Would you ever buy a leveling kit over a full suspension lift?

I’m pretty sure the consensus is function > form, but if you are superficial and don’t plan to off-road, is a leveling kit a good buy or does it normally cause problems down the road just lifting the body?

I’m spitballing lifting my truck around 3” to run a little larger tire.

There’s a guy on Craigslist selling a motofab leveling kit for $75 and I thought it might be worth a shot.

I’m sorry this is another lift kit thread in advance. Using the search function I have definitely ruled out an RC lift kit (even though $280 is intriguing) and am looking more so in the price range of $1000-$1500 for Bilstein 5100s with UCA’s, OME or Toytec.

So my main question is, can a leveling kit be a temporary solution if you strictly want the truck to be lifted for the looks, and does it sacrifice any of the trucks reliability or void any kind of warranty?

 

Hello Noah
Just my opinion
I think this type of leveling kit would do exactly what you want, superficial and don’t plan to off-road.
Lifting your truck around 3” to run a little larger tire.
The things you must look out for alignment issues, and Topping out the upper control arms when you get over the 3 inch range.
I had a 3'' leveling kit in my 2013 reg cab tacoma and it was fine.
Again just my opinion.

 

you'll be just fine. while most people on here will preach against them, plenty of people run them without issue.

I've even used stock suspension on those leveling kits while I've sent my Icons off for servicing as temporary solutions (and went offroad w/ them) w/out issue.

 

If its simply a budget thing then im sure you would be fine with the leveling kit. It you can spare the coin definitley go the suspension route. Who knows, maybe one day you will want to take it offroad and have that extra piece of mind

 

A level is not going to make your truck less reliable. I'd try to keep the lift modest though so you're not making the angles on the front suspension way out of whack.

 

Spacers are fine. Lots of folks around here will say they're the worst thing on earth, you'll risk busting the bottom of your shocks (theres that one pic that always shows up in these kinds of threads), "a $35k truck shouldn't get $75 spacers" etc. etc. I have never run them, but I think one thing to worry about with that much lift is alignment. I never quite got the alignment I wanted on my 2nd gen with 884s (2" lift) on stock UCAs so I ponied up and got JBA UCA's and switched to OME 885s (2.5" lift). Personally I'm happy I spent the money on coilovers but if you're just looking for some lift for looks, the spacers will do what they're supposed to do.

But I guess to answer your question, I would not do it personally, but my needs are different than yours.

 

Since a few knowledgeable people have answered, and so I don’t have to start another thread......

What’s a leveling kit do?

So.... I’m pretty new (obviously) and don’t know ANYTHING about lifts. Trying to search.....

I want 265/70r17 tires and think they’d fit a little better with 0.5”-1” lift. Are these spacers what I’m looking for? I don’t want 2-3 inches.... I’d like to remain as close to stock as possible with replacing few parts as possible

Edit to add: I know nothing about TACO lifts. I already lifted my Cherokee XJ 3.5” with Springs, leafs, shocks, uca, lca, and sway bar disconnects. Just had to prove I’m no dummy and can turn a wrench, I just need to be steered in the right direction (different thread possibly)

 

I am pretty sure you can run the 265/70R17 tires on stock suspension with no lift. I am running 255/85R16 33" skinny tires on stock suspension. 265/70R17 is like one size over stock I believe on the Sport.

 

How do you like pizza cutters?

I was considering them but was afraid it would be “too much wheel” and not enough wheel well

 

Technically, that's not true for the exact reason you stated. I would keep an eye on your suspension components, especially the CV's.

 

The consensus is that it isn’t really great for the reliability. I’d rather not drop 35k on a truck and mod it knowing I’m possibly messing with the suspension.

I want the truck to last for 300k miles, so I’ll just hold off on the lift for now. I’ll just continue to save a little from each pay till I can afford the lift/tire/wheel set up that I like.

Buy once, cry once

 

Pizza cutters for life

 

255 all day long.

 

Having said that, I would not worry too much if you were to get something like a 1.5" to 2" front level kit, then slap on some 32" (265/75/16) tires. Your MPG will suffer a bit, but shouldn't really affect anything else that much.

 

I would never but to each their own. The defense that is always preached for leveling kits is contradictory to me. That being "I don't offroad, I just want it for looks." Fair enough if that's your stance but the thing is...spacer lifts look like shit and are embarrassing. It's in the same vein as slamming cars and putting a ton of camber on them. If the net performance goes down to achieve a look, the look in turn is disgusting to me.

 

I like them a lot. 285's look great, but require trimming and possibly cab mount chopping. The ST Maxx 255's are very square shouldered so they look a little wider than other pizza cutters.

 

Not a fan of leveling kits because I often load my bed up. I like the rear end a little higher so the truck handles better with a load.

Edit: I’m running OME 888 with Dakar’s in the rear 285/70/17 K bro 2s

 

Not any worse than using hi dollar suspension components that do not correct CV angles.

 

You will be fine with a leveling kit. The usual things apply just like with any kind of lift. Expect a ride change (even if they claim in keeps the factory ride) and expect premature wear on suspension components. Last leveling kit i did on a Tundra, I had to carry around custom alignment specs for when I got it aligned. And it was extremely frustrating when you wait 3 hours for your alignment and the service writer forgot to give the custom specs to the alignment tech and you have to make them redo the alignment.

 

Just to add. We have had members with reported issues such as blown shocks from leveling kits. It doesn’t happen often but it’s an issue to be considered.