It’s no secret that the advent of leveling kits have made a great impact on today’s aftermarket. Additionally, lift & leveling kits have enjoyed a solid position as some of the most sought-after products to be purchased and installed after a new vehicle (0r new used vehicle) has been acquired.
Simple polyurethane spacers were among the first to enter the market, serving a basic need to moderately lift the front suspension. Welded sheet metal products would follow shortly, and remain among the most common materials chosen by manufacturers. Aluminum leveling products are a later entry into the market, and now patented on-vehicle adjustable leveling kits have made their presence known, and are made from forged & machined steel, with no welds whatsoever. The adjustment is accomplished by engaging a 1/2″ drive, allowing a threaded inner component to make the ride height adjustment. A nylon bearing rides on the transition between moving parts, thus providing a smooth action for adjustment. This all said, whichever material these products are made from, and whether the kit is fixed or adjustable, the spacers are universally installed on the top of the front strut assembly.
In any case, the net effect is a moderate front lift, and without the necessity of installing other expensive components to complete the job.
Other positive effects afforded by kits of this nature are implied by the namesake, “leveling kit”. Many truck buyers absolutely loathe the “nose-low” or “tail-in-the-air” look of their stock ride height. Installing a kit of this nature provides front fender clearance, close or equal to the rear fender clearance, thus providing the “level” result. Another favorable bi-product, is that the vehicle owner can now upscale tire & wheel packages, get an overall lift, and without the sticker shock associated with many “big” lift kits. Leveling kits provide an “install it, and forget it” simplicity (aside from the requirement for a proper wheel alignment, as needed any time a change is made to ride height), and are economically viable for most consumers, whether non-adjustable, or adjustable.