Concerns: Auto Spring 2” Level Kit

[FTLBS]

My 13yo son and I installed the 2" Auto Spring leveling spacers on Saturday. Before, I had a 3-3/4" rake and I liked the idea of the 2" kit so I could maintain a 1-3/4" rake for towing our boat as well as keeping the CV angles to a minimum. We just got it back from having an alignment done and one the way home I drove the truck over some railroad tracks and also drove it slowly over a curb to be sure the suspension had a chance to settle. I was surprised to see the final height measurements. My rake is now sitting at less than 1.25" which means that this kit gave me a front end lift of at least 2.5". My front end is measuring about 41" which is much higher than I wanted. I've been emailing Kevin @ Auto Spring Kits and he is assuring me that the parts could not have been packaged wrong and that I did in fact get the 2" kit that I ordered. Has anyone else experienced anything like this??

 

[FTLBS]

Here's a photo from @ArmySooner405 . He installed the same kit, but I'm not sure why my front is so much higher

 

[MNtremor]

throw some timbrens in the rear (need 2 one inch spacers) and will tow with minimal sag

 

[Yeti]

Just a thought but as you're raising up your front end, you're shifting the distributed weight backward. In theory, that's going to compress the rear more.

I think I was stock at 39 inches up front and 43 in the rear if I remember correctly

 

[FaKtor34]

Just a thought but as you're raising up your front end, you're shifting the distributed weight backward. In theory, that's going to compress the rear more.

I think I was stock at 39 inches up front and 43 in the rear if I remember correctly

That's what I was going to say, that's why I think 1.5"-1.75" would be optimum up front.

 

[FTLBS]

That's what I was going to say, that's why I think 1.5"-1.75" would be optimum up front.

Just a thought but as you're raising up your front end, you're shifting the distributed weight backward. In theory, that's going to compress the rear more.

I think I was stock at 39 inches up front and 43 in the rear if I remember correctly

Good thoughts. I can tell you that the rear is much lower after installing the leveling kit. By gaining some approach angle, I lost quite a bit of departure angle. Its okay though cuz I now I don't think I'll need a drop hitch for the boat. Seems easier to reach into the bed too.

I still wonder about the measurements from other members that have installed the AS 2.0 kit and wonder why they are different. Hmm

 

[Yeti]

Any chance those pucks are directional? Obviously just tossing ideas because it really doesn't make any sense

 

[MOHunter]

After reading your post I went back and checked my measurements. Before I installed the Eibach lift springs my rear was at 41 7/8. After the install the rear was at 41 5/8. I’m not sure that that helps you in any way other than showing that leveling the front will end up dropping the back some. Something I never really thought about beforehand but it does explain why I thought my lift springs raised my front 3” instead of 2.7”. Turns out they didn’t, I just ended up having my rear inadvertently dropped by 1/4”. After the install I was just measuring to check the rake and didn’t really pay attention or compare where the rear was at before and after install.

 

[deserttremor]

Just a thought but as you're raising up your front end, you're shifting the distributed weight backward. In theory, that's going to compress the rear more.

I think I was stock at 39 inches up front and 43 in the rear if I remember correctly

I have the AS 2” and this was the first thing I noticed. Rear is stiffer and not as floaty. Rear springs LOOKED like they had some compression vs before.

 

[FTLBS]

Any chance those pucks are directional? Obviously just tossing ideas because it really doesn't make any sense

I wondered about this during the install. There were no markings on the pucks to indicate left or right and nothing in the instructions either.

I plan to jack up the front end to check clearances at full droop and I will report back. Thanks for the feedback all.

 

[MNtremor]

front 41, rear 43 after install, did not measure pre install of 2” AS

 

[FTLBS]

front 41, rear 43 after install, did not measure pre install of 2” AS

Hmm... maybe this topic needs to be switched to: Rear Spring Break-In / Sag. Everyone talks about how bad the Tremor rake is, but maybe we just don't realize how much the rear suspension is expected to settle over time.

 

[FTLBS]

So… I just jacked up both front tires and have some new concerns. At full droop, the knuckle hits the spring and the CV boot hits the strut on both sides (see photos). I don’t think I can sleep knowing that these clearance issues exist. I either did not get the 2” kit that I ordered, or I just need to remove the AS kit and look at other options. Just wanted to share my findings.

 

[High_Country]

Man, I don’t even have my truck yet so what do I know. But, it seems there’s something odd going on here. Others with the 2” AS kit have posted similar pictures with no clearance issues. They’ve posted ride height measurements that are different (less). And so on.
Any chance you can measure the actual height of the puck you have installed? Any chance they are indexed incorrectly (even possible?) or on the wrong sides?

 

[MNtremor]

I agree, my installer (a well respected 4x4 shop) said everything looked great and no issues at full droop.

 

[FTLBS]

Man, I don’t even have my truck yet so what do I know. But, it seems there’s something odd going on here. Others with the 2” AS kit have posted similar pictures with no clearance issues. They’ve posted ride height measurements that are different (less). And so on.
Any chance you can measure the actual height of the puck you have installed? Any chance they are indexed incorrectly (even possible?) or on the wrong sides?

The puck sits up in the shock tower making it difficult to measure without removing the whole strut assembly.

The instructions Auto Spring provided mentioned that the holes will only line up one direction so I don’t think I could have screwed that up. Also, the spacers did not have any markings that indicated either was meant for the right or left side. I sent Kevin at Auto Spring another email with these photos so we'll see what he says. If these spacers are installed correctly, I have to believe that I was sent the 2.5" spacers instead of the 2" spacers. We'll see what he says and I will report back.

