I've searched in vain for a leveling kit for the late model F-150 with no luck, and I would like a leveling kit for my F-150 to get it to the height of a stock 4x4 of the same year/body style. I know about the Autospring leveling kits for the 2004-2008, but nothing for the 1997-2003.

Actually, I take that back. I found the torsion bar keys for the late model, but I'd rather not go that route. Any recommendations?

 

2wd's dont have torsion bars so torsion keys will do you no good. to get a 2wd the same height as a stock 4x4 you will need about 2" in the front and a 2" block in the rear, to get a leveled 4x4 look more like 3" in the front. look into coil spacers for 2"-i know daystar makes them,dont get the metal ones on ebay,their crap from what i hear. if your looking for more lift you want a spindle to get mroe like 3". just do a search for 2wd f150 leveling kit

 

id recomend getting a 2" daystar leveling kit, then get a 3" bodylift. this will give you a really nice stance and then when you get tired of it add the 7.5" suspension lift, and you will get tired of it.

if you go this route all the installation is diy (unless you really want to pay alot for installation) the coilspring spacers are a half a day project and a body lift would be a weekend project and would help if you had a buddy.

if you get a body lift make sure you get some step bars and gap gaurds to hide the body lift gaps.

 

I agree.

 

Okay, I talked to a few local shops, and they all agree that leveling kits for the '97-'03 F-150s aren't good because they put serious strain on the torsion bars and cause premature ball joint failure. They will sell me one, but they would be very reluctant to do so.

So, after that, they led me into the direction of the Fabtech 3.5" spindle lift, as all three shops (all independent from eachother) have sold several with no ill effects. I have also read around the forum, and the spindle lift seems like a solid go.

I got most of my questions answered through searching (who would've known!), but I still have a few specific questions that I was unable to find the answer to. First, do OEM wheels work with the Fabtech 3.5" lift? Some say they do, and some say they don't. If it helps, I have the aluminum 5 spoke factory rims (photo below). Also, would 275/70/16 tires be too small for the lift? I ask because I have to get new tires in the next few weeks since the front tires are bald, so I figure I'd just get four new tires now. I would go with a 285/75/16, but I don't think they would fit on the OEM rims and I don't think I'd be able to tuck them under with the truck as-is right now.

Finally, what kind of kit do I need for the back? I know I need blocks or AAL, but is there a kit I can get with all the necessary parts and hardware? Fabtech only seems to offer a coil-spring lift or an airbag lift for the back, neither of which appeal to me. Thanks for the help!

 

just for the record theres no torsion bars on your truck, since its a 2wd it has coilsprings! thus why you wouldnt need torsion bar keys.

i wouldnt go the spindle route either, for the money the daystar leveling kit and a bodylift (all diy which saves money) will give you the look you want and you could fit the 285/75/16 under it and it would look similiar to my 4x4.

ive never like doing spindle lifts just for the fact that if you want to go bigger (i.e. suspension lift) you will be getting rid of those when you put on the suspesion lift.

go with the 2" daystar leveling kit and a 3" bodylift

you wont be dissapointed

 

and heres the prices for you

3" Body Lift: $200 (DIY install = free)

1.5" Coilspring spacers: $70 (DIY install = free)

Now the spindle system! from fabtech is running around 800!

the spindle route will work but it will not be worth it for me since im always wanting to go higher!

 

i have to disagree with trimble. everything ive read about body lifts says that while you can do it yourself its a major pita. also as mentioned by myself and trimble you dont have torsion bars and you dont have coil springs in the rear. just take a quick look under your truck and you can tell that yourself. also if you want to go bigger when you have a spindle all you have to do is get longer coils and new uca's. so its real easy to go bigger. also while fabtech is probably one of the best spindle kits you can get other ones that work great for a whole lot less. there are spindles on ebay which people have said work great that are only $215. installing a spindle would be much easier than a body lift as you have to get to and then undo all the body and bed mounts. back to your questions-a 275/70/16 is like a 31.2 inch tire. that would fit just fine stock and wouldnt look horrible with the lift. i have 265/75/16s(32"). on there right now stock and it looks and fits great. ive seen pictures of stucks with spindle lifts and 32" tires and they still look good. o and a 285/75/16 would probably squeze on the stock wheels but might not fit at stock level. for the rear to level it youll want a 1 or 2" block in the rear. there are alot of kits that sell just rear blocks,just google it. aal will lift the rear but give you a much harsher ride. as for the stock wheel on spindle im not sure i think the fabtech site says you cant,look at their site. i think that answers most of your questions.

 

well if you go and spray some rust killer or bolt blaster on the bed and cab bolts everyday a week before you do the body lift it will help out alot most people forget to do that, and the price of that fabtech kit was a system the spindle only was 500. id say screw it all and get the 7.5" suspension lift it looks great! but i know its more money and possibly more lift than you want.

 

either way you go it will have a nice stance and look better than stock.....NOW GET TO IT!

For tire fitment ask wandell a.k.a. tire god!!!!!!

 

If you go with a spindle lift or a body lift, I'd go with a 285/75-16. You can fit them now using your oem wheels, but it will be a tight fit. You should be fine with your oem wheels and the Fabtech lift since most all aftermarket wheels use the same backspacing (4.5 inches ) as the oem wheels.

 

Hey, sorry for the thread bump, but I don't want to start another thread for a relatively minor question...

I have to get new tires like this week because the fronts are as good as bald (1/32). I am currently undecided on whether to get a spindle lift or not since there is a chance that I might be selling the truck in a year, so I wanted to get tires that wouldn't look that bad factory stock or with a spindle lift.

I think that BFG ATs would look a little wierd on a stock 2WD, but that's what I would get if I was 100% sure that I'd be keeping the truck, since BFG ATs seem to give the best grip on the beach, which I frequent.

So, I was going to settle for something like the Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo since it's asymmetrical tread design seems like it would do good on the beach, but its ribs on the sides would allow for wet road handling. I also heard that BFG A/Ts kill your fuel economy, but I have yet to verify that. As for size, I was going to settle on 275/70/16 or 31.2x10.8x16. I figure I could tuck 31s under it right now with no rubbing or anything, but it wouldn't also look that bad if I got a spindle lift. Might look a little small, but as long as it doesn't look like a monster truck with the transport tires on, I'd be content with that. Anyone have any other ideas for tires?

 

you can easily fit 32's under the stock truck and itll look better when you go up. check my gallery to see what bfg at's look like on a stock 2wd truck. in my opinion it has one of the most aggresive sidewalls and really gives the truck the look i wanted

 

Do you have the 265/75/16s? Is the photo below factory stock?

 

got my fabtech spindle lift from performancelifts.com paid $792.00 and that is with all four fabtech shocks....camber kit...rear blocks...and free shipping...got it all in about 4 days....and by the way the instruction sheet says no on the stock wheels