Well I have the AS 2.5 level kit on now and i'm thinking about taking it off and also removing the the rear stock blocks(to level it). My wife drives the truck mostly and I was driving next to her on the highway and the front tires were moving a hole lot more than they should. So I took the truck out for a spin and it had bad wheel hop over small bumps down the highway.The truck rides really rough. The steering wheel feels to pull back and forth when the I hit the bumps. I'm asuming that this is caused from the level kit.?.?. But I think i will be better off lowering it back down. Reasons: easier to load my mx bikes easier, a little better MPG, and easier for my wife to load our new born into the back, and hopefully fix this problem. Let me know what you guys think. I'll post pictures after I lower her back down.

I'll prolly sell the level kit also...

With the lift....

 

I dont think the level kit would cause those issues.

 

it would if he didnt get it alighned after...did you? if not that could explain the bump steer issue.

 

When you say.....lowering the FX4. Do you mean, removing the leveling kit and restoring the factory height. Or do you mean, drop kit = lower to the ground??

 

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uh, can you explain the better MPG part? Other than larger tires causing a drop in MPG, a lower suspension aint gonna change your MPG

 

It probably does actually. It's probably very minimal, but less air/wind traveling underneath the truck would create less drag I'd have to believe.

 

1. Lowering 1-2" will not get you any better MPG. That is a myth. Dropping your truck to the ground and running body skirts is the only way to get better MPG. Even then, the best you'll get is maybe 1 mpg better.

2. The 2.5" AS actually puts the rear-end lower than it was OEM. If you remove the 2.5" AS, the rear will go back up. Removing the rear 1-5/8" block will put you right back where you started...maybe 1/2" lower

3. Loading your ATV/Bikes is actually going to be easier with the AS installed. Front goes up 2.5", that means the back dropped about 1-2". Basically same thing as I pointed out in #2.

4. There is absolutely 0 chance the AS affects your ride. I think maybe you need shocks. Especially as your truck is a 2004. You may even need upper/lower control arms.

What's your mileage? And do you have LT or P tires? Check your ball joints by trying to wiggle the tires up/down and side to side. Any play means bad ball joints.

 

Well as far as the better gas mileage i know its going to be very minimal, but better aerodynamics??.....Yea had it aligned right after the kit was put on, roughly 1000 miles ago, tires are stock size, I think some of the the rough ride is due to the tires LT mickey thompson atz radial which i think they are 10 ply......I had to replace ball joints when i put the as kit on due to broken shock spring. I have about 65K miles on her and the shocks probually need replaced....I really like it up higher I wanted to put 35's on, would getting new shocks and new tires potentially fix this problem? Does any know what 35in MT tires ride the best?

 

Also what brand of shocks would you suggest?

 

Lowering a 4x4 Truck, is as sinfull as a girl getting a Breast Reduction! Come to you senses please!................

 

I've always been a fan of Monroe shocks. They are pretty good, the price ain't bad and they make other brands shocks (rebadged of course).

Bilstein and Rancho are pretty popular also. I personally would get the OEM or Monroes. Whatever is cheapest. I don't see the point of spending massive amounts of $$$ on shocks that'll just wear out.

Toyo M/T's are highly rated, and the Cooper STT is on the rise also