I'm trying to help a friend that is looking at 2006 mega cab 4wd. Quite a few have been "leveled". Can anyone tell me what that means, why and how it's done?

 

Usually a spacer that sits on top of the front coil springs that eliminates the "rake" the truck has from the factory. (Front sits lower than the back)

Most install them to clear larger than stock tires.

 

yeah levels the front of the truck so it sits level they sit at an angle fromt he factory. they look a lot better leveled

 

How does it effect ride and handling?

 

You would have to drive one without it and one with it back to back to ever know the difference.

 

They look good with a 2” lift on the front until you put a load in the bed or weight on the hitch …..then the front looks too high.

Watch out for the smallest mod, for 1 mod leads to another, lol

After I put a 2” on the front I threw some 2” blocks in the back, but now the tires look too small. I guess I’ll have to throw some bigger tires on there next.

 

I leveled mine, looks better IMO and put 35's on it.
I have air bags out back to hold things up when loaded or towing, leveling the front then raising the back doesn't make sense to me, might as well go with a full lift kit.

Keep in mind fsch, when you level the front your axle will get pulled toward the drivers side, the front axle will be pulled toward the fenders, it's simple geometry and things that should be corrected with and adjustable track bar and longer control arms if your tries are coming close to the fenders (like mine are)

 

OK, how about additional wear on front end parts?

 

I think without a longer track bar there might be a little more wear on busings etc, but I bet more wear is caused by the bigger tires that usually follow leveling. A steering box brace is a good idea with wider tires.