Questions about how the truck should typically behave after a level kit install.

Friday I had a 2.5" auto spring level kit install at a small mechanic / truck accessory shop. I watched him do the install, actually did most of the install on the driver side. I didn't know until he was done that he didn't unhook the battery before hand. He also told me after he drove my truck off the lift that he did the alignment... I knew he hadn't because I put the driver side wheel on and then he drove my truck off the lift. So I'm taking it back tomorrow to make sure that the alignment is done correctly. He didn't use a torque wrench on any of the bolts and didn't put my skid plates back on....

So far the steering is somewhat loose.
When stopped, if I turn the steering wheel all the way left the hood drops maybe two inches. Is this normal? It does the same if turned all the way right. Haven't noticed it do this while the truck is actually moving.

Haven't heard any odd noises in 2wd, shouId stick the truck in 4 hi and 4 lo to check it out? It hasn't rained here so I'm not sure that I can find much soft ground to try it out on.

 

Mine does seem to raise and drop with the leveling kit when turning the wheels. But nothing noticeable. As far as the steering feeling loose, that is not normal. Not real sure what you mean there. The first thing I have done after leveling the past 2 trucks is engage and disengage 4WD while moving about 20 mph and ensuring it works and no IWE noise. After I drive for a couple days, I also crawl underneath the front and make sure no CV boot leaks from the install.

 

Oh boy..hope your garage monkey did better than mine..Mine needed 2k in repairs from ford after the level.
Mine did not drop on turning so maybe yours has something else going on..he should have torqued everything. I had ford double check mine ...they said some were hand tight. .good luck!

 

He was on the phone for several hours so I did the driver side. It isn't loose... But while the pickup is running, and not rolling, if I turn the steering wheel all the way to the left. I can see the left fender and also feel the pickup drop (immediate tilt/lean) to the left side. It only moves at the very end of turning the steering wheel. Also repeats on the driver side, just wanted to make sure this is normal.

Driving the truck, it pulls a little bit to the left. I noticed when I walked up as he was doing the driver side. He took the dust cover off the spindle and loosened the nut. He did not remove the spindle/caliper or lca. He couldn't get the bottom of the strut in place so he put a ratchet trap to the lca and to the cross member and tightened it pulling the lca and spindle downward to get the 1/4 inch of play he needed to slide it in.
Could this damage the CV axle ?

I was able to get the driverside together fine. He didn't do the alignment after I put the driverside together and wheel on. About ten min later 3:30pm he got off the phone and drove the truck off the lift and told me he already aligned it.

I noticed at that point he never disconnected the battery. I have drove about 300 miles and haven't heard any noises in 2wd. I haven't engaged it in 4 hi or lo. I've had older '90-'06 Chevy 4wd trucks and have never had any issues but this truck is way more advanced so I'm just curious.

 

No he did not do an alignment. Were the front wheels on plates that turned? Were there computer printouts? Was there a computer showing him the angles? Take it somewhere else. Now.

 

P.s never put on a leveling kit but not sure why the battery would need to be disconnected.

 

Electronic power steering on 14s could get messed up if not removed..least that's what I've read in this forum

 

Ahhh. Good to know. I have electric steering on my s2000 and never had problems with suspension upgrades/work. Good to know.

 

As far as I know it's for 2011+
Mine is a 2013
No alignment was done at all except him looking at it with his eyes. Returned today, the gentlemen that owned the place is extremely nice. Spoke with him and he asked the guy to redo the alignment. The mechanic Cliff eye balled the tires and said 'it appears all okay to me' and walked back inside. I drove off mad. And I've also been on the phone for 4 hours, do to placing an order for two iPhone 6 plus phones on Sept 17th. And the status has said 'preparing to ship Oct 31 - Nov 11th' until last night at 4 am... Then the order was canceled....

 

i did the AS 1.5" level myself, immediately could see the toe was off. 2 days later had the frontend aligned, toe and camber where both off plus the wheel was not centered. truck drives better to me after alignment than new. might be the 2 days driving with toe off made the difference in the feeling. after my lift and alignment with 1.5" kit my frontend is 1/4" higher than rear. before my frontend was exactly 2" lower than rear, did not expect to gain that much. now i have to address the rear, would like an AAL but don't want the 1.5" lift. looking at a 2.5" block that will raise it 1".