Facts you need to know before installing Lift leveling kits

Many truck owners like the idea of using a lift leveling kit to raise the front of the vehicle. While this is an inexpensive and attractive way to even out the front-to-rear stance and allow for the use of taller tires, there are some facts to consider before you purchase and install one.

The most important are knowing that not all leveling kits are manufactured in the same way. Many truck owners simply look for the least expensive leveling kit they can find, without considering or having any knowledge of the overall design and quality of manufacture. Name brand leveling kits such as those made by Performance Accessories, Ready Lift, Daystar, Trail Master and more, are manufactured to ensure that the kit is properly designed, matched to the vehicle, and is reliable for each application.

Here's some other important facts you might consider, if you're contemplating a leveling kit for your truck or SUV.

1) Look for high-quality manufacturing techniques. Anyone with a drill press and the right tools can make a leveling kit, but name-brand kits are manufactured using precision laser cutters, high-quality steel, and forged components. Better construction quality prevents component failures (cracking) and a better fit.

2) If you have a torsion bar style suspension, never torque the factory torsion bar keys. Use only forged, not cast, aftermarket keys. Cranking the torsion bars can add a tremendous amount of pre-load to the torsion bars causing a harsh ride when you hit a pot-hole or bump. Because of the tremendous spring pressure, cast keys can crack and have been known to break, even during installation. Forged keys are much stronger, lift your truck and are designed to prevent excessive torsion bar pre-load to maintain a smooth, factory ride.

3) Beware of extra thick coil spring spacers. If a 1.5-inch coil spring spacer is good, then a 2.5-inch spacer must be better, right? Not always. Adding a thicker spacer will compress the spring in the coil/shock assembly and make it incapable of properly supporting the vehicle and controlling oscillations. This is why in many instances, manufacturers like Performance Accessories splits the difference between a coil spacer and spacer that fits on top of the coil/shock assembly. This prevents excessive coil spring pre-load and maintains a smooth ride.

4) Spacers that fit on top of the coil/spring perch should be precision laser cut or CNC machined from high-grade steel or aluminum. Leveling kit spacers connect the top perch to the strut tower frame mount and should come with longer high-grade hardware that replace the mounting studs. This ensures that the bolts are extended properly and seat with the factory bolts on top of the coil/shock assembly perch.

5) There's a difference between a $50 leveling kit and a $200 leveling kit. Look at the quality of construction. Bolts holes should be perfectly cut. There shouldn't be any casting flash or welding splatter. Place spacers on a flat and level surface and see if you see any gaps. Higher quality construction typically costs more because components are created with sophisticated machinery and lots of development time behind them. This gives you better reliability and longevity.

6) Make sure the leveling kit is complete. Many kits are less expensive because they don't include items like shock extension brackets, longer anti-sway bar end links, a rear add-a-leaf (on some applications where they are necessary), or even shocks; like on some Ford F-250 systems. Do your research on a variety of leveling kits and find out what major manufacturers offer in their systems. You'll quickly realize that some kits come with more items to do the job correctly, and you'll discover why those "economy kits" aren't really worth it.

7) Look for leveling kits that come with an extensive set of installation instructions. Manufacturers of high-quality leveling kits have comprehensive installation instructions that show you, step-by-step, now to install the system. Many will also allow you to download the instructions before your purchase, which is a great idea before attempting the install yourself.

8) Make sure you have a coil spring compression tool, or know someone who has and knows how to use it. Most trucks and SUV's that will utilize a coil spacer style kit, will require you to remove the coil spring from the coil/shock assembly. So you'll need a coil spring compression tool. These can be dangerous to use if you've never used one before. If you don't have one, make sure you know where you can take your coil/shock assembly to get the coil spring removed and reinstalled safely.

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5 reasons why the Porsche 918 Spyder will influence your next sports car

The final Porsche 918 Spyder came off the assembly line in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. Porsche’s super sports car reached its limited edition limit of 918 units and these lucky few have the technology now that you will see in your sports car soon. What does the 918 Spyder feature now that many cars will be seeing soon?

The sports car you drive in the future will benefit directly from innovations found in the innovative 918 Spyder. Those high-tech goodies will equate to performance and improved fuel mileage in one smart package like the new Porsche super sports car.

