Most trucks leave the factory with the nose sitting lower than the tail, usually 1 to 2 inches. That rake is there so the truck sits level with a load in the bed. Unloaded, it looks like the truck is leaning forward. Leveling fixes the stance. Lifting raises the whole truck.
Leveling kits (about 1.5 to 2.5 in front)
A leveling kit raises the front only, to match the rear. Three ways to do it:
- Strut spacer. A machined spacer on top of the factory strut. Cheapest, fastest, keeps factory ride. ReadyLift and Daystar.
- Ride-height-adjustable strut. A replacement front strut with snap-ring grooves that let you choose the height. Bilstein 5100 and Fox 2.0 IFP. You level the truck and upgrade the damping at the same time.
- Torsion key. For torsion-bar trucks (GM HD and older GM 1500). A re-indexed key that raises the front without overloading the factory bar.
At 2 inches or less on most half-tons you can run a 33 inch tire, keep the factory shocks or upgrade them, and usually skip control arms. Leveling does not change towing capacity, but it does remove the factory rake, so if you tow heavy you may want air springs in the rear to keep the headlights level.
Lift kits (2 to 6 in)
- 2 to 3 in spacer lift. Front spacer plus rear block or add-a-leaf. Fits 33s, sometimes 35s with trimming. Above 2 inches on an IFS truck, upper control arms become important to keep the ball joint angle and alignment in range.
- Coilover lift. Replaces the front strut with a real coilover (Bilstein 6112, King 2.5, Fox 2.5, ICON) and pairs it with rear reservoir shocks. Same 2 to 3 inch height, better ride, real wheel travel. This is the kit most people actually want when they say lift.
- 4 to 6 in drop-bracket lift. Lowers the front differential and relocates the suspension pickup points so the geometry stays correct at height. BDS. Fits 35s and 37s, adds weight, needs a full day and an alignment.
Which one
- Want the stance and a 33: leveling kit.
- Want the stance and a better ride: ride-height struts or a coilover lift.
- Want 35s and a truck that drives like it was built that way: coilover lift with UCAs.
- Want 37s: 6 inch drop bracket.
Every product page on this site lists the lift height, what it clears per the manufacturer, and whether control arms are recommended at that setting.