Best Way to Raise Front End

What is the best way/easiest way to raise the front end so it is level with the rear, or maybe even an inch or two higher? I am curious about this because I don't really like the stinkbug look with the rear higher. Ive seen people put a little spacer in above the shocks, but isn't this just going to destroy it over time?

 

What's your budget? How do you plan on using your truck?

Cheapest: Spacer

Moderate: Bilstein 5100

Higher Priced: Coilovers

Anything over time will need to be replaced, rebuilt etc...

 

A floor jack

But really, a 1/2" spacer will lift up the front an inch and not affect ride quality in any way.

 

Id say a max of $400 which I believe is how much a bilstein 5100 would cost, but factoring in labor, (because chances are I won't be able to do this on my own) having a kit installed by someone will bump up the price more. I do not plan on doing anything really aggressive, just some moderate offroading at most, other than that just standard highway/city driving

 

The benefit while off-road of lifting the front an inch is negligible, so if that's your reason for wanting to do it, I wouldn't bother. Throw on some +1" all terrains and be happy as a clam.

 

My reasoning is purely cosmetic to have the front end level or slightly higher than the rear, that is why I am hesitant in buying a suspension kit. I was planning on getting 265/75/16 AT's in the future, just want to wear mine down a bit more

 

FWIW I don't know if you'll realistically be able to notice. These trucks arent like full sized trucks that have 12" of rake to compensate for their 12,000lb payload capacity. There have been a few trucks I've seen "leveled" and I just thought they were on stock suspension.

But if you want to do it, a small 1/2" spacer on top would be an easy, inexpensive way.

 

And the spacer route was what I was considering, but I have read about this ruining the ride, as well as the stock suspension. Do you have any insight on that?

 

If you go a thick spacer that's a couple inches tall, then yeah, it'll mess stuff up. A small spacer that's 1/4" or 1/2" will have a negligible affect on anything. This kit comes with extended studs, and for good reason. The stock ones are way too short to be safely used. Because of that you'll still need to pay to have them disassembled (if you're not up for it) but you're still well below budget.

This will also ride like stock, unlike the 5100s on the first or second setting.

http://www.headstrongoffroad.com/store/p30/HS_1/2"_Top_Plate_Spacers_-_TT05512-TPS.html

 

That's not gonna happen from a small 1/4" or 1/2" spacer.

 

The work is not worth putting in a 1/4" or 1/2" spacer. Go big or go home

 

Hey now, I'm just offering OP a solution to what he wants and what's within his budget. People seem to forget a middle ground exists

 

The 1/2" spacer seems like the best option at the moment. Like I said I am not really needing a full kit, as I have no reason to. It is just one of those things that I notice when Im looking at it, just thinking to myself, "damn. looks like a stinkbug." Yeah it might not be noticeable to most people but I notice it

 

Did you ever decide what you were going to do? If so, can you post pictures/report how it went?

I'm in the same situation now as well. I can't decide if I wanna do a small spacer as mentioned or just throw on some 5100s...I'm planning on running 265/75/16.

 

No I have not done anything yet, but after doing research I have found that if you run 265/75/16 you do not have to do a lift or raise it at all. The only thing you might have to do is remove the front piece that mounts under your bumper. Once you go bigger than that tire size though you will have to do some sort of lift or something to raise it up

 

Another option is to get 3rd gen or strut assembly on the cheap it’ll be factory Toyota an raise your front one inch.

 

I ordered the rough country 2" leveling kit which is a one inch spacer up front to fix the exact problem y'all are talking about. From just about everything I've found in my research, it won't change the ride quality or mess up the factory suspension and requires no other work to be done. That said, you might have to get an alignment after install. This kit was 60$ from Rough Country and it comes with a lifetime warranty and free shipping. I'm gonna install tomorrow and see how it goes.

 

Right, I'm going to go with a 265/70/17 tire and I believe that is the same size as a 265/75/16. I thought you still wanted to level out your truck? Which is exactly what I'm looking to do as well but I haven't been able to decide or figure anything out quite yet. I think I will go with the 5100s but I'm not entirely sure on what else needs to be done or if I need to replace the rears with them too. Have you found or looked into that yet? I'm still researching it but if you want to know more info I'll tell you what I find out.

 

I know I am most likely going to do tires first and see how it looks just like that, then if its still an issue I will most likely either get the 5100's or just put like a 3/4" spacer in the front. Still undecided