A rear end collision as you describe, really shouldn't affect your front suspension at all, unless you REALLY NAILED his truck. Given the amount of damage you're talking, I honestly wouldn't suspect any serious tweaking of the frame or front end. That's essentially grill, AC condensor, pulling the radiator support back, maybe the radiator, headlights, front fenders and/or hood, and front bumper, using new parts and repainting the front end.
If they suspected the frame was tweaked and checked alignment, they may have found it out of alignment, whether it was or not. Depends totally on what type of alignment tool they were using, and who was reading it. IF it's a torsion bar suspension, it's possible that they adjusted the torsion bars out a little if they tried to realign the front end. Backing them off, thus releasing pressure, would lower the front end a little. Otherwise there really isn't anything or anyway to "compress a front suspension". IF that's the case, you could simply crank the torsion bar adjustment tighter, adding lift to the front end, but that's going to throw your caster and camber out so you probably want to have someone in a computer alignment shop do it so they can tell how far it's going, with understanding of tolerances in that respect.
As for the best thing to handle the extra weight of bumper and winch, your best bet would be to go to a little stiffer coil spring, which may be included in the leveling kit. A stiffer spring should raise your front end back up and carry the extra weight without a problem. I'd also go to a little heavier shock, or an off road gas shock. Most off road gas shocks are designed to stiffen ride as heat builds in the shock. The rougher the road, the more shock travel, the more heat you build and the tighter your ride gets. The extra weight bouncing around out front will also cause more travel, thus more heat, and stiffen the ride a little.
Most of my 4 wheel parts I've been buying through
4 Wheel Parts. Service has been great, prices seem to be reasonable. If you haven't already purchased the winch, I'd check with them first; they have some unbelieveable prices on winches!!
Ordered shocks for my truck, trying to figure out how far it was lifted, and they were all wrong. Called them up, told them what was going on, questioned numbers on existing shocks, he said his books didn't show those on my application but he had them and could send them if that's what I wanted. Had return order paperwork in e-mail, the right shocks on the way, and directions to my nearest store for return, all in under 5 minutes. Customer Service Rep was great to work with! Took shocks back to the store, checked the one box I opened for all parts, no questions asked on the return otherwise.
Just ordered parts to overhaul tranny in my Jeep, these guys were 20 - 30% cheaper than anyone else I found, for the same name brand parts, and shipping was free. Parts always arrive in timely fashion, usually faster than they suggest on-line, since I'm only 60 miles from the nearest store.
Purchased $1800 worth of tires for my pickup from them, and they worked around my schedule and snuck me in on the weekend, to get them mounted and balanced, so I could drop tires while delivering someone to the airport a mile down the road, thus saving me a 60 mile trip back over there to get tires put on.
Give them a call and tell them what you're up against, they'll point you in the right direction.
