besides the fact that one is aluminum and one is black steel. they're both 3". im wondering why they look different. is one better than the other?

 

Steel is always better, and price wise they are all comparable. The autospring units are steel, have gussets on the sides that makes them stronger, and they have the offset design that pulls the top of the coilover inward 1/4" to provide more clearence for the upper control arm.

Look on ebay, A/S has a package deal, you get a front kit in the size you want and the rear blocks (1.5" or 3") for 180 plus 12.95 shipping.

 

those look like the stock pics from the hellbent steel website.....i have the same kit ( the steel one) in 2.5" and have had no problems

 

I have the HBS 2" aluminum. If you seem them, it wont be much. They perform the same. You can spend twice as much on the AS if you'd like.

 

I don't where you got your info from but an A/S front kit is only 70 bucks in painted steel and 82 if you want powdercoat. How much did you pay for that hunk of aluminum from HBS.

The price I qouted earlier is for a F/R combo kit from A/S, the rear as kit is 120 by itself.

BTW aluminum kits are fine if you live in the south where you never see snow, but the rest of us know better than to put alum next to steel. If you see any kind of winter you will eventually get bimetallic corrosion. And it doesn't happen with the lower control arms because there is a rubber bushing between the LCA and the frame, no direct contact.

 

I don't understand why anyone would pull two parts made of steel together and put something in the middle that was anything but steel. Makes no sense.

 

just fyi, a 3in will put a lot of stress on your suspension components. Just about everyone seems to be going with a 2.5in and having great luck. Just something to consider. Either way let us know what happens and good luck