling kit

Any of you guys been having front end issues with your 150s with a leveling kit? Ill be going on my 8th alighnment in a year. Everytime i go around a corner my front end clunks and throws my steering wheel off from right to left. Its got a 2" in front and 1" in back with 35x12.5x18 -12 offset. Shouldnt be doing this at 21k. Ive talked to numerous dealers including the one i used to work at amd they all say that its because of the blocks in back but they are full of ****. Even my buddy that does alignments at the shop i worked at says there full of ****. Let me know if any of you guys have had this issue
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Old Oct 29, 2015 | 11:16 PM
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What tires are you running, and how much weight did they put on them when they balanced them? Who mounted the kit? Is everything snug?

Do you like to hit curbs?

No way the rear height is throwing the front off.
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Old Oct 30, 2015 | 01:03 AM
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What brand leveling kit do you have? If everything is tight up front, I would make sure the upper control arm is not impacting the coil spring. Check to see if there are any rub marks on the coil. It's a common problem with certain leveling kits on these trucks. The rear would cause the symptoms your experiencing.
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Old Oct 30, 2015 | 01:09 AM
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I misread your post, I don't think the uca contacting the coil spring would cause the steering issue unless you're hitting a bump at the same time you are turning.
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Old Oct 30, 2015 | 01:15 AM
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Well, I'm no expert so I'll go ahead and weigh in. lol
Your tire and level size is right at the point where some guys have rubbing issues. What tires are you running? Are they rubbing hard when cornering?

No way the blocks are doing it. The problem is in the front. Something is touching or binding.
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Old Oct 30, 2015 | 01:38 AM
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When the alignments are done are they inspecting the front end? I have owned 2 lifted 2003s one was lifted 9", the other 11"ish and they had no issues with alignment or clunking noises!

My current 13 was leveled 2.5"front and 1.25" rear at 150 0miles and at 30Kish I removed the leveling kit and block for coilovers and 2" blocks and pushed coilovers to over 2.5". Now at almost 40K and ZERO issues.

I have also installed dozens of leveling kits on everything from Tacomas, F250s, Silverados and plenty F150s and none of them have had any of the issues you describe.

And no the rear block isn't messing with the front. I would make sure that your lower control arm isn't sliding. The frame has a oblong hole that allows the LCA to move to get the alignment, this has been known to cause clunk noises. They sell alignment cams to correct this.

Look behind the washer on the LCA, it's possible that the LCA bolt is moving side to side in that hole.

front end issues with leveling kit-image-175210404.jpg

Wayne
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Old Oct 30, 2015 | 12:13 PM
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I had the same problem after installing my leveling kit with the noise. If you are hearing clunking noises when you drive it means your sway bar end link is not tight enough. Not sure about the steering wheel being thrown off.
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Old Oct 30, 2015 | 02:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Z7What
When the alignments are done are they inspecting the front end? I have owned 2 lifted 2003s one was lifted 9", the other 11"ish and they had no issues with alignment or clunking noises!

My current 13 was leveled 2.5"front and 1.25" rear at 150 0miles and at 30Kish I removed the leveling kit and block for coilovers and 2" blocks and pushed coilovers to over 2.5". Now at almost 40K and ZERO issues.

I have also installed dozens of leveling kits on everything from Tacomas, F250s, Silverados and plenty F150s and none of them have had any of the issues you describe.

And no the rear block isn't messing with the front. I would make sure that your lower control arm isn't sliding. The frame has a oblong hole that allows the LCA to move to get the alignment, this has been known to cause clunk noises. They sell alignment cams to correct this.

Look behind the washer on the LCA, it's possible that the LCA bolt is moving side to side in that hole.

Attachment 399663

Wayne
Wayne,

You believe Coil Overs are the way to go? You like this set up better I suppose? I'm thinking of getting the front end up an inch or 2 and keep the rear where it is.
Then move up a tire size or so. 285/65/20's What's your opinion. Thanks for the A6 card again.
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Old Oct 31, 2015 | 01:31 PM
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Coilovers are by far the way to go. I'll never do a spacer kit again in my personal vehicles. I have 2 close friends. All 3 of us bought 13 F150s, there are leveled with spacers, mines now coilovers. Both have driving my truck. One said if I ever sold the truck he wants the suspension and the other said its like riding a cloud.

Wayne
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Old Oct 31, 2015 | 02:51 PM
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I got a motofab leveling. I hate sticky weights so i used balancing beads. They work much gooder if you ask me and you dont gotta worry about your tires needing rebalancing cause it does it on its own. Ive tightened the sway bar end links many times. Im almost half tempted to trade it in on a powerstroke haha ive used my 150 as a powerstroke since ive owned it. The only thing i could think of is the thrust angle is so high its barely in spec at 52. It sucks having to spend $56 ever couple months getting an alignment done
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