Porsche systematically developed the new 918 Spyder to be a performance hybrid with plug-in technology (PHEV). The first example was a concept car and was unveiled at the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show where it was met with overwhelming approval. Buyers are looking for both performance and efficiency. This car delivers both.

The future is here now

918 lucky owners will be driving a super sports car that will now provide the data for the advanced development of technologies for the sports cars of the future. They're five key technologies in the 918 Spyder that you’ll see in future sports cars.

The key technology on this limited edition sports car is a drive concept which combines a high-performance combustion engine with two electric motors. This operating strategy is one of the unique aspects of the 918 Spyder that sets it apart from other performance PHEVs.

Porsche says the system uses various requirements ranging from an efficiency-oriented driving profile to maximum performance. This provides important knowledge for future production developments.

Porsche developers defined a total of five different operating modes that will maximize the efficiency and performance of the drivetrain depending on the individual driving situation.

Silver Porsche 918 Spyder 

New technology comes from motorsports

Like many automakers, Porsche uses the data from their motorsports division to develop new performance technologies that go into their production vehicles that you drive everyday. This new Porsche system is activated by the driver using a "map switch" on the steering wheel. Porsche used this motorsports knowledge in developing the characteristic maps and the algorithm stored in them for controlling the three drive units and other systems. The German automaker says we can expect to see this knowledge applied in future hybrid drives.

The fourth technology in the 918 Spyder that will be seen in future sports cars is the cars thermal management concept that features five separate cooling circuits and the innovative hybrid cooling of the rear electric motor using air and water.

The final example with future implications: the Porsche 918 Spyder can convert more kinetic energy into electrical energy than other hybrid vehicles because of its intelligent control of generator functionality and conventional brakes. The large capacity regenerative power boosts efficiency and driving range.

The new super sports car from Porsche is incredibly fast too. The 918 Spyder’s hybrid system pumps out a total of 887 horsepower. The car set the lap record for street-legal vehicles with production tires on the North Loop of the Nurburgring with a time of 6 minutes 57 seconds in September 2013. The record has never been equaled by any production car since.

The last example of the new 918 Spyder rolled off the assembly line this week and the super sports car has the technologies that will be influence sports cars of the future you will be driving. Stay tuned.

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The million dollar design of the Toyota 2000GT

A sensuously curvaceous hand-made aluminum body, a high-performance dual overhead cam engine, multiple carburetors, a stylishly wood-trimmed dash loaded with gauges, and valued at over a million dollars. What type of sixties era sports car could this be? Jaguar? Ferrari? Maserati? Toyota?......Wait a minute. Toyota? Yes, the Toyota 2000GT. Let me explain.

In the mid-sixties Toyota was known for building inexpensive economy cars. The company wanted to make a statement to the world that Toyota was capable of building a world-class high-performance sports car. In 1965 they started producing a tiny light-weight, 2 cylinder sports car named the Sports 800 for their home market, but the big news that year was when the sleek 2000GT debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show. The car would make it to production in 1967, and was built in limited numbers until 1970. Only 62 of the approximately 343 cars produced would be sold in the U.S.

The 2000GT was a collaborative effort between Toyota and Yamaha. Toyota designer Satoru Nozaki styled the car’s shapely body, and Yamaha developed the engine. Using the in-line 2.0 6 cylinder block from the Toyota Crown, Yamaha engineers designed a dual overhead cam head for the motor. Three Mikuni-Solex 40phh side-draft carburetors, four-wheel power assisted disc brakes, a limited-slip rear end, and a 5-speed gearbox were all very advanced features in 1967. The 150 horsepower engine was powerful enough to allow it to reach speeds of over 130 miles per hour. The elegant and sporty interior featured a host of gauges, and was trimmed beautifully in wood, benefiting from Yamaha’s experience with building fine violins and pianos. All the cars were built at Yamaha. Toyota’s plant was geared for mass-production, and Yamaha’s vacillates were better suited for producing low volume hand-made products.

The car received some publicity when Carroll Shelby purchased three 2000GTs and campaigned them successfully for the 1968 SCCA racing season. A convertible was featured in the James Bond film You Only Live Twice. The convertible version was never made for production, and the movie car did not have a folding top.

