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I have a 2007 4x4 F150 with 2.5" leveling kit front and 2" AAL in back. My only complaint is front suspension rebound, meaning front wheels dropping down like in a pothole or hardball onto dirt road is very harsh and sounds like crap. Do the Bilsteins or Rancho quicklifts have this problem?
My opinion is the Bilstein adjustable shocks work and ride great, didn't go the full travel of 2.25 however I did go 1 down at approx 1.75. I am at 1/2 rake with full tank of gas 36 gallons. Will be towing my boat this wknd I don't expect any issues as I measured prior to the strut change and the tongue weight is balanced and didn't force the rear down level with front.
Great write up, lots of useful info here. I want to make 1 addition.
ALWAYS get an alignment after making any suspension modifications. Your settings WILL be different and it can cause a bad ride and substantially increased wear on your new (and likely expensive) tires.
Adjusting the ride height will absolutely affect the camber angle. Depending on the amount of lift/level you may or may not need an additional camber kit for the adjustment. Taking the vehicle to another mechanic until you get the response you are looking for wont fix the issue, it'll just wear out your tires quicker.
I've done many an alignment and it's not always easy to visually see when a vehicle is out of alignment, that's why we use expensive computers with tight tolerances to get it right...remember trust the computer readout, not your eyes and if you have questions ask the mechanic to show you the readout and explain what the diagram means, an alignment can make a huge difference in the performance of your truck after a suspension modification.
Remember the manufacturer does not build these trucks with the intent of accommodating aftermarket suspension modifications so they generally don't provide adjustments for anything that's outside the mfg specs. That's why the companies that make aftermarket suspension products also make the components needed for adjustment. This thread is a great starting point but remember to do additional research specific to your modification. Depending on your setup you may need additional components such as offset rack bushings, different control arms, etc. don't cut corners with your suspension. If done right your truck will look and ride amazing but if done wrong you can have a really ugly setup that rides like ****.
Just finished putting a 2 1/2" level on the front and did nothing on the back. New 285/65/18 tires on MB TKO rims. Love the look and yes the ride is a little more stiff than stock, but it rides like a truck should now.
Great write up, lots of useful info here. I want to make 1 addition.
ALWAYS get an alignment after making any suspension modifications. Your settings WILL be different and it can cause a bad ride and substantially increased wear on your new (and likely expensive) tires.
Adjusting the ride height will absolutely affect the camber angle. Depending on the amount of lift/level you may or may not need an additional camber kit for the adjustment. Taking the vehicle to another mechanic until you get the response you are looking for wont fix the issue, it'll just wear out your tires quicker.
I've done many an alignment and it's not always easy to visually see when a vehicle is out of alignment, that's why we use expensive computers with tight tolerances to get it right...remember trust the computer readout, not your eyes and if you have questions ask the mechanic to show you the readout and explain what the diagram means, an alignment can make a huge difference in the performance of your truck after a suspension modification.
Remember the manufacturer does not build these trucks with the intent of accommodating aftermarket suspension modifications so they generally don't provide adjustments for anything that's outside the mfg specs. That's why the companies that make aftermarket suspension products also make the components needed for adjustment. This thread is a great starting point but remember to do additional research specific to your modification. Depending on your setup you may need additional components such as offset rack bushings, different control arms, etc. don't cut corners with your suspension. If done right your truck will look and ride amazing but if done wrong you can have a really ugly setup that rides like ****.
You are so correct. I had my Rancho quick lift done on mine and specifically asked the 4 wheel drive shop and they said no yours is fine well on the way home I noticed that mine pulled pretty bad to the right, so I made an appointment with my local FORD dealer and had the front end alignment done, I then took my paperwork over to the 4 wheel dealer and showed them that their worker bee was an idiot.
I've gone through almost all of these pages and see that there is some concern on the 2011 FX2 about a front end clunk to do with steering and not disconnecting battery before suspension work. Is there one version or style versus another that would make this problem less likely. Putting 285/60/18 on some ultra rims and would like to level front end. Money is really not a problem. If shocks would be significantly better then that's what I'd do; any suggestions are appreciated, thanks.
I decided on the bilsteins, so should I go with 1.75 or 2" setting, thanks.
Assuming the increased downward pressure from the spring spacer is where I am getting this awful bump steer from? I installed 2" Auto Spring spacers on my 2013 4wd, left the rear alone, and have not been terribly impressed. Maybe I should have gone with 1.5"?? Mine does sit a touch high in front now, maybe an eighth of an inch, so it's hard to complain about that other than that I did not want it to be nose high as all.... Wondering if the 1.5" kit, or bilstein adjustables, would eliminate some of the bump steer and harshness I feel on choppy roads??
06-25-2016, 11:02 PM
Blistein 5100 level kit for 2014 F150
