Leveling kit or suspension lift?

00z7161 · April 11, 2016

I have a 2000 chevy z71 short bed single cab. I want to level it out and install new tires with black rims. Not planning taking it off road much. I like the Nitto terra grappler and want to go with 18 inch black rims. Any suggestions?

Formulabruce · April 11, 2016

I have a 2000 chevy z71 short bed single cab. I want to level it out and install new tires with black rims. Not planning taking it off road much. I like the Nitto terra grappler and want to go with 18 inch black rims. Any suggestions?

Z71 is a half Ton in 2000 1/2 ton truck..

RPO-Z71= 4 Bilstein shocks and 2 Skid plates Yeah!!

Crank those rods and make it ride like a ROCK, then put on wheels and tires with NO side wall, and feel every stone in the road, then pay for more alignments., more tires.. Enjoy that "stance", its EXPENSIVE!! good luck! ( better to ruin a softer suspension 1/2 ton truck though)

00z7161 · April 15, 2016

Not sure I completely understand the comment from formulabruce?? Rpo z71 4 bilstein shocks? 2 skid plates? Make it ride like a rock? Ruin the 1/2 ton suspension? I came here to get suggestions from those who have much more experience than I with this little z71.

dirtfan21 · April 15, 2016

Begin by cranking your stock keys, see if you can get 1.5"-2" out of them, if not then you will have to look at purchasing leveling keys. With a 2" level you can easily run a 285/65/18 or a 275/70/18. Take note, positive offset wheels allow for larger tires because they suck the wheel in the wheel well. Zero and negative offsets push the wheel out of the wheel well giving a more aggressive stance, but they limit the size of tire you can run.

On a 2000 truck you could probably fit a 18x9 with a +12 to +18 offset and a 305/60/18, or you could run a 0 offset 18x9 with a 285/65/18. The wheel wells on the GMT 800 trucks have way more room to run a larger wheel and tire setup.

Jameswilson4849 · April 16, 2016

Hi guys

Im new so sorry for interrupting your thred on lifting, but i have a question on 4L60E.

99 suburban that my wife drives,,,,,she was going to town, stoped at red light, when she started off it wouldn't get over 40 then just wouldn't pull. She left the suburban there. 2 day went by, and i went to pull it home with the help of a friend.

He drove it 10 miles back to my house with no problems. I hade already checked the fluid level before and after starting it and the tourque converter was pumping good,,,

The fluid is dark but not black.and still a little see through.

The next day she drove it to work 12 miles, went to back in her spot, and wouldn't go in reverse.. she turned it off and restarted and it worked fine. When she left work comming home it did it again, about 30 to 40 mph, thats all it would do and was starting to stink and get hot. Friend of mine said solenoid. Any help??????? Thanks

Formulabruce · April 16, 2016

Not sure I completely understand the comment from formulabruce?? Rpo z71 4 bilstein shocks? 2 skid plates? Make it ride like a rock? Ruin the 1/2 ton suspension? I came here to get suggestions from those who have much more experience than I with this little z71.

My point is that as soon as your crank up the torsion bars to "lift" the front end , the ride gets VERY stiff, throw on wheels and tires with minimal side2wall ( or 'give") and the ride is even stiffer, which aside from rattling your brain is hard on body mounts, etc... Body lift for "looks" may be better.

Big Whiskey · April 24, 2016

Begin by cranking your stock keys, see if you can get 1.5"-2" out of them, if not then you will have to look at purchasing leveling keys. With a 2" level you can easily run a 285/65/18 or a 275/70/18. Take note, positive offset wheels allow for larger tires because they suck the wheel in the wheel well. Zero and negative offsets push the wheel out of the wheel well giving a more aggressive stance, but they limit the size of tire you can run.

On a 2000 truck you could probably fit a 18x9 with a +12 to +18 offset and a 305/60/18, or you could run a 0 offset 18x9 with a 285/65/18. The wheel wells on the GMT 800 trucks have way more room to run a larger wheel and tire setup.

This advice is spot on!!