One Week To Wait. Countdown Begins

redkaz04 · July 22, 2011

Does it matter which kind I get if I do a body lift down the road? Do they all just bolt to the frame.....

Nope. Both of those I mentioned mount to the body. Don't get steps that mount to the frame. They don't look as clean anyway.

cant do add a leaf the fabtech already uses it. You can do a bigger block or a lift shackle in the back. Other options would be shackle flip or spring pack in the back.

Unless the installer failed to put the AAL in. I've seen this several times. Op, you shouldn't have that much cali with that kit. I know a couple of guys with the same setup and theirs is level.

I agree....weird. But I measured and the front is an 1.5 higher. maybe there is a hidden leveling kit on the front that I am not seeing. Regardless, I have to put the project on hold for a week. Going on vacation. This thread is to be continued when I get back........

redkaz04 · July 22, 2011

in the meantime I need to do research on the rear.....it already has a 5" block on it and I want to get it two inches higher.........a rear lift shackle you say> can anyone expand on that?

Is there any other way to get 2" out of the back ? thanks guys....

SouthCo · July 22, 2011

Looking good. Yeah get that rear up to at least level or a tiny bit higher and it would be perfect. I'm in the rake over cali lean (or level) camp. Nothing worse than a truck looking like a dog dragging its butt. The pics might be deceiving but is the front wheel track (width) greater than the rear? That's one of the few downsides to some lifts, at least visually. Overall nice looking ride though.

stlavsa · July 22, 2011

Looking good. Yeah get that rear up to at least level or a tiny bit higher and it would be perfect. I'm in the rake over cali lean (or level) camp. Nothing worse than a truck looking like a dog dragging its butt. The pics might be deceiving but is the front wheel track (width) greater than the rear? That's one of the few downsides to some lifts, at least visually. Overall nice looking ride though.

Only place there could be a level kit would be a spacer on top of the strut. Would be easy to spot. Did you check to see that they installed the add-a-leaf when they installed your kit? You should be able to tell pretty easily if its there too..

redkaz04 · July 23, 2011

Looking good. Yeah get that rear up to at least level or a tiny bit higher and it would be perfect. I'm in the rake over cali lean (or level) camp. Nothing worse than a truck looking like a dog dragging its butt. The pics might be deceiving but is the front wheel track (width) greater than the rear? That's one of the few downsides to some lifts, at least visually. Overall nice looking ride though.

the hard part is over.....I just have to get it level and I already have small inch spacers for the rears....You would think a Fabtech lift would have the wheels sticking out the same width....right....I don't think I will ever do another fabtech lift.

redkaz04 · July 23, 2011

It sounds like I need a taller rear shackle and that will level the truck out.....

SouthCo · July 23, 2011

You've got a nice truck and the hard part is over like you said. Now maybe just a little fine tuning.

blackout07 · July 24, 2011

the hard part is over.....I just have to get it level and I already have small inch spacers for the rears....You would think a Fabtech lift would have the wheels sticking out the same width....right....I don't think I will ever do another fabtech lift.

Fabtech is one of the best companies out there and makes one hell of a nice kit for these trucks. Don't cross Fabtech off your list because of the widened front track width. All of the bigger kits do this. It's really not noticeable at all to me.

redkaz04 · July 24, 2011

the hard part is over.....I just have to get it level and I already have small inch spacers for the rears....You would think a Fabtech lift would have the wheels sticking out the same width....right....I don't think I will ever do another fabtech lift.

Fabtech is one of the best companies out there and makes one hell of a nice kit for these trucks. Don't cross Fabtech off your list because of the widened front track width. All of the bigger kits do this. It's really not noticeable at all to me.

I hear you, I read a lot about Fabtech being top notch along with BDS. Things will be right and level soon. I love being back in a lifted truck. So much more money in this one though.....it was expected;) Below is my dodge I worked my tail off for but had to sell when I went to college about 8 years ago......things were cheaper in the 90s;) I think the skyjacker 5" suspension lift was 1k, the wheels were 300 and the tires 1200.....

cparks555 · July 24, 2011

The front may settle some after a few weeks, I would give it some time and see what happens.

ChevyTech77 · July 24, 2011

I have long been a Fabtech fan and have installed MANY of their GM ifs kits with little if any issues. Their customer service and tech departments are very good as well and have always jumped on possible issues with their components to make sure their customers were getting the best stuff possible.

The only issues that I have ever really had with ifs lifts is this, every company is pretty much the same in saying that their lifts may vary in the exact amount that the vehicle will be lifted but they ALWAYS lift the front, more than the rear, in an attempt to "level" the truck. Now, while I don't want a TON of rake, I still want some and I get sick of finishing an ifs lift for a customer and having to leave the torsion bars backed all the way out just so they sit semi-level. I will usually change blocks or add a leaf, depending on the lift, to put some rack back in the trucks that I have done. That's just me though.

redkaz04 · July 24, 2011

I have long been a Fabtech fan and have installed MANY of their GM ifs kits with little if any issues. Their customer service and tech departments are very good as well and have always jumped on possible issues with their components to make sure their customers were getting the best stuff possible.

The only issues that I have ever really had with ifs lifts is this, every company is pretty much the same in saying that their lifts may vary in the exact amount that the vehicle will be lifted but they ALWAYS lift the front, more than the rear, in an attempt to "level" the truck. Now, while I don't want a TON of rake, I still want some and I get sick of finishing an ifs lift for a customer and having to leave the torsion bars backed all the way out just so they sit semi-level. I will usually change blocks or add a leaf, depending on the lift, to put some rack back in the trucks that I have done. That's just me though.

Amen...ha ha

zach1990 · July 24, 2011

Well, it was just my luck........the installer says the wheels do not even come close to fitting with the fabtech lift. He says the wheels stick out too far and will rub like crazy as soon as I turn the sterring wheel. What the heck.....I called fabtech and they recommended 4.5 backspace for my truck as did 4wheelonline, the company I purchased through. IS it it POSSIBLE that the installer put the lift on wrong?

*on a side note, he says the lift is not as high as the bds lift he installed on a silverado last month.....everything I read here says fabtech is higher than the bds.....either way I have problems.....

what do I do now???

skinnier tires? had a buddy of mine put a skyjacker lift on his colorado and the company told him it would clear 33s. well once it was all said and done the largest tire he could fit was 31.5s. it seems as tho some companys dont consider xtra wide tires when rating there ki

stlavsa · July 24, 2011

Did u ever verify that they installed the add-a-leaf with the kit?

redkaz04 · July 24, 2011

Did u ever verify that they installed the add-a-leaf with the kit?

yes, they did....UPDATE: the front is by my exact measurement 1" and 9/16 higher than the rear. I found out what is keeping it higher....the previous owner put the cheapest leveling kit in the world on the springs....on the inside of the front springs there are two clips that are pushing the springs apart. It's like there were strectched and jammed in there to spread them apart. I mean...wow...it looks like they came from autozone. One is broken on one side and another is cracked. Who would do that to a brand new truck? (I bought it will 12k miles on it)

So I need the two inches of lift in the front to keep the tires from rubbing. I am thinking a rough country two inch leveling kit underneath on the front. In the rear....can I get a lift shackle that will give me two inches?