Level vs Lift...

Gav'sPurpleZ

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Mar 3, 2008
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So, bored here and thinking about leveling the truck.
I know [MENTION=10343]Bub[/MENTION] had 2 different types of leveling kits on his truck.
one style better than another ?
one brand better than another ?
[MENTION=10447]crooks[/MENTION] suggestions ?
[MENTION=148]HILROD[/MENTION] interested to know if theres any janky shit I should steer clear from

what about a mild 3 or 3.5" lift ?

I would lean towards the leveling kit because I may just have the stock wheels powdercoated and buy a new set of Toyos.
versus lifting and I may want new wheels and tires....don't need to spend "all" the moneys on this..

so as [MENTION=19]Yaj Yak[/MENTION] would say................
and go
 

SMRTSS1

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This was mine. Simple easy to do 2ā€ Rough Country bottom mount (under the strut) poly leveling kit, aligned just fine, drove it problem free for 2 years without CV problems or odd tire wear. If I ever get another truck Iā€™ll do the exact same thing.

*edit. The entire reason I did this was so I could fit a 33ā€ Hankook ATM in the front without having to do the fender mod and not have any rubbing.

56ec72431cc1af3b3c08d7f052f274c1.jpg
 

HILROD

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No torsion bars on the newer ones. I put on a couple leveling kits. I think the spring spacers and shock spacers are like 2 or so are as far as you can go without changing the upper control arms(or ball joints every other month). One guy at work tried over 3 and ate his balljoints and tires, so I fixed it. Maybe I can get a picture of my bosses 2 or 2.5 front lift tomorrow. He also put air lift bags on the back and keeps them hella full. Forget his tire sizes tho.
 

crooks

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Level kit options are spacers or new shocks. I had both on my 14 GMC. 10 ply tires hurt the comfy stock ride almost as much as the spacers. After the level/lift shocks came out. I ditched the spacer and I got back most of the factory ride. When I sold the truck it had the extra +1" Rough Country rear leaf spring block, +2" Bilstein rear shocks, and +2" Rancho quick lifts up front. I had 275/65R20 which a 34" tire since I did the first spacer level. No fender cutting or big hammer mods.

Spacer kit
https://www.roughcountry.com/gm-leveling-lift-kit-1305-10.html

Level Rancho shocks
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ran-rs999901/year/2016/make/gmc/model/sierra-1500

Bilstein Leveling 2.5" Lift Shocks 2014-2018 Silverado Sierra 1500

Lift kits

I wouldnt bother with a 3.5" lift kit. I would go 6" or more depending if you want 35"s or 37"s . If 6" would get a BDS kit with decent shocks.
 

Bub

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2" RC strut spacer and 1.5" Zone add a leaf. Still on stock 275/55/20 tires. I don't have the heart to ditch good tires no matter how much they suck. Plan will be 275/60/20 when these wear out. Ride is noticably stiffer but I wouldn't say obnoxious. I've been playing with the idea of putting the .5" top spacer in when I do tires. We will see. IMG_20190131_203713.jpeg
 

SMRTSS1

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2" RC strut spacer and 1.5" Zone add a leaf. Still on stock 275/55/20 tires. I don't have the heart to ditch good tires no matter how much they suck. Plan will be 275/60/20 when these wear out. Ride is noticably stiffer but I wouldn't say obnoxious. I've been playing with the idea of putting the .5" top spacer in when I do tires. We will see. View attachment 37975



Those the stock Goodyear RSAā€™s? I fucking hated those tires!!!! Someone would spit out the window in front of me and Iā€™d lose traction if I ran it over. I donā€™t even think I got 30k out of those tires before I got rid of them, I got sick of looking out the drivers side window to see where I was trying to go while unintentionally drifting around corners.
 

cdh027

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[MENTION=4820]cdh027[/MENTION] which lift kits do you like? I know you had a couple lifted Chevys.

Skip the level kits and go straight to a quality lift kit even if it's only a 4". Stay away from rough country. I've had BDS and now have CST. If I could do it again I would go straight to bulletproof and a rear cantilever setup.
 

cdh027

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So, bored here and thinking about leveling the truck.
I know [MENTION=10343]Bub[/MENTION] had 2 different types of leveling kits on his truck.
one style better than another ?
one brand better than another ?
[MENTION=10447]crooks[/MENTION] suggestions ?
[MENTION=148]HILROD[/MENTION] interested to know if theres any janky shit I should steer clear from

what about a mild 3 or 3.5" lift ?

I would lean towards the leveling kit because I may just have the stock wheels powdercoated and buy a new set of Toyos.
versus lifting and I may want new wheels and tires....don't need to spend "all" the moneys on this..

so as [MENTION=19]Yaj Yak[/MENTION] would say................
and go

4" BDS with the coilover option will be perfect for you. It will actually ride better than stock.
 

Yaj Yak

Gladys
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Skip the level kits and go straight to a quality lift kit even if it's only a 4". Stay away from rough country. I've had BDS and now have CST. If I could do it again I would go straight to bulletproof and a rear cantilever setup.

with the money you were overhand throwing at your truck you should have gone legit long travel kit or solid axle swap
 
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