So here is the deal, at least what I was told this morning by Eve and Kevin. There are two different type of shocks for this Stage 3. One that goes from 0-2" (which you probably have) that is based off stock shock dimensions and one that goes from 2-3" that I'm guessing is an "extended" length (Kind of what Icon calls some of their systems). Supposedly, when Elka was designing these they were measuring off a truck that already had a spacer lift on it, NOT a stock truck. So they undervalued the lift. I was going to install mine this weekend, but i was going to have them set to 1.5" of lift which meant driving up there today to have them change it as I assumed they were set at 2-2.5" of lift. Which...for the shocks I have would work at 1.5". But, that would also mean more preload and THE most lift I would get is 2". So if the collar is all the way up to the top cap that is 0 lift. With the OTHER ones Elka is to swap out, those START at 2" of lift with the collar all the way up. Which also means, no preload. And I, or whoever, could "level" there truck. The shocks that were sent out to customers already will not level the truck. Most they can go is 2".
I get some of the other trucks that had these early on were modified, but this seems weird this wasn't caught earlier. I'm lucky that I haven't put mine on yet. Those who have and paid for labor and alignment MIGHT be SOL. I don't know. But sounds like Elka is going to swap out all those shocks. It's still VERY early for me and I'm going to swap mine out and go with a 2" lift instead. My rears are installed and already love them. But guess it'll be November till I get mine in since my truck goes into the body shop next Thursday for 3 weeks, no thanks to Ford...and me hitting trees. Ooops!
But the email from Jerome Castilloux at Elka says they'll swap them out, but no labor included. So, sucks for a lot of people.