Not everything has to be bought

Spooky427 · October 10, 2016

Hi gang! I have been lurking here for a few months for info on my new truck purchase. I did it! I went out and bought a 16 2500HD Silverado LT 6.0. I sold my previous truck which was a *gasp* 02 F350 7.3 diesel. I sold that truck and it had 199k of trouble free miles. I am hoping this truck will be just as good.

Like all of you, I want to crank up the front end (duh!) I have done my share of reading.My truck has the Snow plow prep on it so I can crank the keys. My question is....... The shock spacers. How long are they? They look to be 1/2 to 3/4 inches long. I have the ability to make some with out buying a so called "kit". Also the diff drop spacers. How big are those? From the looks of the videos they look like 3/4 or 1 inch thick. Is there somebody willing to post up some specs?

Thank you all in GM truck land!

Scott

Spooky427 · October 14, 2016

if somebody orders a leveling kit please post up some measurements of these items before the install please

Scott

DMAXNAZ · October 30, 2016

Those 7.3's were good trucks.

theidbreder · October 31, 2016

I just had my truck leveled by swapping out the keys. No need for shock extensions or UCS's and it rides pretty much the same!

EJCarter · November 2, 2016

Scott,

Check with Central Coast Motorsports in San Luis Obispo, CA. I purchased one of their leveling kits which had the diff drop down spacers and shock extensions. They manufacture their own kits. Very similar to Cognito's, but much less in cost...not quality. They are a small shop and I'm sure he'll give you those dimensions for the diff spacers and shock extensions you are looking for. My shock extensions look to be about 3/4".

Spooky427 · November 4, 2016

Thanks for the info Eric. I will look in to them. I think I can crank my keys. I do have the snow plow prep and the bolts look long. I may have some diff drop spacers, I just wanted to get the size to make sure that is what some of the kits use. If the shock spacers you got are the small spacers I may have those too. Just trying to get my ducks in a row one time as the alignment shop is pretty busy.

when I bought my f350 new, I ordered new plow springs for it. That 7.3 was a real beast. too bad that they rust out before the motors really start to break in. It had 485 lb tq to the wheels on the dyno with just a tuner.

Any more info is totally appreciated!

Scott

EJCarter · November 8, 2016

Scott,

I'm sure you did alot of research like I did before I purchased my leveling kit. From what I read, be careful with NOT replacing the UCAs. The geometry of the 15s and 16s (and I'm sure the 17s) is different than past models. Not replacing the UCAs in these newer models creates more stress on the ball joints, CV joints on the front axels, the idler arm and pitman arm which will lead to premature replacements. I'm sure you are also aware that you can purchase idler and pitman arm stiffener brackets. I understand the snow prep package has a more heavy duty front end, so this may not be an issue for you. I don't need that option...hell, its still 90 degrees here. My past truck was an '04 Crew Cab Duramax (with only 32" tall tires) and I only cranked the stock keys to get level. Everything worked, but I did have to replace the idler, pitman, and ball joints three times in 160,000 miles. All stated it would be fine with only cranking the stock keys, but obviously I had increased wear on these parts. If most are saying to replace the UCAs with today's leveling kit as these parts WILL wear, I would hate not to do it and have more issues later...

newdude · November 8, 2016

Scott,

I'm sure you did alot of research like I did before I purchased my leveling kit. From what I read, be careful with NOT replacing the UCAs. The geometry of the 15s and 16s (and I'm sure the 17s) is different than past models. Not replacing the UCAs in these newer models creates more stress on the ball joints, CV joints on the front axels, the idler arm and pitman arm which will lead to premature replacements. I'm sure you are also aware that you can purchase idler and pitman arm stiffener brackets. I understand the snow prep package has a more heavy duty front end, so this may not be an issue for you. I don't need that option...hell, its still 90 degrees here. My past truck was an '04 Crew Cab Duramax (with only 32" tall tires) and I only cranked the stock keys to get level. Everything worked, but I did have to replace the idler, pitman, and ball joints three times in 160,000 miles. All stated it would be fine with only cranking the stock keys, but obviously I had increased wear on these parts. If most are saying to replace the UCAs with today's leveling kit as these parts WILL wear, I would hate not to do it and have more issues later...

It created stress on the 01-10 trucks as well, if not more than the new ones. 11-up trucks handle it better from what I've seen. Plenty of cranked stock trucks come in at our place with no suspension component failures.

Spooky427 · November 9, 2016

I think that a full kit is the way to go from everything I have read and understand from looking at the suspention. The UCA's and diff drop brackets look to be the way to go. On some kits they don't include the diff drops. I looked at the cognito kits and they look great but no diff drops that were listed. the ccm kit that Eric listed, does show them. I may have those. That's the reason I was looking for how big those spacers are. Thanks for the info guys!

Scott