is this the best way to level my 08 lariat to maintain the factory ride?
2004-2008 Ford F150 4wd - Bilstein 5100 Series Leveling Strut / Shock (Adjustable 0" to 2" FRONT Lift)

Or is the autospring and the readylift spacers just as good.

I really dont want to loose the wonderful ride my truck has

 

Spacers will ride worse than struts, but it won't be horrible.

 

If you like the soft cushy factory ride, then I would just get a leveling kit. It is cheaper and the factory strut is softer than the bilstein. So if you don't offroad, and you like that soft factory ride, get a Autospring leveling kit. It is also a easier install.

I have had both the AS leveling kit and 5100 leveling shocks. The 5100's have a firmer, yet more controlled ride. So it just depends on your preference and how much you offroad.

Ride quality with a leveling kit vs. the 2" lift shocks doesn't seem to make a difference. It seems to be the shocks themselves that make the difference.

 

What's the difference between autospring and ready lift leveling kit?

 

Price!

Readylift - $229.95
Autospring - $56.00

 

so no difference in quality. or quality of ride?

What size in metric 33 inch tires can i put on my stock 20 inch wheels?

 

I have the as 2" level on my 08 lariat and love it, have 33" BFF all terrain 275/70/18 , easy install and didn't change my ride hardly at all.

 

so what would be the size tires i need for a 20 inch wheel. and stay in the fender flares. want to stay around 33 not 35

 

So I called ready lift to ask what was the difference between there lift and other companies like autospring and the claim it's the materials they use there will be no air pockets. Not sure what that effect but I didn't sound like enough to justify an extra 200 bucks. Feel free to correct me of I'm wrong.

 

Contrary to some of the replys, the Bilsteins will affect the factory ride, while the leveling kit won't. When I swapped my stock rear shocks out for Bilstein 5100s, it rode like stock on most roads, but is much, much harsher when hitting a big bump. There are train tracks that I used to cross at 30 without issue stock; with the 5100s, it is painful.

That said, I would go with the Bilsteins on the front if doing it again. My AS 2" kit lifted the front of my 09 4x4 a full 3". Check out my older posts to see how this affected my UCA and ball joint angles. My ride was not noticibly affected. Any leveling kit, whether strut or spacer will change these angles the same amount for a given lift. The advantage of a top-mounted spacer is cost and ease of install. (Don't under estimate the difficulty and danger involved in disassembling the massive struts!) the disadvantages are that you effectively lose your downward travel limit - the UCA can and will hit your spring on occasion - again, check some of my older posts. The other issue is that there is a minimum thickness the spacer can be and still bolt up. This is why I would opt for the 5100s. I would like 0.5" - 1" less front lift. The extra firmness in the shock may help when pulling my TT as well. I has to add air springs just to make the truck sit level when empty (it was 1/2" nose high after leveling). It would have looked quite silly with my 960lb TT tongue hooked up without the air springs. My WD hitch certainly helps, biut the rear still drops 2" when hooked up w/o the air springs.