 

[Badmothertrucker]

I agree, my installer (a well respected 4x4 shop) said everything looked great and no issues at full droop.

I second that, I’ve been running my 2.5 kit for 3 months and have done some slow crawling with considerable droop on front suspension and everything is great with mine. Just had it serviced 2 days ago tires rotated and had Ford full inspection and everything was reported as looking good and still drives well and crawled well last night. It’s not typical feedback for the AS puck.

Maybe you have a lazier, entitled generation of springs that just doesn’t want to work lol.

 

[Fozzy]

I have an AS 2.5" puck sitting here I didn't use. It measures 1-5/8" tall.

 

[FTLBS]

I've been speaking with Kevin @ Auto Spring and I have learned a few things about their leveling kits:

• I believe that my kit is installed correctly.
• There is a chance that my suspension might settle after a couple of weeks, but this might just be wishful thinking.
• My posted clearance issues are amplified because I checked droop with BOTH front tires off the ground. The sway bar limits full droop if you're only lifting one tire off of the ground. This is still unsettling to me as I think about the potential of wearing the CV boots on the struts.
• There is a 1-1/2" kit available. I'm curious about the clearances at full droop with this kit.
• The 2.3", 2", and 1.5" kits require the struts to be rotated 180 degrees. The struts do not have to be rotated with the 2.5" kit.
• The 2.5" kit is the only kit that is side specific (left or right) and they are clearly stamped so they are installed correctly.
• Kit Dimensions:
  • 1.5" kit (1-1/4" spacer)
  • 2" kit (1-1/2" spacer)
  • 2.3" kit (1-5/8" spacer)
  • 2.5" kit (1-3/4" spacer)

I tried to measure my spacers but this is a little tricky when they are installed on the truck. I came up with 1-9/16" which doesn't match up with any of the dimensions I got from Auto Spring. This means I either have the 2" spacers or the 2.3" spacers. I'd have to remove them to get an accurate measurement, but then I'd need another alignment. Kevin says the kits are all inspected by hand before shipping and therefore, he still believes that I have the 2" spacers.

I had another thought and feel free to correct me if you think I'm wrong:
Ford says that the Tremor has a 1" lift up front (1.5" rear) compared to a typical 4x4 F-150 (and OEM 275/60R20 tires are only 0.2" smaller than Tremor tires). This means that a 2" leveling kit on a Tremor could result in the same suspension geometry as a 3" leveling kit on any other F-150. And in similar fashion, a 2.5" leveling kit on a Tremor would be like a 3.5" leveling kit on a more typical F-150. If this logic is true, I'm wondering if I'd rather have the 1.5" leveling kit on my Tremor (2.5" on a typical F-150) in order to keep angles to a minimum.

I do not share this information or my opinions to disrespect anyone else's. Just hoping to understand more about these trucks. I'm anxious to hear your thoughts.

EDIT: You do NOT have to trim the factory strut studs when installing the AS 1-1/2" kit.

 

[Fozzy]

I've been speaking with Kevin @ Auto Spring and I have learned a few things about their leveling kits:

• I believe that my kit is installed correctly.
• There is a chance that my suspension might settle after a couple of weeks, but this might just be wishful thinking.
• My posted clearance issues are amplified because I checked droop with BOTH front tires off the ground. The sway bar limits full droop if you're only lifting one tire off of the ground. This is still unsettling to me as I think about the potential of wearing the CV boots on the struts.
• There is a 1-1/2" kit available. However, you are required to trim your factory studs a tiny bit. You don't have to cut any threads. Just the filister dome head. I'm curious about the clearances at full droop with this kit.
• The 2.3", 2", and 1.5" kits require the struts to be rotated 180 degrees. The struts do not have to be rotated with the 2.5" kit.
• The 2.5" kit is the only kit that is side specific (left or right) and they are clearly stamped so they are installed correctly.
• Kit Dimensions:
  • 1.5" kit (1-1/4" spacer)
  • 2" kit (1-1/2" spacer)
  • 2.3" kit (1-5/8" spacer)
  • 2.5" kit (1-3/4" spacer)

I tried to measure my spacers but this is a little tricky when they are installed on the truck. I came up with 1-9/16" which doesn't match up with any of the dimensions I got from Auto Spring. This means I either have the 2" spacers or the 2.3" spacers. I'd have to remove them to get an accurate measurement, but then I'd need another alignment. Kevin says the kits are all inspected by hand before shipping and therefore, he still believes that I have the 2" spacers.

I had another thought and feel free to correct me if you think I'm wrong:
Ford says that the Tremor has a 1" lift up front (1.5" rear) compared to a typical 4x4 F-150 (and OEM 275/60R20 tires are only 0.2" smaller than Tremor tires). This means that a 2" leveling kit on a Tremor could result in the same suspension geometry as a 3" leveling kit on any other F-150. And in similar fashion, a 2.5" leveling kit on a Tremor would be like a 3.5" leveling kit on a more typical F-150. If this logic is true, I'm wondering if I'd rather have the 1.5" leveling kit on my Tremor (2.5" on a typical F-150) in order to keep angles to a minimum.

I do not share this information or my opinions to disrespect anyone else's. Just hoping to understand more about these trucks. I'm anxious to hear your thoughts.

Didn't you say Kevin said there was no way they where packaged wrong? My 2.5" kit is labeled 2-1/2" kit on the box but my spacer measures 1-5/8" . Great