Hey guys, fairly new here so bare with me. Like everybody else on here, i'm looking to raise my front end. However, i'm kinda torn on how to go about it. Spend less money on a leveling kit, and worry about stress on the fornt end or drop a load of cash on Bilstein 5100 shocks?

By reading so many posts on here about the ever popular Autospring leveling kit.......is it really that good? I mean, what makes it better than other kits? I know its cheaper in price, but is it better than, lets say a Hell Bent Steel kit? Both are made with steel? Both are reasonable price wise. So why is the AS kit so popular?? Also, I hear good things about spacers and bad.

Is the Bilstein 5100's really worth the price? I see alot of people going with them saying that the bilsteins are far better on ball joints and etc. I guess, what i'm trying to get is should i go with a leveling kit(which is by far the cheaper way out) and risk stress on my front end. Or should I break the bank by getting Bilsteins? Of course, everybody would like the cheaper route, but when it comes to my truck i'm not going to slap something together that going to give it trouble down the road, just to make it look good.

Sorry for the novel, just wanting to get people's input on this subject. Any help would be greatly appericated. Thanks.

 

IMO the adjustable 5100's and AS do the same thing so they would put the same amount of stress on the front end. The 5100's are just a better riding shock than what the truck comes with.

 

if money aint an issue, Bilstein all the way, but if your on a budget then AS will work.

 

Theres been a lot of threads about this, basically

AS- cheap
Bilsteins- better ride, better handling, adjustable amounts of lift

 

I agree.

 

Ok so has anybody used the Bilstein 5100's and the HBS or AS together. and would u need a block system for the rear so it didn't look dumped?

 

You can't use the adjustable shocks and a spacer together. The angles on the joints would be way too extreme.

 

couldnt agree any agree with this anymore and also go to bilsteins if money aint a prob

 

Next question. just got a new truck my self 05 f150 4x4 and i don't mind spending the money for the shocks, how do the shocks stay up or down. is it gas or is there a spring that holds them up? thanks guys

 

THe 04-08 F-150's front suspension has coilover shocks. This means the coilspring is mounted on the shock itself. The Bilstien shocks allow you to put more preload on the spring, which will raise the front of the truck.