Well I got the Leveling kit on today. I previously had just green keys. Very well built pieces:cool: ;). I also HIGHLY recommend this kit. I gained 1.5" of down travel with this kit. Some how I also gained 1/2 of height with this kit. I measured the height of the truck before and the after measurement was 1/2" more. I'm still scratching my head about that:confused: I dunno how you gain height with a-arms and shock extensions. Must be and angle thing? The install was a no brainer. The hardest part was the shock extensions. The H2's fit with the wheel spacers with no problems(1/4" clearance where rim and tire meet the a-arm) but I will be checking some more things tomorrow before I drive it anywhere. I was trying to get it close on alignment, but darkness and an empty stomach got the better of me):h . I will wait until tomorrow to finish up the alignment stuff. I can't get in to the alignment shop until Wednesday morning. He told me to get it close and drive it a little (100-150 miles) to let things settle a bit. I got the drivers side set good enough but the passenger side needs some attention. I have about a 1/4" of toe-in now so that needs adjusting to. Can you decrease toe-in at all with the a-arms on our trucks. Pushing in on the front and out on the rear:confused: I've never done this, so I'm learning as I go........

I removed the factory plastic presets, so I could move things around.

Any of you guys have any tips for getting the alignment close? Dmaxallitech?

got any pics? I just got my H2 takeoffs bought tonite, gotta get a cognito next week.......

None yet, I'll try to get some tomorrow.

Sweet, with the bumper and the tires and leveling kit that truck is gonna look good.

sounds great i love my cognito kit, very good quatlity, yeah i for sure want to see some pics, sounds great

I should add a tip that would have helped me save some time! The bottom of the factory ball joints except an allen wrench. I didn't unscrew the nut on the first side all the way and after seperating the ball joint from the spindle, the ball joint wanted to spin instead of the nut. I used a vise-grip to hold the bottom tip of the ball joint. Found out about the hex key after I got the first side off:rolleyes: . On the second side, I totally took the nut off then thread it back on by hand before seperating the ball joint.;)

BTW,
What struck me as odd is the factory ball joints & tie rods don't have cotter pins:eek: . I thought that was a cardinal rule:confused:. Heck, even my Sportsman ATV has cotter pins on those joints.

Well, I got it aligned pretty good today. Checked some more clearance things. When I pulled out the driveway the tires just ticked the inner liner where it meets the lower rear of the front fender. The Cognito kit would be better with less offset wheels(like recommended), I may get some different wheels later. $$$ is spread kinda thin right now. I've got a 1/4" of clearance between the UCA and the rim. I have a 3/16"" between the steel part of the fender and the tires when turning. I think they would work if I cranked the t-bars more but I don't want to go any higher. I am only about 1/2" higher than the max height with the factory torsion keys. When the truck in on level ground I can stick my whole hand between the Cognito bump stop and steel frame stop. I decided to cut a little bit of the steel away from the fender. I spent most of the day watching paint dry-:t . Me on one side and dad on the other with hair dryers 'cuz it was a little cool for painting today(45*). What a site):h ):h ):h
1" in on the in board side of the steel fender angled to 3/4" just before the flare. Then cut just inside the flare to remove the small piece of steel. The pinch weld, next to the hole where the inner fender plastic pin goes. I hammered it in flush with the flat panel right there. Once you lay the inner liner back in, it looks very good. Now I've got enough clearance to put my mud flaps on. I just have to see if I can form the flaps. It shouldn't be a problem, as they are just flat thin mud flaps. I snapped a few pics today and will tomorrow as well. I hopefully will be able to download them tomorrow night.
I've gotta see the end of the race now, I'll report back tomorrow sometime.;) :grd:

I've got some pics uploaded, click on "My pics"

got any pics from the side or front of the truck? (not close ups)

did the spacers go on teh front or back?

Front-to make it clear the new upper a-arm.

Looks good Buck. What does your fender height measure now?

found a guy that will charge me $50 to install my Cognito kit......cant wait........

