rough country leveling issue

johne · July 30, 2014

Seller of my kit (not rough country but looks very similar) just sent me a full refund, but I guess I need to take it all apart again and see if I can slide bolt down through the top to stop the rubbing. I already had the alignment done and it looks so much better than stock, I can't go back now. At least it will go much, much faster now that I know how it all comes apart and goes back together.

johne · July 30, 2014

I watched the videos online thinking I could get the spacer in there without dropping off the knuckle but that is just impossible on this truck. Must unbolt from knuckle and use bottle jack underneath for support.

Ok. So it is possible to move the cv axle completely out of the way and slide the bolt down from the top. Just had to loosen everything up more than I did at first and my instructions and other things I saw had the locknut on top. Thanks for the help. I was a little timid at first on dropping it all down since videos like this suggest it can be done easily without dropping stuff off the knukle and everything:

That video is not correct for anybody who has a truck like mine. Hopefully save some people headaches if they can see this posting before wrenching on a 14' z71 with steel control arms. You will never squeeze the block in without dropping completely off the knuckle and the strut bolt needs to be dropped down through the top to provide enough clearance under cv shaft. See :52 in video "this nut left on"...this nut must be removed. A bottle jack placed under the knuckle on bottom will help you keep everything from flopping around too much. As in video, you do not need to remove control arm bolt and bushing--that can be backed off and left loose. Rough country video instructions online are also wrong and definitely contain unneccessary steps.

Any idea why the RC leveling kit for steel control arms is made out of nylon/plastic. Are there problems using aluminum on steel or something? I hope not...not interested in doing the install another time.

Edited July 31, 2014 by johne

strickland604 · July 31, 2014

I watched the videos online thinking I could get the spacer in there without dropping off the knuckle but that is just impossible on this truck. Must unbolt from knuckle and use bottle jack underneath for support.

Ok. So it is possible to move the cv axle completely out of the way and slide the bolt down from the top. Just had to loosen everything up more than I did at first and my instructions and other things I saw had the locknut on top. Thanks for the help. I was a little timid at first on dropping it all down since videos like this suggest it can be done easily without dropping stuff off the knukle and everything:

That video is not correct for anybody who has a truck like mine. Hopefully save some people headaches if they can see this posting before wrenching on a 14' z71 with steel control arms. You will never squeeze the block in without dropping completely off the knuckle and the strut bolt needs to be dropped down through the top to provide enough clearance under cv shaft. See :52 in video "this nut left on"...this nut must be removed. A bottle jack placed under the knuckle on bottom will help you keep everything from flopping around too much. As in video, you do not need to remove control arm bolt and bushing--that can be backed off and left loose. Rough country video instructions online are also wrong and definitely contain unneccessary steps.

Any idea why the RC leveling kit for steel control arms is made out of nylon/plastic. Are there problems using aluminum on steel or something? I hope not...not interested in doing the install another time.

As for as your control arms being steel I have only seen them on the 4X4's not on the Z71 model yet I have heard some people complain that they had steel instead of aluminum control arms on their Z71's. RC leveling kits for steel and aluminum control arms are the same the only difference is the bolts for the aluminum control arms are longer. The nylon/plastic is designed to cut down on any vibration that may take place. I did not have to remove my cv axle.

johne · July 31, 2014

As for as your control arms being steel I have only seen them on the 4X4's not on the Z71 model yet I have heard some people complain that they had steel instead of aluminum control arms on their Z71's. RC leveling kits for steel and aluminum control arms are the same the only difference is the bolts for the aluminum control arms are longer. The nylon/plastic is designed to cut down on any vibration that may take place. I did not have to remove my cv axle.

Actually, I was researching it a little more and it actually seems somewhat random on who got aluminum control arms and who got steel. Many people with z71 4x4s have posted that they have steel. But some aluminum. It is the z60 package that typically comes with aluminum and is really supposed to be more of an on road tuned suspension. However, some z71s actually come with the z60 package??? Mine is an lt double cab z71 4x4 all star edition.

14SLTZ71 · July 31, 2014

2014 Silverado 4x4 Z71 with aluminum control arms.

strickland604 · July 31, 2014

Actually, I was researching it a little more and it actually seems somewhat random on who got aluminum control arms and who got steel. Many people with z71 4x4s have posted that they have steel. But some aluminum. It is the z60 package that typically comes with aluminum and is really supposed to be more of an on road tuned suspension. However, some z71s actually come with the z60 package??? Mine is an lt double cab z71 4x4 all star edit

Oh you have a double cab that explains it. All the crew cab Z71s have aluminum to cut down on weight from what I'm told. On the double cabs it is like you said hit and miss on which models get steel or aluminum.

chewy22 · July 31, 2014

Oh you have a double cab that explains it. All the crew cab Z71s have aluminum to cut down on weight from what I'm told. On the double cabs it is like you said hit and miss on which models get steel or aluminum.

