Best Leveling Kit For 09 Sierra?

SDSLEDHEAD · March 24, 2011

I'm looking at putting on a 2-3" leveling kit on my 09 Sierra. My main reason for wanting to do it is because I want to be able to fit bigger tires on. Right now Im thinking 17" American Racing Chrome Assualt rims and Mickey Thompson Baja ATZ's 305/65s. Im wondering what the best/highest quality leveling kit I can buy. I dont really care if it costs a little more than others, I just want it to work. I saw a truck like mine with a Skyjacker 2" kit and the wheels and tires fit with no rubbing. Does anyone have this kit, or know if it is good. I'm thinking about just going with that, but I dunno. I don't know the first thing about leveling kits. Is there anything else I need, or just the 2 spacers, or whatever comes in the kit? Also am I sacrificing any reliability or not? INPUT PLEASE!!

And THANKS!

O and what would it cost to have one put on at a shop?

700 sportsman · March 24, 2011

Just do some searching. There are several out there, rough country by far being the most popular. My dad was charged about $100 for install and alignment if I remember correctly. But if you are fairly handy with a wrench it isn't to bad of a job at all.

NickS · March 24, 2011

Please search.

1) there are a million leveling kits out there. rough country is one of the most popular. There are also daystar, CCM, top gun customs, etc...)

2) they all do the same thing essentially.

3) no, you don't need anything extra, unless you want to keep the rake like it is from factory. Then you can add a larger block in the rear.

4) no you are not sacrificing reliability, but you are changing the geometry of the front end (axles, ball joints, etc...) and they will wear out faster. Sorry for everyone ripping on you, but if you just type in "leveling kit", there are probably a million posts about every question you just asked.

Also, I wouldn't even think about a 3" leveling kit. I wouldn't go over a 2" or at most a 2.5", and I have had both. I've had all, a 2" leveling kit at first, then that piece of shit RC 3" lift, then a CCM 2.5" leveling kit (because RC bought the 3" back from me because of the problems). I've had some type of kit on my truck for 35,000 miles and I'm about to put in my 2nd axle because of small tears in the cv boots. It's probably mostly due to all of the different kits I've had on here, but anything will cause faster wear on your axles and cv joints. New axles are only $80 or so, just be prepared every 40,000 miles or so. I may be a rare Case, I don't know. There are several people with 2" leveling kits, and some with 2.5" kits with no problems.

SDSLEDHEAD · March 24, 2011

Yea I'm not new to forums, so I should have know to search, but it was almost like there wasnt even a place to start because of the overwhelming amount of threads. And whats the rake? Sorry I am a totally uneducated 17 year old

NickS · March 24, 2011

The "rake" is how your truck is now (sets 2" higher in the rear). If you put a leveling kit of 2" on front to level it out, you would need around a 3" block in the rear to keep the factory rake ( if you go up 2" in the front and replace the 1.25" rear block in the rear with a 3", you will have close to the same rake from factory). It will be a 2" lift all around. Most people "level" it out because with a 2" leveling kit in front and leaving the rear block, it looks better with the rear and front at the same height. but some people like the rake and add a larger block in the rear along with a leveling kit on front to keep some of it. I personally don't like it, it's just a matter of opinion.

SDSLEDHEAD · March 24, 2011

Ok! Hey thanks, you explained that perfectly.

Big Whiskey · March 24, 2011

Welcome to the forum. I put a Skyjacker 2" kit on my old '07, and it was good. It requires a little more work because it mounts on top of the spring/strut assembly. I didn't have a clue about leveling kits at the time, so I paid a local shop $150 for install & alignment. I put over 40,000 thousand on that '07 without any problems.

When I traded for my '09, I decided to go with a different kit. The Zone Offroad kit mounts on the bottom of the spring/strut assembly (just like the very popular Rough Country kit), and its easier to install than the Skyjacker. Me & a buddy (with the right tools) did the install in a few hours over a case of beer. I got it aligned the next day. The only reason I went with the Zone kit over the Rough Country was because Zone had the option of adding 2" rear blocks to keep the rake. It just raised the entire truck 2" front & rear. I didn't like the way my '07 sagged in the back when I was pulling my camper or hauling my 4-wheeler.

Just make sure you stay around 2" with the leveling kits. If you want to go higher than that, you should buy an actual suspension lift. Good luck, and post pics when you get done!

SDSLEDHEAD · March 25, 2011

Is the rough country kit fine/good? Opinions? I see its about half the price of the skyjacker kit. And even though they are both 2" kits, is there a chance one may be slightly different than the other, because I know the tires I want will work with the skyjacker kit.

Big Whiskey · March 25, 2011

The rough country kit is just fine. There are dozens of guys on here that have them on their trucks. If you know the tires you want will work with a 2" kit, the the rough country will work just as good as the skyjacker. Just don't freak out when you open the box and the spacer is only 1" tall. It will raise the truck 2" because of the suspension geometry.

SDSLEDHEAD · March 25, 2011

Are my control arms aluminum, or non-aluminum?

SDSLEDHEAD · April 7, 2011

Ordering now... What are my control arms?

blackout07 · April 7, 2011

Go with whichever kit you like...it really makes no difference. HOWEVER, those tires will not "work" with only a leveling kit. Those are big and you will have to do a lot of cutting just to clear them. You need a minimum of 4" to clear those tires. Maybe as much as 6" depending on the wheel specs.

SDSLEDHEAD · April 7, 2011

Thanks, the 285/70s should work right? Im getting the Rough Country 2", and before you order it asks if your control arms are aluminum or non aluminum? They're already on the truck right? And how do I know if they are aluminum or not? Sorry... I know nothing

crazycanuck90 · April 7, 2011

Thanks, the 285/70s should work right? Im getting the Rough Country 2", and before you order it asks if your control arms are aluminum or non aluminum? They're already on the truck right? And how do I know if they are aluminum or not? Sorry... I know nothing

I just put 285/70/17s with a 4.53" backspacing wheel and a 2" level and they look great and fit good with very minimal rubbing however I did have to trim a bit of plastic. Your control arms are part of your suspension and chances are they are non-aluminum. http://www.truckinweb.com/tech/1105tr_2010...r/photo_17.html in the link the guy is holding the lower control arm.