Method 321 wheels + Toyo Open Country AT III EV tires + Eibach Front Shocks

[Robert1380]

I did not, kept my springs. They were in good shape. Just the shocks.

Ok gotcha. They wanted about a grand to do the level kit on my truck and wasn’t sure if I wanted to pull the trigger on that. Knowing that I can do a simple shock change and get a bit of lift will be much cheaper and probably overall a better way to go. Did you have a shop down in OC do it for you?

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[chuck27p]

Ok gotcha. They wanted about a grand to do the level kit on my truck and wasn’t sure if I wanted to pull the trigger on that. Knowing that I can do a simple shock change and get a bit of lift will be much cheaper and probably overall a better way to go. Did you have a shop down in OC do it for you?

Yes, full tilt in San Clemente

 

[Robert1380]

Yes, full tilt in San Clemente

Thanks for the info Chuck, appreciate ya.

 

[beyondthelens]

Where did you end up getting your wheels from in OC? I’ve called around and a lot of shops can’t find them in stock either from distributors or direct from Method.

 

[chuck27p]

Where did you end up getting your wheels from in OC? I’ve called around and a lot of shops can’t find them in stock either from distributors or direct from Method.

The shop ordered them. I believe from Method. I guess they just went out of stock.

 

[Xtremestang]

As per tire specifications is states light duty. Hope they don't go boom from the weight of the light duty truck (Lightning). Just my thoughts.

 

[beyondthelens]

I believe you actually have the 321’s.

 

[chuck27p]

I believe you actually have the 321’s.

Oh man, you’re totally right. I was also considering the 318 but yes, I went with the 321. Duh. Thanks.

 

[T3Fan]

Not a dumb question. I actually had the pucks (e.g. leveling kit) for the first 2.5 years and was getting some uneven wear on my tires and a few shops told me I was really out of alignment. A few mechanics told me that with the F150s it's not ideal to add pucks, it puts strain on the control arms or something. So when I got these new tires/wheels, I decided to ditch the pucks and use the shocks, which I've been told is the better option. Makes the ride nicer too. And they're pretty cheap, like $150/each. I would have done this from the beginning had I'd known better.

I’m glad some space was saved for my truly dumb question. You put the shocks on the front instead of the rear for example because you wanted a bit of lift?

 

[chuck27p]

I’m glad some space was saved for my truly dumb question. You put the shocks on the front instead of the rear for example because you wanted a bit of lift?

Yes, I put the shocks on the front to bring the front up to "level" the truck. Without them, the front has a rake, or dips lower than the rear. The shocks make the truck level.

 

[Robert1380]

Hey folks,

After a few months of research and chatting with various folks, I made some mods. Thought I’d share the details in case it helps someone, like it did for me.

Front Shocks
Went with the Eibach shocks for the front only. Part #: E60-35-061-01-10

I had the shop set them to the 4th ring (there are 5 total). This almost leveled the truck, it’s slightly less in the front, but impossible to tell. Maybe an inch or two.

Wheels
Method 318 in Gloss Black
18x9 / 6x135 / +18mm / 2650 load / 31lbs

These are very light and I wanted Gloss, and most of the black wheels that Method have are matte, so this narrowed my search to just a couple options. I love how they turned out.

Tires
Got the new Toyo Open Country AT III EV tires
Size 275/70R18 and the SL version, NOT the E. They are much lighter coming in at 43 lbs.

I believe the OEM tire on the platinum with wheels is 79 lbs. My new setup is 74 lbs., so a tad lighter.

Impressions
First, love the look. I had 20” wheels and also liked them, but I’m more of a fan of the 18”. The shocks seem nicer than the pucks, but hard to tell except when you hit a bump it just feels better, less bouncy I guess.

I’m getting around 2.0 on the freeway going 75mph. Here's a pic from today on a drive, but I forgot to take another one when I got there. Probably 90% freeway with little traffic and about 40 miles. Still ended at 2.0. Given the wheel offset, larger tires, and lift, that doesn’t seem too bad. But it’s definitely less than stock, so keep that in mind.

Question for you. It’s none of my business what you paid but I just got a quote for the same shocks and the quote left me speechless. They want 1360 bucks to swap out those shocks for the Eibachs. That sound even remotely correct to you?

 

[chuck27p]

Question for you. It’s none of my business what you paid but I just got a quote for the same shocks and the quote left me speechless. They want 1360 bucks to swap out those shocks for the Eibachs. That sound even remotely correct to you?

The labor was $686 to remove pucks, add shocks, adjust. Then $300 for the 2 shocks.

 

[Robert1380]

The labor was $686 to remove pucks, add shocks, adjust. Then $300 for the 2 shocks.

 

[digitaldad]

They are charging you for the shocks (25 shipping though, come on) so as long as Chuck also added the alignment to his total (on top of the $686)...you just seem to be charged $200 more for the install, which is odd.

EDIT: I paid close to 1K labor/install for four shocks/springs (front/rear), plus new UCAs; to give some visibility (all parts and alignment were on top of that price).

 

[Robert1380]

They are charging you for the shocks (25 shipping though, come on) so as long as Chuck also added the alignment to his total...you just seem to be charged $200 more for the install, which is odd.

Yeah while I’ve never heard of an alignment needed for shocks I guess it’s not a simple upper and lower bolt to change shocks nowadays? This shop does good work but they are full retail and then some. Very greedy.

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