Tips On Installing Rc 2" Leveling Kit

SierraBrad · January 9, 2010

Looking for some tips on installing my RC 2" leveling kit..Do all the steps in the instructions have to be followed? At one time I thought I seen that some guys got the spacer installed by only undoing the sway bar, then undoing lower strut bolts then were able to get the spacer in...may or may not have to loosen upper ball joint. Is there any pressure on the strut when the control arms are down? Just looking for some advice, seems like some steps could be eliminated?? Thanks.

Metro12 · January 9, 2010

There are maybe only one or two post here on it-

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...;hl=RC+leveling

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?...l=Rough+country

Just search it, there are hundreds of post on it!

stefman722 · January 10, 2010

I have installed two of these kits and the easy way I found to do it is:

1. Loosen the upper ball joint but do not take the nut off, just have the nut at the bottom of the ball joint stud. Then hit the knuckle till it falls down onto the nut.

2. Take the sway bar link off. So the sway bar doesn't hold the lower control arm up.

3. Take off the 2 bolts on the bottom of the strut.

Install the RC block with new bolts, put sway bar link back on, and tighten the upper ball joint and your all done.

The steering linkage and the top of the strut do not need to be loosen.

I used these instructions to install mine last night! It took me an hour for both sides. Pretty damn easy.

WhiteRabbit · January 11, 2010

I have installed two of these kits and the easy way I found to do it is:

1. Loosen the upper ball joint but do not take the nut off, just have the nut at the bottom of the ball joint stud. Then hit the knuckle till it falls down onto the nut.

2. Take the sway bar link off. So the sway bar doesn't hold the lower control arm up.

3. Take off the 2 bolts on the bottom of the strut.

Install the RC block with new bolts, put sway bar link back on, and tighten the upper ball joint and your all done.

The steering linkage and the top of the strut do not need to be loosen.

I used these instructions to install mine last night! It took me an hour for both sides. Pretty damn easy.

+1 I did mine today and all went really quick and easy.

jzendrosky · January 11, 2010

I didn't even do that, here's what I did. (I did it in 40 minutes with air tools while sipping on some suds.)

1) Jack up the front so the wheels are at least 6 inches or so off the ground. (Remember that the wheel will be lower when you put it back on because of the leveling kit. If you jack it up so the wheels are just barely off the ground you won't be able to get them back on without jacking it up more.)

2) Disconnect the sway bar on both sides.

3) Take the 2 bolts out of the bottom of each shock and remove the clips that they thread into.

4) Put in the leveling blocks. It's a little difficult to get the bolt holes to line up, but it's easy to do with a little leverage from a prybar or long 1/2" extension used as a prybar.

5) Reconnect the sway bar on both sides.

6) Slap the wheels back on. I recommend using a little Anti-seize on the lug threads. Torque'em to 140 ft/lbs.

7) Get it down off the jack stands and go get an alignment. (Toe gets thrown way off with the kit installed.)

SierraBrad · January 11, 2010

Thanks !!! Those last instructions are exactly what I tried and done yesterday, worked like a charm. Truck looks great, heading in for an alignment !! Thanks everybody !!

Stevens03 · January 11, 2010

Thanks !!! Those last instructions are exactly what I tried and done yesterday, worked like a charm. Truck looks great, heading in for an alignment !! Thanks everybody !!

Please post alignment results ... as in how off is it after you installed the leveling kit.

Thanks

topdj · January 11, 2010

did mine about 1.5hrs...needed a 15mm socket and 15mm wrench plus a 17mm socket and 17mm wrench. Also needed a rubber mallet, a pry bar and some 1/4 to 3/8 pins to line up the holes, I used a long philps screw driver to do that too. I jacked one side at a time and released the sway bar bolts.

I then loosen the strut bottom bolts, I took one of the new bolts and used it to keep the strut lined up with the holes. I used a piece of wood to lift the strut up and I slid the block under the the side without a bolt in it, then I put a temporary pin " if you dont have one steal one off a door in your house"

tapped the other side in an then used the big screw driver to line up. I installed the bolts from the bottom just like GM did. tightened up the bolts and retightened the sway bar, then I did the other side, went off to the dealer to have it realigned told tech I put the blocks in. got it back and it drives straight and true

WhiteRabbit · January 11, 2010

4) Put in the leveling blocks. It's a little difficult to get the bolt holes to line up, but it's easy to do with a little leverage from a prybar or long 1/2" extension used as a prybar.

Just did mine Saturday. Wanted to share a tip that helped me with regard to step 4 above.

As your probably aware the supplied bolts that come with the RC Kit go in from the bottom. Holding that strut in place and trying to get that bolt in from the bottom lined up was tough so instead of using a pry bar.. I found it was easier to push my weight against the strut to get the hole lined up and then I dropped one of the bolts through the top. That would hold it lined up so I can insert the other bolt in from the bottom. Once one side was in good I flipped the other one so that they were both in from the bottom.

Just got my alignment done today too!.

SierraBrad · January 12, 2010

Thanks !!! Those last instructions are exactly what I tried and done yesterday, worked like a charm. Truck looks great, heading in for an alignment !! Thanks everybody !!

Please post alignment results ... as in how off is it after you installed the leveling kit.

Thanks

Alignment was out 49 on the toe in, all fixed up !! Love the look of the truck !!