Had Addictive Desert Design folks in Arizona install their 2" front level kit. It's basically the only size perch kit they sell. I wanted 1.5 but they only sell 2 inch. Quick job and awesome folks over there. 3 hour labor charge for the work.
Initial thoughts on looks: The truck sits very level. within 1/4 inch front to back. (The other day the front was slightly higher with a full tank of gas.) I had to raise my seat a little as the nose is definitely higher now. Truck feels bigger now and sort of reminds me of when I sit in a super duty. The feel was more race-like before and now feels more truck-like.
Drive: Nose dive and body roll are basically eliminated. I really disliked the nose dive on even mild braking before and now it is rock solid. I have a RADAR detecter mounted near the rear view mirror and it seems to bounce around and vibrate more on familiar roads. I think I feel more bumps in the road but that could be subjective, but I can promise you my detector is vibrating much more now...which tells me the front is stiffer and not as spongey. I have not had an alignment (tomorrow) and it does feel like it needs one after the install. The wheel is slightly more to the right now and it pulls same direction a little. Did not do that before...it was dead straight as I had ford align it after delivery for an acceptance issue.
In its current form the truck is not pleasant at 80 mph on the interstate. It is twitchy and wanders. It was rock solid at 100mph before. Feels like crap now actually. The worst part is the back end really sways if you do a quick little wheel jerk left or right at speed. You can feel the nose track and then the tail swing out and back in line. Freaked me out when switching lanes on the way home after install. I hope the alignment will fix this as the camber is most likely to blame. My gut also says the geometry of the truck is now changed and the nose-down rake was fulfilling some need before. I know perch collars are not an upgrade for the suspension...they are for looks and if anything they hurt the suspension a little.
Will update if the tracking and wandering are better after the Firestone alignment.
Pics are (1) stock, (2) 2 inch stock wheels, (3) 2 inch with plastic-dip stock wheels
Initial thoughts on looks: The truck sits very level. within 1/4 inch front to back. (The other day the front was slightly higher with a full tank of gas.) I had to raise my seat a little as the nose is definitely higher now. Truck feels bigger now and sort of reminds me of when I sit in a super duty. The feel was more race-like before and now feels more truck-like.
Drive: Nose dive and body roll are basically eliminated. I really disliked the nose dive on even mild braking before and now it is rock solid. I have a RADAR detecter mounted near the rear view mirror and it seems to bounce around and vibrate more on familiar roads. I think I feel more bumps in the road but that could be subjective, but I can promise you my detector is vibrating much more now...which tells me the front is stiffer and not as spongey. I have not had an alignment (tomorrow) and it does feel like it needs one after the install. The wheel is slightly more to the right now and it pulls same direction a little. Did not do that before...it was dead straight as I had ford align it after delivery for an acceptance issue.
In its current form the truck is not pleasant at 80 mph on the interstate. It is twitchy and wanders. It was rock solid at 100mph before. Feels like crap now actually. The worst part is the back end really sways if you do a quick little wheel jerk left or right at speed. You can feel the nose track and then the tail swing out and back in line. Freaked me out when switching lanes on the way home after install. I hope the alignment will fix this as the camber is most likely to blame. My gut also says the geometry of the truck is now changed and the nose-down rake was fulfilling some need before. I know perch collars are not an upgrade for the suspension...they are for looks and if anything they hurt the suspension a little.
Will update if the tracking and wandering are better after the Firestone alignment.
Pics are (1) stock, (2) 2 inch stock wheels, (3) 2 inch with plastic-dip stock wheels
