Need Help Getting Level

20AT421

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Stock truck had 2" of rake. Started with the RL 2" SST and changed out to the 3" block on the rear. Also installed 5100s and set circlips to position 2. Left the preload spacers off. That got me to 1-3/16" rake.

With a 5,000lb trailer I was squatting pretty bad so took it to a shop and had bags installed on the rear, 5psi unloaded, and had them move the circlip to the top position. They didn't put the preloads in stating it would make driving worse. So I'm topped out on the front and it's now sitting at 2-5/8" rake. Went the wrong direction.

Where do I go from here? Switch back to the factory 2" block and call 1-1/2" rake good enough? Take the bags off and chock it up as a loss? Hate to throw away $1k and need them for payload and trailer support, but didn't realize the minimum 5psi would give that much lift. Also not impressed with the way they ride. Any medium sized bump and there's a sharp impact. I assume that's the internal jounce hitting like a bump stop.

Any ideas out there?
 

Here's a look at how it's currently sitting. Pretty sick over it. A lot of money and time to be further away from the look I want.
I'm thinking about changing the 3" blocks out for 1", assuming that with the 1-1/2" the bags added I'll still be a net 2-1/2" but I don't know what that will do to the 5100s in the rear. Will they be bottoming out with the shortened travel?

20240507_045100.jpg

Factory pic for reference.
20240329_144535.webp
 

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Put the preload spacer in and go back to the factory 2" block. Or you can try leaving the preload spacer out and use the factory block but put it on top of your leaf springs.
 

Put the preload spacer in and go back to the factory 2" block. Or you can try leaving the preload spacer out and use the factory block but put it on top of your leaf springs.
I'd like to, but talking with the guys at the suspension shop they said it will cause stress issues with the rest of the suspension and they highly recommended against putting them in. The other variable is that I can't find anything stating how much lift I would gain from it. Total from stock the front is up 2-1/2". With what was put on it should be a hair over 3", so I guess it's only another 1/2" for the preload?
Seems my only real options are to take out the air bags or change back to a 1" or 2" block... or both.

Half the reason for starting all this was to prep for new wheels and 35" tires this summer. Eating through that budget now.
 

There's a lot of guys running leveling kits with the spacers in for the most amount of lift from a leveling kit. With the ReadyLift kit I'm assuming that has aftermarket UCAs right? It may ride a little rougher, but if you've got the UCAs you'll be fine with the spacer. That being said, if you've already got 2-1/2" of lift out of your leveling kit, I would swap the rear block back to factory or try a 1" block. As an FYI, just because a block is 2" doesn't mean it equates to exactly 2" of suspension change, so that might be your ticket there.

In all reality your airbags should not increase your ride height unless you're running around with a bunch of air in them when empty (which you said you aren't), so no need to remove those.
 

There's a lot of guys running leveling kits with the spacers in for the most amount of lift from a leveling kit. With the ReadyLift kit I'm assuming that has aftermarket UCAs right? It may ride a little rougher, but if you've got the UCAs you'll be fine with the spacer. That being said, if you've already got 2-1/2" of lift out of your leveling kit, I would swap the rear block back to factory or try a 1" block. As an FYI, just because a block is 2" doesn't mean it equates to exactly 2" of suspension change, so that might be your ticket there.

In all reality your airbags should not increase your ride height unless you're running around with a bunch of air in them when empty (which you said you aren't), so no need to remove those.
Yeah, I got the upgraded UCAs with the kit. Maybe they were more concerned with the CV angle at this point. I honestly don't want to go any higher with the front, steering already has a little more body roll than I like now. I figure if I put the 2" back in it may drop the rear up to an inch but should also allow the front to come up some as well. (My thought is that if you lift the rear you are tilting the nose down so the opposite should be true, even if it's only a small amount.)

Only have the recommended minimum 5 psi in the bags. I measured before I took it in and after when I got home. The rear did raise 1-3/8" from the install. Even asked when I picked it up because I instantly noticed it being higher in rear and he said that just the body of the bag will raise it some. In hindsight I should have just moved the circlip up and left the bags off, dealt with the squat on the few occasions it happens.
 

