What is a leveling kit?

Started looking for an add a leaf kit (aal) and found that most aal kits raised the rear of the truck. Mostly doing this to my stock 2015 off-road to improve the load capacity cause right now if I put any amount of weight in the bed it really sags in the back.

So knowing an aal kit will lift the rear, thought it would be most prudent to add a "leveling kit" to the front. Well thought that's what 'leveling kits' were for is to raise the front so the truck is level and there would be no forward rake.

Well when doing a search on line for a 'leveling kit', multiple kits came up with an aal kit and what looks like a 'spacer kit' that goes above the struts in the front. Is that what a leveling kit is? A couple of spacers put on top of the front struts? Thought 'leveling kits' were available as oem but weren't sure what they consisted of.

That being said I love the ride of the stock suspension, when the truck goes into a long turn it feels like the truck squats into the corner instead of leaning like my old 2 wheel drive Silverado.

Looking at other threads and found the Bilstein 5100 (C477) are recommended for the front set at 0.85 to use with the stock coils. What is the part number for the Bilsteins in the rear? Also is the Dakar aal kit the best option for improving the load capacity in the rear and adding the small lift that am looking for.

Thanks for the help and I know there are a lot of posts on lifts and everytime I read one find that someone is having issues with UCAs or drive angles, so am just trying to keep it simple and not break the bank. Don't mind doing the work myself if its not too complex. Thanks y'all.

 

You can check my lift link in my signature that I did on my 2015- I like my factory ride and 2000 miles later it has been perfect for my needs- occasional I do load up/pull a trailer and the added leaf makes a noticeable difference. Another option is to go with air bags in the rear if you want to skip the lift.

 

Dakar AAL only works with the Dakar leaf pack. You want an AAL that works with the stock leaf pack - unless you want the 3" lift from the Dakars (and to spend $500 on the rear alone). You can do just the front 5100 struts as you mentioned. Depending on the AAL you choose, you might need to bump the 5100s up to the 1.75" notch to level the truck. The 5100 rear shocks don't lift, they're just a shock absorber, but if you lift much in the rear you might want them anyway for a better ride than stock shocks.

Something to consider... You are leveling the truck, but you are trying to increase the load carrying capacity. If the truck is level when empty, it will squat in the rear when loaded.

This is why I did Firestone Ride Rite air bags as my first suspension mod. The truck could tow and haul without squatting and I could have a stock ride when empty. You just add and let out air as desired. It will cost $400 instead of the $600 - $1000 with AAL or leaf packs, shocks, struts, etc...

 

JustDandee, that is a pretty thrifty lift but don't mind spending a little money. A pair of Bilsteins is $175 but the Icon kit is like $1500 which I will pass on the Icons.

Thanks 58Siesta for the reply. Not actually trying to level the truck. Don't mind leaving a forward rake on the truck its just that it may be too much if only the aal is added and no mod is done to the front.

Reason I was asking about the Dakar aal is when I searched for the aal on TW found a good read someone had did similar to what I want but they had trouble with the stock brackets which had to be cut and they also had held the brake line. So am looking for a aal that would be less trouble.

Can' find the thread I was looking at yesterday but their sure are plenty of leveling kit threads. So if I could figure out which aal to add and which bilstein shocks to match the lift in the rear on my 2015 that would be great. Having to upgrade my tires soon and want to get the suspension done first.

So since I have decided on the 5100s on the front, which aal should I use that will still keep a nice ride in the cab and be an easy bolt on mod.

Thanks ahead of time for the replies.

 

I came up with my own AAL but what I have learned is the longer it is more likely it will return a softer ride- mine came out at 37"- I would look into what is offered but I suspect the more expensive units will probably be longer in length.

 

The 3 leaf progressive AAL from wheelers off-road paired with bilstein 5100 rear shocks would probably serve you well. It will give you roughly 2" lift if you keep the factory overload leaf in.

 

Yah was just looking at wheelers offerings as well as toytecs and headstrongs. Most of the descriptions list lift provided but say the load capacity may increase slightly or don't mention what load carrying capacity will be if increased at all.

 

Don't bother with Wheeler's.

Go with @HeadStrong Off-Road