All this begs the question, why did these beautifully styled, high-performance cars not sell better in the U.S.? One of the reasons could be its lofty price tag of around $7000, enough money in 1967 to drive off in a new Porsche or Corvette. Also, buyers were hesitant to spend that kind of money on a car made in Japan. At the time, “made in Japan” was equated to cheaply made products. The pedigree and cache of an established automobile manufacturer was considered a sounder investment. Little did anyone know then that the 2000GT would become recognized as the first Japanese supercar, and it's styling and mechanical virtues would be appreciated so much that collectors are now willing to pay over $1,000,000 for a pristine example.

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Chevy's 2016 Suburban SUV is three vehicles in one

Watch most any federal motorcade and you’re bound to see a line of Chevrolet Suburban SUVs. And there are good reasons for their popularity. For example, it can seat up to nine people, carry massive amounts of cargo (7,500 pound GVW), can tow up to 8,300 pounds, and despite its size, is equivalent ride-wise to a luxury sedan on highways. Added to this, and with 4WD (2WD, Auto, 4H but no 4L gearing), it can handle snow, sand and mud conditions and is assisted with a fully automatic locking rear.

It’s 224-inch length, however, requires some agile parking disciplines. On highways, Suburban shines. It’s the perfect family vehicle especially if driving to Orlando or the Outer Banks this summer, as it capabilities can easily accommodate a family of four with loads of clothes and gear. Get a beach buggy permit and it can be driven on some of the beaches at the Outer Banks to allow surfing or fishing, and away from the crowd at beaches.

Suburban is offered in base LS, LT and top-line LTZ that was tested. Seating expands depending on desired arrangement. With an available 40/20/40 front bench seat (LS only and trim frequently used by construction crews), it offers seating for nine. Second row captain’s chairs reduce seating to seven. Standard seating, with the third row upright, equals eight. Even with the third row up, there’s 34 inches of depth (38.9 cubic feet), 68 of width and 31.5 of height. That’s more than many minivans. Flip the third row, which is powered down and up, and they're 65 inches of depth (76.7 cubes). Fold the second row and depth extend to a whopping 94 inches (121.1 cubes). That’s more than half-ton pickups with a six-foot bed and only two inches shy compared to an eight-foot truck bed.

And if you need more length or carry long items like strips of molding, one-piece surf rods or 10-foot step-ladder, the tailgate window opens independently of the programmable height gate. Few SUVs offer the separate opening window. Cargo load height too is a reasonable 34 inches while step-in into the cabin is 24 inches or 13.5 to the running boards.

A big, truck-based SUV requires a potent engine to propel it. Well Suburban comes standard with a 5.3L, Ecotec3 V8 engine that produces 355-hp and 383 lb/ft of torque. Hitched to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the combination posts EPA mileage estimates of 15 cities, 22-highway mpg. Far from economical, but consider your tugging an almost 6,000 pound 4WD versatile vehicle around.

Suburban’s interior is comparable to a luxury sedan with comfortable leather seating, adjustable pedals, easy to use HVAC controls and the latest technology. Like most GM vehicles, and with Chevy’s MyLink infotainment system, the vehicle is a 4G, LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. An 8-inch touchscreen display (standard on LTZ) serves navigation, rearview camera, audio, Apple CarPlay and a myriad of other apps including weather that provides hourly and five-day forecasts.

Safety wise, and aside from a myriad of airbags, the Suburban came with forward collision warning that when it senses the vehicle getting too close to an object fore and aft, the driver’s seat vibrates to warn the driver. There’s also Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

As a hefty vehicle, Suburban feels secure going through sharp turns. It soaks up bumps like a sponge and the ride on Bridgestone 22-inch tires is sedan-like and enhanced with an adaptive suspension system with magnetic-fluid shocks that automatically adjust to driver and road inputs. Plus, the ride is quiet.

As a big SUV, its price is also big. Starting at a base of $67,310, the bottom line was also big at a whopping $74,735 with a long list of options and standard features plus delivery. But consider this: Suburban is three vehicles in one. It’s a minivan for the number of people it can seat, it’s a 4WD SUV and it’s essentially a pickup truck with its high capacities and capabilities. Added to this, Suburban received four stars for an overall vehicle score in government crash testing, four for driver/passenger frontal crash, five for front/rear seat side crash and three for rollover as it’s a high-stance vehicle.

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