Hey everyone, I'm wanting to put a leveling kit on my 2002 F-150 XLT 2WD, but I'm not too familiar with the leveling kits. I know a lot about trucks and cars, and I'm in school in an automotive program and have all the tools at my house to do it. I just don't know if I need a 1" or a 2.5" to level it. Any advice on brands and how much lift the front would need?

 

A Daystar 1.5" kit should be easy to install and level the ride out, or drop shackles in the back, depending on which direction you want to go.

 

I'm wanting to go up on the front. The Comfort Ride kit? And it goes on top of the shock tower right?

 

It goes on top of the coil spring.

 

Like, do I need a spring compressor or does it go on top of that?

 

You don't need a compressor, but you'll still have to take the spring out. I think you'll need more like a 2" though. I think 1.5" will still leave you with rake.

 

Can you explain how it goes on? Like I said, new to all the lifting and leveling kits and don't know exactly how they go on.

 

You don't need a spring compressor but the installation methods vary. A friend of mine was able to do it by just unbolting the sway bar, shock absorber, the lower control arm, and lowering the control arm down with a jack. I wouldn't recommend this if you've never messed with the front end before. I had to replace some front end components so I went ahead and installed mine while I had it all apart.

 

Ahh makes sense now. I've seen a video on YouTube about it but it was one the next gen F150 so I wasn't sure if it was still the same concept and everything.

 

 

To take it out, the easiest way is unbolt the control arm, shock and sway bar. Of course have the truck supported by the frame on jack stands so no weight is on the front suspension. Also make sure the spindle is supported so it doesn't end up ripping that break line that runs along the backside of the lower arm. Then I just step on the lower arm to push it down and eventually the spring will just fall out. Install is basically the reverse, including stepping on the arm to push it down to get the spring with the spacer on it back in. And don't forget the alignment either.

Or another way to do it is if you need to replace the ball joints at the same time, once you get a ball joint free you'll be able to move that spindle around. Basically you just need to get either the top free or the bottom free to get the lower control arm down far enough. Hope this makes sense.

 

Yeah I understand what you're saying. I'll look at the ball joints cause they're probably the original set, but I'm not sure.

 

If they're worn it'd be the perfect time to replace both of them also because chances are after replacing the upper ball joint your gonna need to at the very minimum get the alignment checked and most likely get a full alignment anyways.

 

I'll check them out in the next day or two and see. How do you think the stock XLT 16" wheels and a set of 265/70/R16's will look? Cause I don't have the money for the bigger wheels and tires. I'm in college and not working because class takes up every day of the week right now.

 

That will look fine. I ran the same size tires on a 2wd with 3" of lift and it still looked good