Mine is a Z71 crew cab and it has steel control arms.

This has not been mentioned yet but there is two different lengths of rancho front struts. Look at readlifts website, they give you a bunch of info about this. I've seen it on the local dealers lot. Two stock Z71s sitting side by side and one visibly sat higher in the front. Whipped out the tape and sure enough, some trucks have a 2.5" rack and some only have a 1"+ rack (extended length strut). There was no spacer/leveling kit on the truck that sat higher in the front. You need to measure your stock rack before ordering a level kit.

courts94s · August 1, 2014

Actually, I was researching it a little more and it actually seems somewhat random on who got aluminum control arms and who got steel. Many people with z71 4x4s have posted that they have steel. But some aluminum. It is the z60 package that typically comes with aluminum and is really supposed to be more of an on road tuned suspension. However, some z71s actually come with the z60 package??? Mine is an lt double cab z71 4x4 all star edition.

I had 4x2 5.3L Dbl Cab with steal arms.

johne · August 1, 2014

Mine is a Z71 crew cab and it has steel control arms.

This has not been mentioned yet but there is two different lengths of rancho front struts. Look at readlifts website, they give you a bunch of info about this. I've seen it on the local dealers lot. Two stock Z71s sitting side by side and one visibly sat higher in the front. Whipped out the tape and sure enough, some trucks have a 2.5" rack and some only have a 1"+ rack (extended length strut). There was no spacer/leveling kit on the truck that sat higher in the front. You need to measure your stock rack before ordering a level kit.

Man, these trucks are all over the place on this. Mine had a stupid looking nose dive face plant look on it when I got it. I'm pretty sure I must have the one that came with extended strut length which explains why I could not squeeze in the spacer like the guy did in the video above and also explains why the strut bolts must be installed head up with the locknut on the bottom in the particular configuration of my truck that seems to be 1"+ rack with steel control arms. I am going to send this info to the seller of my leveling kit, they are still selling it as fitting all 2014 silverados...but clearly it does not, at least not as their installation instructions describe.

strickland604 · August 1, 2014

You would think these trucks would be more uniform. As far a having steel and aluminum control arms on the Z71s I wonder if it is depends on if it is an GMC or Chevy. I know that all the GMC Crew Cab Z71s I have seen have had aluminum have not looked under to many Chevys. I do know all Double Cab and 4X4s in the GMC line that I have seen have steel control arms.

I'm also starting to wonder if the models such as LS, LT,LTZ or SL, SLE, SLT have anything to do with what trucks get the steel or aluminum control arms and are the ones coming with the max tow, denali or high country packages getting the extended length struts. Would be very interested in knowing why these trucks look to have so many random set ups in the suspension

Guapoh · August 2, 2014

Crew Cab = Aluminum.

Double Cab = Steel.

beard_up · August 2, 2014

i will take a pic tomorrow.

EDIT: Do you have a 4wd or 2wd?

Correct. They offer two kits, one for the steel control arms and one for the aluminum. I have the aluminum control arms and ordered the kit for the aluminum control arms. i tripled checked before placing my order. i literally followed the instructions step by step as i wanted to be 100% sure i didn't miss anything. i even disconnected the battery before working on my truck which i NEVER do. i read on a f150 forum that some of their issues with their EPS racks is that when doing the leveling kit and not disconnecting the batter it messed up the rack. i am not sure if there is any correlation but i didn't want to risk and it and it only took me 1 min.

How would I know if I have steel or aluminum? I will admit I have [emoji768] researched a lot.

Crew Cab = Aluminum.

Double Cab = Steel.

So regular cab is steel too?

Spurshot · August 3, 2014

How would I know if I have steel or aluminum? I will admit I have [emoji768] researched a lot.

So regular cab is steel too?

This is an aluminum lower arm and knuckle. Notice the silver-gray color of a bare aluminum forging. All the aluminum lower arms are bare forgings. My crewcab is steel. The factory did not seem to have a rhyme or reason for installing the aluminum lower arms.

That video shows a steel control arm. It's painted black and of thinner cross-section in about all areas.

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/uploads/monthly_07_2014/post-127588-0-07588800-1406828856.jpg

Edited August 3, 2014 by spurshot