So i did a bunch of reading before i went ahead of installing a 2 1/2 inch leveling kit with 35's on my f150 and seemed like there wasn't too many issues with it. So here i am now 6 months later, having to replace my ball joints and tie rod ends.. My truck has 47k miles on it currently and the front end was making a creaking noise. From what i could tell it was mainly the tie rod ends but i took it to the dealership to have them check it out to be sure. After finding out it wasn't under warranty i took it to another shop owned by a certified ford mechanic and he told me that it was caused by the leveling kit screwing up all the angles for the joints and that my upper and lower ball joints are also going out. He suggested that i put a 6" lift on it to prevent me from continuing to wear them out. I know quite a few people with the same set up as mine with many more miles and A LOT of off road and have no issues.I would like to know if i really need to make the investment by installing a 6" lift to keep the same size tire i already have.

 

That from the "certified ford mechanic" sounds like a load of crap. That stuff wears out on stock trucks, trucks with lifts, dropped trucks, and trucks with leveling kits. You never know. I wouldn't lay the blame on anything you've done to the truck.

 

Your tie rods and ball joints are desiged to run as a certin angle. When you put a leveling kit on your truck you are pushing your joints to the end of there travel. And also it will hit the end of travel more often since they have been pushed so close to there limits. That is why all good sized suspension lifts drop all of the suspension componints so you gain lift but the same angle of the joints is kept at a stock angle. You got to pay to play.

 

They're also designed to wear out. Stock trucks wear out prematurely as well.

 

In theory, anytime you install a taller, wider or heavier wheel or tire you are gonna increase wear and tear. But, as the others have said, it's not unsual at all for the ball joints and tie rod ends to wear out at 40-60k miles on stock trucks

 

if your 35's and a leveling kit are wearing out the joints, I'd hate to see what 37/38's and 11.5+ inches of lift (out of an 8" suspension kit) are doing to mine Oh wait, i replace all that stuff once a year now anyway because I know my terrible suspension angles (far worse than your leveling kit I can guarantee) are terrible for the joints. Just replace the stuff, a great place to pick up the parts is rockauto.com. When you replace them get the joints that are grease-able since your leveled/lifted; It might extend the time between changes a little bit.

 

Ball joints and tie rod ends average life on a stock vehicle would be 50-60,000 miles on average. Just the nature of the beast. Granite, the leveling kit will add a little to the faster wear but not that much. I would not worry about it and just plan on replacing the parts again in another 50,000 miles.

 

when i had my 05 f150 i had all four done at 30k under warrenty, stock is worthless due to no grease fitings

 

I would never put a level kit on again after my last truck it does wear out upper and lower ball joints and tie rod ends faster ........ Maybe not so much for say a 1" level but 2"-3" yes. I went with a Rancho 4" lift all the joint angles look better than stock. [/IMG]

 

man im glad i found this site. lol