Hmm that's interesting the bags increased the height in the rear...I've never experienced that with airbags on any of my vehicles. Second guessing ordering them for my '24 AT4 now lol. Did you use the Airlift bags for a regular 1500 or the ones for the AT4?
 

It almost sounds like an airbag installation error. The only reason the airbags would cause the rear of the vehicle to lift after installed is:
1. The airbags are inflated while the truck is empty.
2. The wrong airbag part number was installed.
3. The airbag was installed incorrectly.

Since you cited the correct part number for the airbag designed for your truck and you are running the recommended 5psi when unloaded, your rear height should not change from factory height. This leaves item #3 as the logical suspect.

After reading the airlift installation instructions, the manufacturer calls for removing the bump stop strike plate/spacer from the axle on Trail Boss and AT4 models only. This strike plate/spacer is about 1” +/- in height. If this was not removed by the installers, it could be the cause of your rear height issue. See attached pics:
 

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It almost sounds like an airbag installation error. The only reason the airbags would cause the rear of the vehicle to lift after installed is:
1. The airbags are inflated while the truck is empty.
2. The wrong airbag part number was installed.
3. The airbag was installed incorrectly.

Since you cited the correct part number for the airbag designed for your truck and you are running the recommended 5psi when unloaded, your rear height should not change from factory height. This leaves item #3 as the logical suspect.

After reading the airlift installation instructions, the manufacturer calls for removing the bump stop strike plate/spacer from the axle on Trail Boss and AT4 models only. This strike plate/spacer is about 1” +/- in height. If this was not removed by the installers, it could be the cause of your rear height issue. See attached pics:
You sir are a genius. Never did I think to even look at the installation instructions and instead trusted in a professional truck suspension shop to do the work correctly... they are after all an authorized Air Lift dealer. But after seeing your post I ran out to the parking lot and looked.

1715624294741.webp


I have an appointment on the 20th to remove the 3" block and put the factory 2" back in, but looks like they'll be fixing their install first.
 

This is also probably why I'm hitting the internal jounce on small bumps, the bag is already compressed.
 

You sir are a genius. Never did I think to even look at the installation instructions and instead trusted in a professional truck suspension shop to do the work correctly... they are after all an authorized Air Lift dealer. But after seeing your post I ran out to the parking lot and looked.

View attachment 8234

I have an appointment on the 20th to remove the 3" block and put the factory 2" back in, but looks like they'll be fixing their install first.
Wow! I’m sure your first order of business is to take it back to them and have them fix it.
That’s a good pic you took. That is definitely the OEM bump stop strike plate under that bag.
Post an update after they correct their mistake. I’m curious to know how level your truck sits afterward.
 

Wow! I’m sure your first order of business is to take it back to them and have them fix it.
That’s a good pic you took. That is definitely the OEM bump stop strike plate under that bag.
Post an update after they correct their mistake. I’m curious to know how level your truck sits afterward.
Like I said, I already have an appointment scheduled a week from today to take the 3" blocks out and put the factory 2" back in. Now first thing they better be doing is fixing the install. After that the 3" blocks may be able to stay but if not I should be able to get quite level with the 2".
I'm interested to see if they try to charge me labor to redo the bag mounts. I hope they aren't that dumb.
 

Like I said, I already have an appointment scheduled a week from today to take the 3" blocks out and put the factory 2" back in. Now first thing they better be doing is fixing the install. After that the 3" blocks may be able to stay but if not I should be able to get quite level with the 2".
I'm interested to see if they try to charge me labor to redo the bag mounts. I hope they aren't that dumb.
They failed to install the bags correctly as per the manufacturers instructions for your model of vehicle, so they shouldn’t charge you. Mistakes happen and they’re only human so I’m willing to bet they will make it right. Most reputable shops will fix their mistakes without charging the customer. Hopefully that is the case for you. 🤞🏼
 

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