'09 2" AS leveling kit impact on suspension w/ pics
#1
'09 2" AS leveling kit impact on suspension w/ pics
I took a couple of pictures of what my UCA looks like with a 2" AS leveling kit to answer a question on the tire forum and thought they would provide useful information here. I have recommended a few times that one does not go with a 2.5" leveling kit for an '09 - '10 and these pictures show my concern. Personally, I would not want any more angle on my UCA or ball joint. Looking at these pictures, I kind of wish I went with a 1.5" kit. The 2" kit raised my front end more than 2.5" (The truck is setting on level ground.)
Before leveling
After leveling
I have added a 1" block to the back after this picture was taken.
Another important note for the '09 and '10 is to remove the bolts in the lower control arm when trying to get the strut back in with the leveling kit installed. The recommendations to use a bottle jack (wow!) or a large bar to force the lower control arm down enough to make the strut fit seem crazy to me. The arm won't go down enough because the CV joints are binding. It isn't hard to remove these two bolts and just put them back roughly in the same place when done (a second set of hands is nice though!) With this procedure, it is particularly important to get an alignment soon after the job is done. Getting the leveled strut back in isn't an issue before '09 because the control arms don't have the pocket for the strut like the newer ones do.
Before leveling
After leveling
I have added a 1" block to the back after this picture was taken.
Another important note for the '09 and '10 is to remove the bolts in the lower control arm when trying to get the strut back in with the leveling kit installed. The recommendations to use a bottle jack (wow!) or a large bar to force the lower control arm down enough to make the strut fit seem crazy to me. The arm won't go down enough because the CV joints are binding. It isn't hard to remove these two bolts and just put them back roughly in the same place when done (a second set of hands is nice though!) With this procedure, it is particularly important to get an alignment soon after the job is done. Getting the leveled strut back in isn't an issue before '09 because the control arms don't have the pocket for the strut like the newer ones do.
Last edited by 2009KR; 12-15-2010 at 02:03 PM.
#2
#3
#5
A larger tire will help this situation out right? More meat around the rim, will in turn lift it up, and lessen the angle? Right?
Do you have any pics after the 1" block?
I was thinking about when I get my 2011, getting a 2.5" AS kit, and then a block in the back, to get the most height and be level without getting an actual lift kit. But, I don't know about that now. Your 2" kit looks perfect to me. Like my 2.5" kit on my 2005.
Do you have any pics after the 1" block?
I was thinking about when I get my 2011, getting a 2.5" AS kit, and then a block in the back, to get the most height and be level without getting an actual lift kit. But, I don't know about that now. Your 2" kit looks perfect to me. Like my 2.5" kit on my 2005.
#6
A larger tire will help this situation out right? More meat around the rim, will in turn lift it up, and lessen the angle? Right?
Do you have any pics after the 1" block?
I was thinking about when I get my 2011, getting a 2.5" AS kit, and then a block in the back, to get the most height and be level without getting an actual lift kit. But, I don't know about that now. Your 2" kit looks perfect to me. Like my 2.5" kit on my 2005.
Do you have any pics after the 1" block?
I was thinking about when I get my 2011, getting a 2.5" AS kit, and then a block in the back, to get the most height and be level without getting an actual lift kit. But, I don't know about that now. Your 2" kit looks perfect to me. Like my 2.5" kit on my 2005.
#7
Anyone add add a 2" leveling kit to an existing 6" suspension lift oon the 09-11 yet?
I want to do this to fit 37" but people say it will cause major problems! Yet there is like 50 memebers on here that have done this and say its fine. Is there something to the new body stlyes that makes this bad to do?
I want to do this to fit 37" but people say it will cause major problems! Yet there is like 50 memebers on here that have done this and say its fine. Is there something to the new body stlyes that makes this bad to do?
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#8
I could be thinking about this wrong, but my logic is that the Upper Control Arm, which he is concerned about, would have less of a drop if he had a bigger tire. A bigger tire would raise everything and give the UCA less travel/drop therefore less of an angle and stress on joints...right? Or did I just make that up?
#9
I could be thinking about this wrong, but my logic is that the Upper Control Arm, which he is concerned about, would have less of a drop if he had a bigger tire. A bigger tire would raise everything and give the UCA less travel/drop therefore less of an angle and stress on joints...right? Or did I just make that up?
#11
#13
A larger tire will help this situation out right? More meat around the rim, will in turn lift it up, and lessen the angle? Right?
Do you have any pics after the 1" block?
I was thinking about when I get my 2011, getting a 2.5" AS kit, and then a block in the back, to get the most height and be level without getting an actual lift kit. But, I don't know about that now. Your 2" kit looks perfect to me. Like my 2.5" kit on my 2005.
Do you have any pics after the 1" block?
I was thinking about when I get my 2011, getting a 2.5" AS kit, and then a block in the back, to get the most height and be level without getting an actual lift kit. But, I don't know about that now. Your 2" kit looks perfect to me. Like my 2.5" kit on my 2005.
#14
#15
Like this...
Drivers Front: 24 3/8"
Drivers Rear: 24 3/4"
Passenger Front: 24 3/4"
Passenger Rear: 25 1/4"
So, the rear is 3/8" higher than the front. If I replaced the original block with a 3" block, it would sit 7/8" higher (I think the factory block is 1.5', not 1.675".) I had to replace the U-Bolts when adding the block, which I left a little extra room in case I decided to swap my blocks for a 3" later. I would only do this if the rear leaf springs sagged more than the front coils as the truck ages.
Note that my truck sits 3/8" higher on the passenger's side than the driver's side. I have about 30 gallons of fuel in the tank (which is on the driver's side) and most of the transfer case weight is also on the driver's side).