I just had a 1.5" AS leveling kit installed yesterday on my 2011 FX4. I am taking it to the alignment shop on Tuesday to get a full alignment done before my new wheels/tires go on...

Here is my concern, my truck drives straight as an arrow, it still rides the same as stock, but the front end doesn't seem as stable, particularly when making quick steering inputs. The truck seems to have more front end body roll, seems to have a "looser" feel up front....Not near as tight/stable as before the leveling kit... I would be afraid to take avasive maneuvers or take it through a slalom course...LOL

I am not sure if this is just due to the increased ride height or the fact the alignment may be off, I just thought I would throw it out there and see if anyone else with leveling kits have noticed any loss steering feel/tightness...??

I really liked the tight feel of the stock height, felt like a 4x4 sports car to me, handled well, very stable around turns, even at speed etc. I am pretty disappointed about this but...maybe that is just one of the trade offs of having a leveled truck..

Thoughts?

I will report back after the alignment and see if it gets any better....

Thanks for any feedback..

 

Mines leveled and feels great so I cant be of much help. Best of luck with the alignment.

 

I guess a better way to describe the difference from stock is.. If I am cruising along straight and do a quick cut to the left or right and return to center (like to avoid road debris or pot holes or something) the truck seems to have considerably more front end body roll but more importantly, it seems to sway back and forth just a bit until it settles a bit from the maneuver......it takes a very minimal amount of steering input to make this "sway" from side to side occur. It definitely was not like this before the leveling kit install. After reading the instructions again for the leveling kit, they say that after the alignment the front end should lower a bit....I hope this is true.... I used a AS 1.5" leveling kit and it picked it up every bit of 2". Almost a bit nose high when you look at it but fenderwell to ground measurements show it to be about level...

LF--39"
RF-- 39.25"
LR-- 39"
RR-- 38.75"

I am hoping the alignment will knock a .25-.5" off the front height....if not I may add a leaf to get some geometry back...I really don't want to add a leaf though because with only 33" tires I think the rear would look goofy raised up.

 

May be an issue with the EPS. My truck rides great after leveling but seem's the steering want's to pull sometimes making left turn's at speed's over 30 mph, crazy! Never had any problem's on my '04 that was leveled.

 

Hmmm...

The steering feels good on this one, it does feel a bit "lighter" and the steering wheel is a bit easier to turn, i guess since the weight is more shifted to the rear now but.... i don't know anything peculiar about the steering, only in how the truck/front suspension reacts to steering inputs.... Going straight or around turns everything seems normal(other then a bit more body roll in the front end in turns)..... The unstable feeling I get when moving the wheel quickly is similar to driving a car with low tire pressure and you get that sloppy, swaying feeling in turns or rapid maneuvers...... pretty much feels simlar to that...

Hopefully the alignment will clean it up. Then I get my wheels put on weds and I am sure that is going to make it feel different as well.......I doubt it will ever feel as controlled/firm steering as it did stock... The price to pay I guess.

 

It take's a little getting use to going from stock to leveled and then different wheel's and tires. Any rubbing issues is the bad part.

 

X2. It will feel strange until you get used to it. It took me a couple of weeks to get the feel back but you will.

 

I'll bet it's because you are paying more attention to the handling of the truck now that you have altered it. I have a 2 inch AS level kit on a 09 XLT with no issues.

 

I had the same reaction as the OP. Front end seemed to have much more roll. I tried for 3 weeks to get used to it, and had my 1" pucks taken off. I hate that I wasted the money involved, but the snappy reaction of the truck is back. You won't think an inch would matter. I like the way it handles so much better than when leveled. It just felt unwieldy leveled. I have no idea if related to electronic control or not.

 

Yep.... he ^^^ knows what i'm talking about.

I am going to see how much tire clearance i have with my new wheels/tires this week....If I can clear them without the level kit, I MAY take it back off as well....It just depends on A. If the alignment helps or not and B. If the tires will clear without it....(which I doubt)...

One of the main things I liked about this truck is how it drove and didnt feel like a 4x4 truck or an old farm wagon... Now I feel like I compromised its steering quality and on a BRAND NEW, $45k truck, I am not sure if I can live with that. I guess I'll see....

I can't believe so few members have ever noticed this...