Installed ebay Leveling Kit and Roadmaster Active Suspension Questions, Pic Added

INTJ · May 2, 2020

The kit came with 1", 1.5", and 2" front blocks. I installed the 1". It was very straightforward. The only thing that bothers me is the 2020 knuckles are aluminum. The instructions are almost the same as what I had for my 2018 with iron knuckles. I REALLY don't like the idea of 37 ft lbs on the upper ball joint then 1/4 turn more with aluminum. The tire rod end is 26 ft lbs and 1/4 turn more.

When I loosened the upper ball joint and tire rod end nuts they came loose very easily and the knuckle released right away. I didn't have to hit it with a hammer and I am not sure if that would be a good idea. I went ahead and tightened the ball joint and tire rod end per the instructions. It got to bothering my so I loosened an upper balljoint, and it loosened as easily as it did when it was torqued at the factory, so I again set 37 ft lbs plus 1/4 turn. I guess I am okay. Still don't like it and wonder how durable these aluminum steering knuckles are? Can they take the 37 ft lbs plus 1/4 turn?

The sway bar is a new style. The instructions say to torque to 17 ft lbs. They need more like 30. Also, that "pass through" Craftsman socket set I bought a few years ago made the sway bar ends easy. There is crap on top of the strut towers now. easy to move on the drivers side, not so easy on the passenger side--I didn't even try to loosen the back bolt but i didn't need to.

After putting the truck on jack stands the first side took me about 90 minutes, going slow and figuring out how to do it. The second side took 20 minutes.

The Roadmaster Active Suspension took me a couple hours going slow. I had also installed this on my 2018. It DRAMATICALLY improves the handling of these trucks and increases load capacity. It also raises the back about an inch, so both the front and back are now lifted 1". I have about a 1" rake and I like anywhere from a 1-2" rake. I don't like the nose high look of some leveled trucks. However, I didn't do this for looks, I did it because I have a steep driveway and coming out of the garage one of the nerf bar brackets was hitting the concrete. Now there is an inch clearance and even if I have a heavy load it shouldn't drag.

Edited May 3, 2020 by INTJ