Pros & Cons 99-04 Leveling Kits

[Backwoods Electric]

I know there are a ton of threads about leveling kits but I like to research things to death before I put it on my truck. I already have a set of x codes to go on the truck but I want to add a leveling kit at the same time. I'm either going to do a shackle/hanger kit or a mini spring pack. What are the pros and cons of each of these?

[Term3]

If you never pull anything and never haul anything in the bed of your truck I think the leveling kits look great but if you do haul stuff occasionally then IMO it makes the truck look friggin stupid making it look like its way overloaded and people thinking you have your high beams on. Spring packs could change the quality of your ride.

[Backwoods Electric]

Once I get the front suspension done, I going to get a set of traction bars with the blocks built in to raise the back. This will keep my rake so it wont't sit nose high when hauling or towing.

[Betaracer]

Traction bars won't compensate for added load. Overload leafs or airbags are needed for that.

Minipack allows the use of stock shocks. Both require adjustable tracbar.

[HVAC SuperTech]

I like my mini spring packs from Custom diesel. They are easy to install, 99 bux to your door and good quality. It didn't change the ride quality at all.

[shawnb99]

If you run minis , make sure they are made of spring steel. Not just flat stock. Running a shackle kit will require new shocks, but dosnt change spring rate. Both will require an adjustable track bar....NOT a drop bracket for track bar. And a shackle kit allows for more travel, thus aiding in better ride quality as well.

[CT Performance, Inc.]

X2....right on the $

[Joel]

Just curious, what is the problem with a drop bracket? Is it weaker? Or messes up the geometry?

[shawnb99]

Usually no problems...... some designs can loosen but recommend to weld them. What the issue is, when leveling, the amount of lift doesn't require a change to the steering linkage. So if you install a drop track bar bracket to recenter, you have thrown the geometry between the two off enough to have bumpsteer issues. This is why an adjustable t bar works. If you lift enough to change pitman arms then a drop bracket is needed as well.

[xjeeper]

I just removed my Zone minipack levelkit with a hanger kit, while I liked the zone kit, the hangers ride so much better., with x code springs run hangers, so that the ride is not too stiff. I ran bilstein yellows with the minipack and 5100s with the hangers. Zone's adjustable trac bar is a good value @$99. Call Carey at CT performance, he knows his stuff and will get you dialed in.