42.25" is what I set it at. Truck is perfectly level on level ground now;). Air lift super duty air bags will be going on next, to maintain a level stance with the gooseneck hitched up:ro) Looks good Buck. What does your fender height measure now?
found a guy that will charge me $50 to install my Cognito kit I would get that in writing, 'cuz it will take at least 2 hours for an experienced mechanic. Don't forget an alignment afterwards, it will be way off;) . The best way to route the ABS wire is to route it along the brake hoses. Check my pics. Every other way I tried it would rub the tire bad at some point in the steering radius. That way they stay safe.

I've got some more pics as you requested:cool:

thanks for the extra pics. Yea, i think rolloffhill and I are going to do it at his place on a weekend in the next month or two. Found out he is just a few miles away as the crow flies, so that looks like my best option..........

wow that looks good! Cant wait to get a few more paychecks and do mine, along with the Ranchhand, 4 more weeks till it gets here..........

Hmm. I cranked mine an inch, and it is at 39.25. That makes your truck 3 inches taller. I wonder how much taller a stock 1 ton sits than my 3/4? Tires should account for at least 1.5 inches. I've still got green keys from my 1/2 ton I traded for my duramax, just never put them in because I didn't want to ride on the stops... Maybe I better get the cognito kit and put them in.

I have 1" under the Cognito bump stops, Justin said, 1/2" is the MINIMUM, so I am good. It rides good, handles bumps a lot better than before. It is a little stiff some have said, but not harsh by any means. I am very happy with this kit.

Going though my notes, when my truck was bone stock it was 38.5" tall at the front fender with 265/75/16 tires. I am 3.75" taller than stock now.
I got these measurements from 4lo.com
265/75/16 = 31.6" tall
315/70/17 = 34.4" tall

The 315 tire radius is 1.4" larger than the 265.
3.75 - 1.4 = 2.35
So, without the tire difference I gained 2.35" of height over stock.:ro)

Nice job buck on the install Also I like that ranchand I see you have a front hitch as well :ro) :ro)

I have had my kit on for three month now and am still enjoying their kit.

Buck, did you just pull the E-Brake back and zip tie it off? If so, where exactly? And how much 'cutting' or trimming did you have to do?

i LOVE MY COGNITO KIT ALSO, sounds great man, i am glad you like it

Those that have this kit, Please take a measurement at the front wheel well. I have the green keys and 285/75/16`s and I am wondering what your truck wheel well measuremnet is. I am thinking that mine is 42 1/4" but will recheck it.

Sorry I missed page two of this thread, I see yours is 42 1/4" front, so I guess that about right, as your tires are 2.6" taller giving you about 1.3" more hieght. I checked my truck, it is 41 1/2" front and 43 1/4" rear this is with nearly worn out 285/75/16" BF Goodrich All-Terrian tires on stock wheels.

On the rear, I have 2 added springs on each side, and the super duty air bags set at 5# of air.

I just zip tied the E-brake to the metal tab that is welded to the body mount support Also attached the inner liner to that tab. My pics illustrate the cutting I did, as well as previous posts, sorry, but I'm short on time today.Buck, did you just pull the E-Brake back and zip tie it off? If so, where exactly? And how much 'cutting' or trimming did you have to do?

OK OK I know its a old thread but I have a question/problem. Im running the Cognito Leveling kit with H2's and when I turn the tires lock to lock my tires rub on the inside the uper control arm on both sides. Does this happen to anybody else ? I have had the kit for 4.5 months should I call Cognito and ask if the new uper control arms fit this problem? And I am running the spacers. I dont want to really get rid of the H2's, I run steelies in the winter. :thankyou2

Your h2s look perfect on that truck, so I would hate to see you change them.

prob. going to keep the H2's and hope I will be able to fix the kit.

Greg, did you flip your ball joints yet??

no...not yet but its in the works, this week I sware :eek: its on the lift getting little bummper damage fixed fron this winter. So it will be done soon

That may "may" give you the clearance you need to keep the H2's...mine cleared by about an 1/8th.

I hope ! im going to keep the H2's but be more careful on turning.