Leveling Kit Problems

BOBO8597 · April 7, 2018

So I would like some advice. I want to level my 2015 Silverado 1500 4x4 crew cab. I am just out of the factory warranty with 38K miles. I was looking at installing a RC 3/2 leveling kit and have been reading many forums talking about how bad these leveling kits are to the suspension. Not just the RC, but any leveling kit. The kit is the 3" spacer between strut and tower with 2" block on rear. Many of the forums are saying the front suspension will wear out within 10K miles of installing. So I wanted to start a thread and get some opinions on some experiences with these kits.

Has anyone had issues with these type of kits? What am I to expect in 10K, 15K, 20K miles to change out due to excessive wear from these kits? I know I will need to do an alignment right after install, but how will the truck ride and wear on the tires with these kits? Are they as bad as I have been reading? I read one thread where someone had to spend $6K to completely replace their IFS suspension from this kit. Was this a one off situation or a very good possibility?

I want to get ride of that nose down look and give the truck a much better looking stance for a 4x4 truck. So what other options are there to level or give a slight lift to my truck that will cause as little damage down the road as possible to the suspension? I understand there is always risk when altering a suspension, but there must be some other options that do little damage and still allow a lift or level of the truck. Someone mentioned a body lift, but that still leaves the nose down look of the body.

Thoughts?

Edited April 7, 2018 by BOBO8597

njs2247 · April 8, 2018

I think most people agree that anything higher than 3" would require new Upper Control Arms because the stock ones would probably wear out within 10K miles.

While I don't have the 3", I have had the 2" leveling kit installed on my 2014 Z71 4X4 for the past 40K miles and haven't had a single issue with it. Also, I just bought new tires after getting 62K on them, so the leveling kit didn't wear the tires out prematurely either.

There are quite a bit of people with these leveling kits installed and I rarely come across a forum post about issues caused by them. So I'd say go ahead and get one because chances of something happening are very slim.

Hope this eases your mind a little and helps make your decision a little easier.

Rambodog · April 8, 2018

I have run the RC 2.5 with 2" rear block and I disliked the limited down travel it created. If the tire dropped out fast like speed bumps for example it caused the UCA to kiss the bump stops now and then. It also caused a clicking sound in the steering. I had the Dealer voluntary update to the steering rack and it didn't change it. I went to a 0-3" adj. coilover set at 2" and the clicking had stopped. I no longer hit bump stops at all. I kept the 2" RC block when I went to the coilover kit. It leaves just a touch of rake for towing or heavy loads, but looks dang near level to the eye. I would do the RC under strut 2" spacers and their 2" rear block to replicate what I did. My opinion of course.

Bigrich · April 8, 2018

I’m running a 2.5 level kit from suspension maxx and all is well. There kit comes with a block that goes under the front coil over & also includes eight 1/8 inch spacer that go on top of the coil over so you can add as many as you need to get level. My kit included a bracket for the magnaride arm to keep it at correct angle. Now I’m planning to install a 4 or 6 inch lift kit, just doing research so I don’t mess with the stabilatrac system

BOBO8597 · April 9, 2018

22 hours ago, njs2247 said:

I think most people agree that anything higher than 3" would require new Upper Control Arms because the stock ones would probably wear out within 10K miles.

While I don't have the 3", I have had the 2" leveling kit installed on my 2014 Z71 4X4 for the past 40K miles and haven't had a single issue with it. Also, I just bought new tires after getting 62K on them, so the leveling kit didn't wear the tires out prematurely either.

There are quite a bit of people with these leveling kits installed and I rarely come across a forum post about issues caused by them. So I'd say go ahead and get one because chances of something happening are very slim.

Hope this eases your mind a little and helps make your decision a little easier.

njs2247: Thanks for the info. I may go with the 2.5" front and 2" block in rear. This gives he rear a 1" lift and front about 2.5". I should still have a small nose down and not mess with suspension geometry much. I hope! Did you have to install a differential drop kit?

Thanks again for info.

Edited April 9, 2018 by BOBO8597

BOBO8597 · April 9, 2018

Rambodog: Very nice looking truck. That is the level I am looking for. Slight lift and level to the eye. Did you install a differential drop kit?

