Wheel Backspacing

[Mike74]

Ok, I searched, but I didnt find the specific info related to me. I may have missed it. Anyways, this is what I have.

 

08 CC 4WD Sierra, I am going to go with a 2" leveling kit and 1.5 zone BL. I want to go with a true 33x12.50 mud terrain in either a 17 or 18. I need to know what backspacing to go with when ordering my wheels so that I dont rub. Hopefully someone is or has ran this combo.

 

Also, I know someone will say I should go big or go home, but I tow with this also and dont want to loose alot of that ability by running a 6' and 35's. Plus I already have 4.10's and wont have to regear with the 33's.

[Matt_]

Mike,

 

If you want to run true 33x12.50s you should really consider putting on the 3" body lift.

 

The 3" body lift + 2" leveling kit will fit 33x12.50s with 9" wide wheels @5.7" backspace (+18mm offset). This combo is pretty much "ideal" for GMT900 trucks like yours and puts the wheels/tires perfectly in line with the fenders.

 

If you're dead set on the 2" leveling + 1.5" body lift, then you're going to want to try to find an 8" wide wheel with ~5.5" backspace or a 9" wheel with 6+ backspace... but then you may rub the frame/sway bar and you still might need to do a bit of trimming depending on how much tire rub you're willing to put up with.

 

My advice is based off of your best bet for "no rubbing". A lot of guys will say "my tires fit fine" but then you'll find out that "fine" to them means "it just rubs when backing up or turning full lock". This happened to me and I ended up trimming a crap load of metal because people weren't very truthful in their tire fitment reviews. I dont like ANY tire rub... nothings worse than pulling into a parking lot and your tires rub making that god awful sound and everyone looks over like "what the hell was that".

[Mike74]

That is exactly my feeling as well. I dont want any tire rub at all. I thought about the 3" BL as well, but the rear well looks really awful with the giant gap between the frame and bed. In all reality, I would probably be happy with a 33x11.50 if that kept me from going to the 3" BL. You have 3" in your signature, are you still running a 2+1 or a 1.5+1.5? I cant see the pics atm because of this crap government computer.

[Matt_]

I'm only running a 3" body lift, no leveling kit.

 

I spent $40 in materials from McMaster.com and made my own gap guards... so no gaps.

[Mike74]

I will have to check that out when I get home. That 3" is expensive though.

[andymiller]

no offense guys, but personally i think body lifts are gay.

 

take a look at my 2.5 leveling and 2" extra block in the rear.

 

tires are 33.5x11"

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=112142

[Matt_]

no offense guys, but personally i think body lifts are gay.

 

no offense, but personally i think you're a complete tool for that comment.

 

There's a difference between saying "i dont like body lifts because [insert adult like opinion here]" and "body lifts are gay". Preceding an offensive comment with "no offense" doesn't get you off the hook (hence the irony in my statement... offense is implied)

[Mike74]

I am deffinately willing to not go body lift. What is the info on the lift you have. Price, where to get it from and all the other good stuff. If I can fit a bigger than 33 with that, I would be good.

[Matt_]

He's running a 2.5" leveling kit.

 

Honestly, from a mechanical standpoint I would steer clear of anything over 2" in terms of leveling kits. Plenty of threads discussing this type of stuff so I'll try not to hijack yours. Lets just say, there's a reason I put a body lift on my $45k truck over a leveling kit (and i have quite an extensive background in the area).

 

Edit: heading out to the bike shop... looking forward to seeing where this goes by the time i get back

[Mike74]

Hey, I dont mind. I would ike to get all this information in one spot. I am use to doing lifts on rock crawlers, but all that is custom built, so I am new in this area. Also, I found the lift.

[lsuguy]

no offense guys, but personally i think body lifts are gay.

 

No offense but YOU are gay. Grow up and state it differently. I'm not gay but some people don't appreciate when that term is thrown around like that.

 

I have a 3 inch body lift with 2 inch level and I'm running 305/55/20's with +18mm offset. Matt is the one who helped me with my selection and it fits perfect. Tire guy said any bigger and tires would not fit and would rub. I believe 305/55/20's are about 33.3x12 I believe.

_Matt really knows his stuff and he's right about there being abunch of threads talking about the ill effects of going with more than 2" of level. Some even say go no more than 1.5"

Gap guards really fix the gap too. You can either make your own like Matt did, make some custom sheetmetal ones, or buy some GM gap guards.

[PAGMC1]

Mike, I just had the Zone 3.5" combo kit put on my 09 GMC cc last week. I installed aftermarket rims that were 18 x 8.5 with a +18 offset and 275/70R18 tires. The tires and wheels finish out flush with the fenders and I have yet to notice any rubbing issues but then again I don't beat the truck either. The combo looks great and I hope to get some pictures up this weekend.

[Mike74]

Mike, I just had the Zone 3.5" combo kit put on my 09 GMC cc last week. I installed aftermarket rims that were 18 x 8.5 with a +18 offset and 275/70R18 tires. The tires and wheels finish out flush with the fenders and I have yet to notice any rubbing issues but then again I don't beat the truck either. The combo looks great and I hope to get some pictures up this weekend.

 

 

I like this. This is exactly what I was talking about. So is there any difference in running a 2" leveling kit from another company vice running the combo kit? You can save almost $150 by doing it that way. I may just try it and if it doesnt work, sell the 1..5 and go 3".

 

 

LSU, I deffinately like the way yours looks also... except for the 20's.. I think they are to much wheel for a 33.

[Matt_]

Yeah mike you'll have a much easier time fitting a 275/70/18. It's when you bump up the width to a 305mm that fitment gets really hairy... our wheel wells dont like wider wheels! 275mm is 10.5-11" depending on the manufacturer.

 

And dont forget the bumper relocation brackets. The 1.5" body lift does not come with bumper relocation brackets for the rear bumper, they're an added accessory.... so that kind of cuts into the difference in cost between the 1.5" and the 3.0" kit.

[Mike74]

Actually, the combo kit is cheaper than going with the 1.5 BL and a 2" from another company lol. I was on crack and thinkin the 3" BL. I dont know now. I was dead set on the 2+1.5 and 33's, but now I am wondering just how much the rancho "5"" lift and 35's will kill my towing.