Quick answer: Spacer (puck) leveling kits are the budget choice — from $550 installed with alignment — and raise the front 1.5–2.5 inches while keeping your factory ride. Replacement-strut kits cost more up front but can improve ride quality. Choose spacers for stance on a budget, struts if ride comfort matters most.
When choosing a leveling kit for your truck, one of the first decisions is whether to go with a spacer kit or a strut-based kit.
At Lift Pro Customs in Willis, TX, we install both types on Ford F150, Ram 1500, and Chevy Silverado trucks. Each option has its advantages, and the right choice depends on your budget, goals, and how you use your truck.
Spacers and struts are the two most common types of leveling kits we install — torsion keys and coil spacers cover the rest of the lineup.
Driving a Ford? See our ranked best leveling kit for F150 picks by year range.
What Is a Spacer Leveling Kit
A spacer leveling kit is the most common and budget-friendly option.
It uses a spacer that sits on top of or within the front strut assembly to raise the front of the truck. This creates a level stance without replacing major suspension components.
Spacer kits are simple, effective, and widely used for daily drivers.
What Are Strut Spacers?
Strut spacers are the machined aluminum or steel pucks that a spacer leveling kit bolts on top of (or inside) your truck’s front strut assembly. Each spacer raises the front ride height by its rated amount — typically 1.5 to 2.5 inches — without replacing any factory suspension components. “Strut spacer,” “leveling puck,” and “spacer leveling kit” all describe the same basic hardware.
What Is a Strut Leveling Kit
A strut leveling kit replaces or modifies the factory strut assembly.
Instead of adding a spacer, it uses a different shock or adjustable setup to achieve lift. This can improve ride quality depending on the components used.
Strut-based kits are typically more expensive but offer a more refined setup.
Ride Quality Differences
Spacer kits generally maintain factory ride quality since they reuse the original suspension components.
Strut kits can improve ride quality, especially when paired with upgraded shocks. However, the difference depends on the specific setup.
Quick Estimate
Cost Differences
Spacer leveling kits are the most affordable option and are commonly used for basic setups.
Strut leveling kits cost more due to upgraded components but can offer better performance and comfort.
Which One Should You Choose
If you’re looking for a simple and cost-effective upgrade to improve stance and fit larger tires, a spacer kit is a great option.
If you want a higher-end setup with potential ride improvements and better performance, a strut-based kit may be the better choice.
Lifted Struts vs Spacers: Which Should You Buy?
Here’s the shorthand we give customers at the counter:
| Strut Spacers | Lifted (Replacement) Struts | |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Winner — kits start at $550 installed with alignment | Costs more up front |
| Ride quality | Keeps the factory ride | Can improve it, especially with upgraded shocks |
| Adjustability | Fixed height | Adjustable ride height on many setups |
| Best for | Daily drivers and first builds | High-mileage trucks and owners who care how it drives |
Verdict: buy spacers if you want the level and the budget left over for tires. Buy lifted struts if your factory struts are tired or ride quality is the priority — you’re replacing parts you’d eventually buy anyway.
Want this set up on your truck? Get a free estimate — we’ll spec the exact kit and tires for your year and model.
Are strut spacers safe?
Yes - when the kit is sized for the platform and installed correctly. Spacer kits from the brands we install (Rough Country, ReadyLIFT, Zone Offroad, Pro Comp and others) are engineered per application, and the moderate heights they offer stay inside the travel limits of the factory suspension. We covered the broader question in are leveling kits safe; the same logic applies here.
Where spacers get a bad reputation is misuse:
- Too much height. Oversized or stacked spacers on a 4x4 can over-extend CV axles and ball joints at full droop. Stick to the height the manufacturer designed for your truck.
- Sloppy installs. Reused hardware, missed torque specs, or spacers seated crooked cause the noises people blame on the part itself.
- Skipping the alignment. Any change in ride height changes camber, caster, and toe. An install without an alignment eats front tires. A $150 alignment is included in every leveling install quote we write.
When a spacer is not the right call
A spacer reuses your factory strut, so it inherits that strut's condition. If your truck has 90,000 hard miles and the front end already floats over dips on FM 1097, spending $550 to raise a tired strut is the wrong order of operations - a leveling strut or complete assembly fixes ride and height in one shot. Same story if you tow heavy every week or want maximum tire: at that point you are shopping a different class of parts. Our overview of the types of leveling kits maps out which style fits which truck.
Why Proper Installation Matters
No matter which option you choose, proper installation and alignment are critical.
Incorrect installation can lead to poor ride quality, uneven tire wear, and long-term suspension issues.
At Lift Pro Customs, we make sure every setup is installed correctly and performs as it should.
Why Choose Lift Pro Customs
We specialize in leveling kits, lift kits, wheels, and tires for Ford, Ram, and Chevy trucks.
We help you choose the right kit for your goals and install everything properly so your truck drives the way it should.
Service Areas
Lift Pro Customs serves Willis, Conroe, Montgomery, Huntsville, and The Woodlands, Texas.
If you’re deciding between spacer and strut leveling kits, we’re here to help.
Get the Right Setup
Call Lift Pro Customs today or request a quote online.
We’ll help you choose the right leveling kit and get your truck set up correctly.
Related reading: Leveling Kit vs Lift Kit • Lift & Leveling Kit Installation
Get a free estimate or call (936) 320-8120 — Lift Pro Customs, Willis, TX. Just browsing? Ballpark your build — no contact info needed.
Wondering whether to replace the shocks at the same time? See do you need new shocks with a leveling kit - when it is worth it and when you can skip it.