Got A New Truck....want To Make Some Mods

pharmboy2010 · June 25, 2010

I have a new (to me) '08 Sierra All Terrain that I'm wanting to make some mods to. Right now we are putting a billet grille in and blacking out the bumpers. Now I want to do something to lift if just a little...just give it a good stance. I have been roaming around on here for the past cpl weeks reading and I am still stuck. I definitely am leaning toward a leveling kit in the front....but which one? I have it down to the skyjacker 2", readylift 2.25" or the RC 2". Which is the best quality one? Which will give me the best ride (closest to factory)? Or is there any real difference? Just curious about the dif between top spacer, lower spacer or the ready lift with both.

It has also crossed my mind to do a small susp lift...like the RC 3". How is the quality of this lift? It seems pretty good price.

Is the talk about ball joints, etc going bad with level kits something I should really be concerned about?

Last question....(sorry..new here and have a lot of thoughts running through my head). I know that 33" is pretty much the biggest diameter tire you can fit with a level kit....but how about width? I'm looking at putting 20s and want a pretty fat tire too...w/o doing much if any trimming. I saw some pics of a Silverado that looked awesome...ppl didn't know the specs on it...but it was thought it had a 2.5" level, 35s on 22s. Is this possible?

Thanks

NickS · June 25, 2010

All of the leveling kits are going to ride the same and pretty close to stock. Personally, most people (including me) have the CCM 2.5" leveling kit. Stay the hell away from the RC 3" lift. I had it and it is shit. So bad that RC bought it (and several others back) from me and other people.

lsuguy · June 25, 2010

As said above all leveling kits are pretty similar. I however will disagree and say the majority of people here go with RC 2" level. It's usually easier to install although most levels are pretty easy to install, and it is usually not recommended to go higher than 2" of level in the front. Leveling kits will cause a very very slightly faster wear on the ball joints but the ball joints will fail eventually anyway and there is not much difference in time. The bigger size you add up front the more strain it will cause on the front end. I'm not saying anything wrong with then 2.5" kits but a 1.5 - 2 inch kit is better IMO.

Also stay away from RC 3" suspension. SOOOOOOOOO MANY problems have been talked about with this kit. Don't go cheap on suspension kits. You paid too much for your truck to go cheap on that. If you just want 3" of lift you can add a bodylift like I have.

Not sure on tire size but you WILL NOT be able to fit 35's on just a level. You will need to seriously trim.

I do know that with 20's and a level and body lift the biggest tire size you will be able to fit with no trimming at all is 305/55/20's which is about a 33.2 x 12. something inch tire.