2" AS Leveling Kit vs 5100 Bilstein's
 

I'm curious, will either the 2" AS leveling kit or the 5100 Bilstiens set at their top position effect the ride characteristics of my 07 4x4? I'm looking to run a 305/65R18, but wanted to know if the leveling will effect the ride of the truck.

Thanks

A leveling kit will not affect the ride. I have a Autospring 2.5" kit on my truck and it still rides as nice as it did the day I bought it. I would go with the leveling kit. While the Bilsteins are nice. The AS kit is less than $100. You can't beat it for the price. Check out their site:

www.autospringcorp.com

Cool. That's what I thought, but I remember someone posting and complaining about the poor ride their truck had with the leveling kit. I'm now thinking they upgraded from P metric tires to a large set of E range LT tires and blamed the ride quality on the leveling kit.

Thanks. Sharp truck!!

The only difference I have ever noticed is that sometimes I can feel potholes more in the steering wheel. I'm guessing it is the angle of the lower control arms not absorbing the bumps as much as if they were still parallel with the ground. I don't notice it anymore unless I drive a friends F-150 that is not leveled YET..

Interesting... Does the leveling kit increase bump steer, like lowering does in a Fox body Mustang?

I'm not trying to jack your thread svt, I've just been wondering the same things..

Do the 5100's keep better angles on your front end than the leveling kit? I've never found a CLEAR answer to that one. I drive off road quite a bit and I've read the leveling kit isnt good if you drive off the road alot because it will wear out your ball joints, tie rods, etc faster

I'm just searching for the same sort of info. So lets see where this goes.

I have had both a leveling kit and now the 5100's

1) I had a 2.5" autosprings leveling kit. To me the ride felt the same as stock. Cushy mushy OEM shock feel is what I got.

2) Now I have the 5100 leveling shocks. These give 2" of lift. These shocks give a firmer ride with better handling. But they are not harsh. They still smooth out small bumps and pot holes as well as or even better than the OEM shocks. I like them a lot.

My angles are a bit better with the 5100's but that is because I went from 2.5" to 2". A 2" leveling kit or the 5100's will give you the same suspension angles.

The differences are:
1) You eliminate the spacer. Some people think this is a positive thing. I tend to think it is good to get rid of the spacer. Its just less room for things to break, but it may not really make a big difference.
2) The ride will change, as I mentioned. I like the ride with the 5100's much more, it feels much more spirited. Not cushy and mushy as I feel the OEM shocks are.
3) You upgrade to a better offroad shock.
4) Price. I paid $100 for my leveling kit, and $390 for 4 5100's. I think It would be like $270 for just the front shocks.

So if your looking to stay on road and save some money the leveling kit is good. If you offroad and want a better handling truck go with the 5100's

I'll subscribe this thread, post any more questions, I can help with.

i just got thru replacing shocks using the bilstein 5100's. leveled the ride height. so far short ride great feel. better than stock. To compress the coils was a challange trying to use the loaner tool, so i had a shop do it for me. charged $40. Was well worth it. He told me to never try it yourself to dangerous. Also replaced rotors(powerslot) and hawk pads.

I also replaced my excursion with bilsteins and what a difference. i had the edelbrock's b4.


I have a set of new autospring level kit available for sale if anyone is interested. My son will be going with the bilsteins also and he will have a set of used autosprings for sale too.

So do you necessarily have to buy the back shocks along with the front? I just wanted to level the truck but I guess that would make the ride kind of weird, with stiffer shocks in front and soft in back.

I know a lot of people have had no trouble with the AS, but I just don't like the idea of it...

I rode around like that for around 4months before I put the Rize lift on. It rode great and handled better. Didn't feel odd at all with the stockers still in the rear. .. My vote is 5100s all the way.

My sons has had no problems or complaints with the as lift with his 2006 fx4 4x4. he wants to replace shocks so he will be going with the bilsteins.

so on my 2000 f150 i can get bilsteins and i could adjust them for the front so its leveled out your saying? sorry for the dumb question. where is the best place to order bilsteins from? thanks

I think they are only available for the 2004's and newer.

4rdfvr has an 01 and said he installed them. where can i look ?