I've been on this forum since I purchased my truck.

At first everyone was in love with the autospring and daystar spacers; the "easy way" to lift these trucks. Now many seem to be so disappointed. What did you expect? You can't make any modification to an engineered piece without some ramification. Didn't you know that?

Prior to my F-150 I had a 93 Ranger (still do, in fact) I put 2" 'leveling springs' on the front. Every third time or so I went to get it aligned I was told I needed new ball joints. I've put ball joints on it three times. I see it as the cost of having my truck leveled. Do I have the right to complain or be disappointed? Not as I see it. It was my choice to change the geometry of the front end and the price is new ball joints every once in a while. I like the way it looks so I happily pay the price.

I currently have the 2.5" autospring installed and my springs have little rub marks on them. Am I surprised? Nope. Do the rub marks make my truck any less safe? I seriously doubt it. Am I upset? I might be if I didn't know any better but if I start to have problems I will fix them.

Now everyone says to take out the AS spacers and lift as a better choice. The AS is 'bad" now and many people are disappointed. How long will it take for someone on this forum to post that their lift was a mistake and they have decided to have it removed? How long before others decide their lift was a mistake as well and how long before others start badmouthing suspension lifts?

I've been modding my cars for years. I have a lowered Windstar my wife drives and a 12 second VW I've had for 35 years. Have any of these mods cost me in the long run? Sure have. Am I surprised or disappointed? Nope. It is the 'cost of doing business'. Will I continue to 'personalize' my vehicles? Sure will and won't ever complain about it or advise others not to make similar changes.

Others are starting to complain about their new intakes. I expect we'll soon hear complaints about the tuners and catbacks and who knows what terrible changes all those wide offset wheels are doing to your wheel bearings? If you don't want to see adverse changes occur to your truck don't make any changes to it. If you want to change your truck, do it and be satisfied but realize any changes you make are going to cost you again (and maybe even again and again) in the long run. The only way to avoid the issue is to make no changes at all.

 

I like my Autospring. Other than the few people on this board, everyone I know with levelling kits is happy. This site breeds truck hypochondriacs.

 

Amen!

 

Couldn't agree more. I've got a lowered car and I've had multiple issues with it. Would I ever do it again? No. Do I like the handling? 100%. I knew there were drawbacks, but I just wanted the handling so I took the chance. Camber kits, $120 alignments, broken ball joint at 40mph, airbags deploying at 70-75mph(no one can give me 100% proof if this was due to lowering), tires, tires and more tires. I think the main thing is, you gotta weigh the consquences vs the positives and do research. I know more than a few people who saw this or that on tv, in a mag or at pepboys and had to do it, before you know it everything is fubar. Than again...life is short and it's only money...you can't take it with you so live it up.

 

AMEN!

 

This my good man, is why I LEASE, I totally rag the crap out of my truck, throw a bunch of levelers and intakes and chips on it, drive it into the ground, then the day before I turn it in, swap all that stuff out and sell it on eBay. WHOOPS! I just did a donut in 4LO, I wonder what effect that will have on my truck 4 years from now, ah who cares, some poor bastard that buys used cars will just have to worry about that! ZING!

 

Wow that is a good point! (lol)

 

Thank you for warning me, abought you...

 

i agree, u gotta pay if u gonna play. my mods are already costing me money and giving me headaches. my truck wouldve been a perfect trouble free truck, but now im looking at new bump stops, new alternator, 2 new wheels and tires(accident in which im sure stockers wouldve held up better) poor gas milage, reduced payload, and shortened engine and tranny life im sure. but hey, i know the risks i make modding a vehicle and am not gonna complain when my troubles are not fixed under warranty

 

 

Same crap happened with the newer generation of Rangers. Everyone on a certain Ranger forum I used to belong to preached torsion bar cranks so you could run 33"s. A year later everybody was bitchin about having to replace their ball joints and wheel bearings. I ran 265's on a untouched front end and was gonna try to squeeze 285's under there but sadly my truck didn't live that long. It was killed by a druggie in a 93 Corsica. Bastard.

 

Definately one of the better posts made on this site, couldn't agree with you more.

 

I’ve already changed out my floor mats three times and thinking about maybe going once more

Why complain? If you do a mod and later change your mind, that’s OK
*One size doesn’t fit all*

 

Well, I will make sure Suburban Ford takes a good look at your vehicle when you turn it in.

 

Amen, brother!!

I, too hve grown tired of people complaining about modded trucks. I used to have a '91 Toyota 2WD with a 2-3 drop, 245/45/17's, shaved tailgate, header, and flowmaster exhaust. Not only did it ride terrible, but I had to bend up the inside lip of the fenders for tire clearance, grind off some of the bolts on the inner fender to keep from cutting the tires when turning, and still the tires rubbed the frame at full lock and hit the inner fender when I hit a large bump. I also got stuck once because the rear tire dropped in a rut (about 3" deep) and the rear spring mounts dug into the ground because of the lowering blocks. But I don't complain about it, nor would I have returned it to stock ride height. The truck looked awesome and I got compliments all the time on the stance.

Now that I sold the toyota in favor of the F150, I have a bug in me to modify. Heck, the magnaflow system and K&N went on the truck 2days after I bought it (so much for the quietest truck cab on the market). One week later I installed the 2.5 daystar kit. Sure, I may have to replace some suspension parts in the future, but at least it won't have that aweful rake in the meantime. And it will also stand out from the rest of the 4.5 quadrillion F150's on the road!

Great thread!!