Is leveling the front really worth it?

I recently purchased a brand new 2015 TRD Off-Road 4x4 in super white. Also just got some new BFG A/T KO2 265/75/16 installed last week and they look awesome!

I've been really wanting to level the front out, and research on the forums says that all I will need are some adjustable Bilstein 5100's. This will purely be for aesthetics. I don't offroad except for the occasional fire tower road to get to the gun range and whatnot. 98% of my miles will be getting from home to work.

Are there any ill short/long term side effects to doing this? What about other things that I will need to do such as adjusting the headlights etc...? Basically just wondering if it's really worth the few hundred dollars to do this?

I've searched and have not found any direct answers to my questions, if there is a thread out there please direct me.

 

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I think it looks a little better. But the ride will be stiffer

 

Any suggestions on where to buy or compare these?

 

They both have pros and cons, I ran them both as well. No noticeable difference in ride quality, just amount of lift is different.

5100s are adjustable, OME is not. OME has a lifetime warranty, but I don't think I've seen someone snap and OME strut, I've seen 5100s snap though.

 

Not to me it isn't, as you say, leveling is only for looks. But 'worth it' is your decision.

Having a 4x4 with + sized aggressive tires, for primarily pavement use, it does seem 'appearance' is worth a lot to you?

You might find posts 8, 9 & 10 in this thread interesting, regarding techniques. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/trying-to-figure-out-a-lift.388483/

 

Once you level you might want want to look into the ecgs clamshell bushing for the cv axle. When you lift the front just a little on these trucks you will notice a slight vibration if you are 4x4. Just my 2 cents after leveling 2 tacomas.

 

I'm in the exact same boat as you, with the exact same driving conditions and frequencies. I however went with the much lighter 265/75/R16 Hankook Dynapros in an effort to keep the MPGs similar to stock.

My logic concludes that if leveling the front is okay for Toyota (TRD Pro), then it is okay for me. That said, I am also going to try and copy Toyota's version of a front-end lift using some sort of high-quality suspension such as 6112s or even a Fox/Icon.

I seem to find conflicting arguments on whether adjusting CV angles is required if the lift is below 2". It will be a last-minute decision for me.

I love the leveled look, and it is worth it to me to know that my truck is now more "off-road worthy", even though it isn't the primary situation. To have and not need . . . right?

 

I've noticed the "leveled" Toys look fine when static. But at highway speed or a close proximity to hwy speed, they appear to ride "rear low/ front up". I could be imagining it, but the body appears to tilt, shift, pivot , whichever term applies, rearward. Front elevates up beyond level.
It may be the suspension components chosen or something else causing this. However, this is when it doesn't look so good. (my personal opinion)

 

I did the 5100s set to 0 and OME 883. It leveled it out nicely and the ride improved from stock. I my self like the level look but that just my opinion.

 

I did the toytec 883s with a 1" spacer to clear larger tires. The kit along with a1" aal for the rear was $300. If you're on a budget is say just do the spacer above your strut. You can do it easily if you don't have to disassemble the strut. It rides fine on the road but I will probly upgrade to something that feels a little better off road.

 

For your intended use, your best bet is to get one of the above strut spacers. Don't worry about the keyboard heroes flaming you for this. People have ran these spacers for years and years and they work just fine.

If you're getting into heavy off-roading then you may want to look at upgrading the shocks. Just leveling isn't going to change your CV angle that much and vibrations really shouldn't be an issue either.

A front end level in itself isn't going to impact your mpg. It's a truck, that extra 1" lift in the front of your truck isn't going to affect your MPG. The main impact will be heavier tires. You're in the same 265 footprint you were before so rolling resistance won't come into play as much, just the increase in rotational mass.

I would really go with just a spacer, very simple, cheap, and achieves everything you want.

 

before you conclude a loss in MPGs you have to calculate the impact of the different diameter on the odometer. 265/75s are about an inch taller or 6.6% half that and the odometer will read 3.3% fewer miles.

 

Let's not over complicate this for the OP. He is already running the tires. Will leveling the truck make a difference in mpg, no it will not.

 

I don't think leveling is worth the loss in MPG over time.

 

It's a truck. You didn't buy it for mpg. Leveling is not going to impact your MPG. We're talking about an inch in the front guys. Not a massive lift.

So many people get caught up in the myth that you lose MPG from a lift. Most of the MPG you lose will be from going to larger tires.

Folks don't gain MPG when they lower a car. It's physics, so does that lift in the front make the truck so much less aerodynamic that the OP will lose MPG? Not a chance at normal every day driving speeds.

 

For whatever it's worth, I raised my truck 4 weeks ago. Due to busy work schedule, and getting the money together, I haven't had the opportunity to do anything with the tires yet. The wife and I have gone on a couple trips, plus I drive quite a few miles to and from work. I've had the opportunity to check mileage on 9 tanks full of gas. The mileage hasn't changed one small bit since the lift. No effect whatsoever.

 

OP, there wont really be any physical effects on your truck from leveling it, the effect is more mental. Once you level your truck, you will most likely desire more lift. In this case both long and short term physical damage of your wallet may occur.

 

i guess i have to agree with Pollock21, sounds correct but I'd like to see some data over time to be sure. I think aerodynamics, driving style, load weight and tire size are all contributing factors.