Leveling Kit Install Question

[andy18_00]

Thank you in advance for reading this. I just bought the Ford Performance Leveling Kit for my 2024 F150. I have installed leveling kits before so this is not new, however, I was reading over the instructions online and it has me removing the axle, upper ball joint, tie-rod end, sway bar link etc. (which is the way I have done it in the past). However, I was looking at the truck last night and it appeared to me that if I just unhooked the sway bar end, and removed the 2 bolts from the lower control arm I could slide the strut out from the bottom and reinstall the opposite way. Has anyone gone this route to install a lift or leveling kit? Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

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[deepblack]

I did the sway bar, tie rod, and upper ball joint and pried out the shock at the bottom. But you can also do it either of the two ways you mentioned.

 

[NitroDarwin]

I believe its done the other way due to the alignment adjustment is done w/ those 2 bolts. You would need to get an alignment done after if done either way, but w/o unbolting the lower control arms, the toe/camber should still be pretty even. I have seen a youtube video where they did install by unbolting the lower control arm.

 

[Je1279]

The biggest pain in the ass is the pressed in studs at the bottoms of the strut assemblies. They require you to pry the LCA's much further down to get the struts out. Removal would be much easier if they had used nuts and bolts as they do on the Ford Performance kit.

 

[NitroDarwin]

I agree, i was really struggling till I realized the ratchet strap i was using to hold the knuckle upright was too tight.

 

[andy18_00]

I will probably do it that way also. Just wondering about the other way

Thabk

I did the sway bar, tie rod, and upper ball joint and pried out the shock at the bottom. But you can also do it either of the two ways you mentioned.

 

[andy18_00]

Thanks for the update. I did not realize the factory was press in studs

The biggest pain in the ass is the pressed in studs at the bottoms of the strut assemblies. They require you to pry the LCA's much further down to get the struts out. Removal would be much easier if they had used nuts and bolts as they do on the Ford Performance kit.

 

[andy18_00]

Yeah I know I. We’d to get an alignment done. Just did not know if there was some reason to choose the upper ball joint way

I believe its done the other way due to the alignment adjustment is done w/ those 2 bolts. You would need to get an alignment done after if done either way, but w/o unbolting the lower control arms, the toe/camber should still be pretty even. I have seen a youtube video where they did install by unbolting the lower control arm.

 

[deepblack]

I will probably do it that way also. Just wondering about the other way

Thabk

I didn’t remove the axle, it wasn’t necessary

 

[andy18_00]

So you were able to swing the knuckle out of the way with the axle in it

I didn’t remove the axle, it wasn’t necessary

 

[NitroDarwin]

Yeah there is plenty of room on the front side to get the old out and new in.

 

[Mt.F150..]

Just a heads up my top hats were installed incorrectly on my ford performance leveling kit had to rotate the top hats 180°

 

[Je1279]

Just a heads up my top hats were installed incorrectly on my ford performance leveling kit had to rotate the top hats 180°

Yes they install them all the same so @andy18_00 you will need a long pipe wrench or something similar to get the bottom of the shock to align with the mounting holes. I suggest using the bar pins to rotate them so you dont scratch up the shocks.

 

[Jeb536]

Thank you in advance for reading this. I just bought the Ford Performance Leveling Kit for my 2024 F150. I have installed leveling kits before so this is not new, however, I was reading over the instructions online and it has me removing the axle, upper ball joint, tie-rod end, sway bar link etc. (which is the way I have done it in the past). However, I was looking at the truck last night and it appeared to me that if I just unhooked the sway bar end, and removed the 2 bolts from the lower control arm I could slide the strut out from the bottom and reinstall the opposite way. Has anyone gone this route to install a lift or leveling kit? Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I didn't remove the axle nut! Remove the lower control arm, and follow this link from Stage 3 Mororsports. Leveling Kit Install .Just mark the bolt locations on the lower control arm with a sharpie or scribe so they go back in the same location.

you just need a few large wrenches\sockets and 4-5 hours

 

[ThumperF150]

Swapped in my Eibach struts without removing the LCAs or axle shafts. The hardest part of the entire job is getting those plastic brake line holders unsnapped so you can move the lines.

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