This is why a realignment should wait a bit if possible.

 

How would that effect it?

 

Because after it settles it could cause the alignment to change a little bit, might not be noticeable or might be enough to start wearing your tires un-evenely. After I did the lift on my truck, I talked to a few shops about where to get the cheapest alignment because all of the places around here like to charge double for lifted trucks, but they all also recommended trying to put like 50-100 miles on it to let it all settle some before getting it done.

 

I heard the same thing when I leveled my truck. The whole system is steel-on-steel. I don't see how anything settles. My height didn't settle after the install. It may have dropped a tiny bit (1/16") when aligned.

 

It's from the added tension your putting on the coilover. Even though its technically not touching the spring, it's now trying to fit more into the smaller space it had before, hence where the lift comes from. But when the law of gravity hits over a period time, it'll force itself to compress a little until it's in it's happy place. Sometimes its not enough to notice by eye, but could be slightly enough to alter an alignment if all that makes sense.

 

Weird, the truck in this video uses a 2" spacer, and there is still rake somewhat (check towards end of video). But this is an '04. I never saw a 2" make the nose high like that, thats crazy.

2" leveling kit / strut spacer install

 

not certain if i remember reading you had a 4x4 or not but on my 2010 i installed a front and rear autospring kit, which included a 1 1/2 inch spacer for the front and a 3" block to replace the stock 1 5/8" i think it was. gave the whole truck an overall lift but still retained a little bit of front rake. the front is about 1" lower max than the rear. i too did not want any sort of exactly level or nose high outcome so i went with that kit and couldnt be happier.

 

Does a spacer lift affect the turning radius at all?

My 04 didn't turn as sharp after I installed the 2" spacer although that might have been from the bigger tires And with my 2011 being a supercrew long bed it already has a poor turning radius. I don't want to make it worse.

 

Bigger tires affect your turning radius.

 

Ordered an Auto Spring 1.5" Level tonight.

Thanks for the help, all!

 

I think you will be pleased and should be happy with lift , If I remember you should wind up with roughly 1/2 rake and I think thats what your after . You wont notice it when driving but you will every time you walk out and see it .

 

Oh yea , I had mine aligned at dealer , also had tires put on same trip. Best price around for mounting tires , 29.95 , supposed to be if you buy there but pretty good guys there . I think it was 59.95 for alignment ,not sure . Had oil changed , tires mounted and balanced and aligned and think it was about 115. to 120 dollars

 

I dont really think it will settle much ,if any . My truck has not setteled any that I can tell. Level kit can not really settle, would have to be spring on strut , My 05 had 2"kit and set real close to 2 1/2 " when it was installed and when it was traded 5 years later.

 

i have a 08 lariat that I installed 2" autospring and the front was about 3/4 in taller in the front. I drove around for 20 miles 40-50 some miles and It did settle some and with alignment it is exactly same measurment front and back now.

 

There is no added tension on the coil over unless you count the 1/3 of a pound of unsprung weight the leveling kit itself adds to it. Levels made of metal and put on top of a coil over do not settle, period. It's not possible. Talking to some monkey CS guy who's never picked up a wrench isn't a definitive answer. The only thing the law of gravity would have to do with this would be possibly allowing the truck to sit .0000001 inches HIGHER becuase it's further away from the earth now so gravity is diminished slightly. I mean seriously.....