What is a Leveling Kit?

Have you ever noticed that the front and back of your car sit a little lower than the middle? It's a small distinction that truck and SUV manufacturers frequently include on purpose. The concept behind the imbalance, referred to as "rake," is that when you add a big load to your truck bed or the trunk of your car, it may create drooping or even lead you to bottom out, which can cause your suspension parts to prematurely wear out. Lifting the rear of your car will improve the space between the axle and the frame, minimizing sag and lowering the risk of suspension damage from bottoming out-related added stress.

What's The difference between Lifting and Leveling?

To put it simply, both lifts and leveling kits are made to raise the truck body off the axles so that wider tires can be installed and more ground clearance is available. Hardware is included in a leveling kit to raise the front of the car just enough to match the stock height of the back. A leveling kit is typically made to lift the front of the vehicle up to a maximum of roughly 2 inches. Front-end leveling kits can be used in conjunction with spacer blocks on the rear leaf springs to provide a modest lift at all four corners if a stock-style stance is desired. Leveling kits are also fairly straightforward, typically simply requiring torsion keys or spring spacers to complete the task.

A lift kit uses upgraded suspension components to raise the truck significantly higher in the air. Lift kits can be bought in 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, or even 10-inch packages—or much taller if the buyer wants to go custom. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Compared to leveling kits, lift kits—often referred to as suspension systems—are significantly more complete and will include new springs, shocks, control arms, and any other components required to maintain the specified height. The higher raise kits are typically fairly complicated, frequently requiring the fabrication of new driveshafts and the bending of brake lines in addition to the suspension components. Additionally, running larger-than-stock tires may necessitate the use of aftermarket wheels with a greater offset (the separation between the wheel and the hub).

Pros & cons of leveling kit

What are the Pros of leveling kit?

• Since most cars have more clearance at the back than the front, clearance is typically limited to the height of the front end. A leveling kit will raise your front end by one to three inches, resulting in an overall improvement in ground clearance.This implies that drivers can fit bigger tires to all four wheels. With a leveling kit, the body of the car is moved further away from the axles, preventing larger tires from colliding with the bumper when turning.
• If you want to enhance off-roading abilities, a leveling kit is the ideal option. When driving through mud, dirt, pebbles, sand, and other terrains, it is best to have more ground clearance and larger tires. It will stop rocks and other objects from hurting the front bumper and other components.The vehicle will sag if a heavy feature, like a snowplow or a winch, is added to the front end. To improve handling, a leveling kit will raise the front of the car back up to the right height.

What are the cons of leveling kit?

• The majority of automakers deliberately lower the front end suspension. Fuel efficiency can be improved and wind resistance can be reduced with this design. By equalizing the suspension, a front-end leveling system will increase wind resistance and decrease fuel efficiency.
• A leveling kit will alter the vehicle's overall appearance, increasing the suspension system's aging process.The good news is that with expert installation and regular maintenance, these issues can be avoided. Since the suspension bears the full weight of the car, improper installation of the kit will cause the suspension to deteriorate more quickly than usual. Drivers should get a comprehensive adjustment and install new shocks in addition to the leveling kit.

What's Right For You

If your truck is mostly used as a utility vehicle or tow rig, you most likely like leveling things. A raise kit is more your style if you want a show truck that can reach the sky, if you prefer off-roading, hunting in the backcountry, or if you aren't afraid of deep water or mud.

In any case, one of the few changes that will undoubtedly increase the value and style of your car is a lift or leveling kit. Find the one that works for you by doing some research.

Fast Facts: Leveling Kit
Height Increase: 1 to 2 inches
Fits: 33- to 35-inch tires
Good For: Daily driving, sled pulling, towing, off-road use
Price: $100 to $250

Fast Facts: Lift Kit
Height Increase: 2 to 10 inches
Fits: 35- to 40-inch tires
Good For: Mud, sand, snow, style, ground clearance
Price: $1,000 to $4,000