Thanks for the info!

Edited April 9, 2018 by BOBO8597

Z71 _ GMC · April 10, 2018

I’m in the same situation you’re in. I have a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 crew cab with 28k miles. I too want to lift the front of my truck to level it out and get rid of the factory rake. I have also found the forms that say spacers preload the suspension in some way and damage suspension components.

One product I’ve come across during my research is the Bilstein 5100 series adjustable lift shocks and struts. These shock absorbers have multiple snap ring grooves that position the spring seat at different heights. The ride height can be changed between 0-2.5" depending on the vehicle. I think the 2015 Chevys/Sierras adjustable height is closer to the 0-1.85” range. I believe it will cost around $250 to get a pair of shocks for the front end only.

There’s countless forms talking about the Bilstein 5100 shocks and I’ve read a lot of them; including the GMC, Chevy, Ford, and Toyota forms. The general opinion everyone agrees on is it’s a better than OEM shock that levels out their truck. The majority of people recommend them over any type of spacer lift. The biggest complaint I’ve read is it’s a slightly rougher ride if it’s set to the highest setting. This is mentioned around 30% of the time IMO.

As far as damaging other suspension components, I don’t recall reading a single complaint about having to replace ball joints, control arms or anything else. I’ve only read one complaint where someone said the shock itself “blew up,” but they come with a lifetime warranty, and that person didn’t elaborate on what kind of driving/off-roading they were doing, so I don’t think that this is a major issue.

I’ve found another page on here that may provide you with more info on the Bilsteins http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/168768-leveling-bilsteins-vs-lift-kit/

You can also look up other articles and videos of them online.

Just wanted to let you know about them. Let me know which way you decide to go.

Trae Edwards · September 9, 2019

THE STAMPED UCA (Upper Control Arms) 2016.5 and up are causing major issues with lifted. Most rubs are on the UPC arms. No fender rubs inside or out. Also a very big difference in ride quality. Anyone else finds a fix to this issue yet?

mtamsin · November 15, 2019

On 4/8/2018 at 2:52 AM, Rambodog said:

I have run the RC 2.5 with 2" rear block and I disliked the limited down travel it created. If the tire dropped out fast like speed bumps for example it caused the UCA to kiss the bump stops now and then. It also caused a clicking sound in the steering. I had the Dealer voluntary update to the steering rack and it didn't change it. I went to a 0-3" adj. coilover set at 2" and the clicking had stopped. I no longer hit bump stops at all. I kept the 2" RC block when I went to the coilover kit. It leaves just a touch of rake for towing or heavy loads, but looks dang near level to the eye. I would do the RC under strut 2" spacers and their 2" rear block to replicate what I did. My opinion of course.

Do you have a link for the coil covers you bought? I am having these EXACT same symptoms.....

Evan Roman · November 28, 2019

You can real this article. I have found it useful. They have discussed maximum of solution.

https://www.autolovins.com/silverado-leveling-kit-problems/

Thanks.

bkeith5050 · June 15, 2020

Just for anyone out there that comes accross this topic and forum page, I have a 2014 Chevy Silverado and I'm running a Motofab 2.5" top strut spacer as well as a Motofab 1" lower strut Spacer on the front end. I added the Rough Country Upper control arms and also put in a supreme suspensions front differential drop kit to correct the cv angles. I also added Moog tie rods and paired it with the Rough Country tie rod sleeves to beef up that tie rod arm. In the back I put a 3" block kit and some Rough Country N3 rear shocks. The truck drives great and can still tow my trailer with 4 snowmobiles and tools weighing upwards of 4 tons without a problem. I was able to fit the Moto Metal MO970 20x10's -24 offset with an Atturo Trail Blade X/T 33/12.5/R20 and had to trim maybe an inch off the plastic piece towards the back of the wheel well which you can't even see. The truck does have about a .5" of rake so it looks level which was my overall goal.

I already know someone is going to bash how bad the angles are, but it's essentially the same as a 2.5" level kit because the front differential drop kit is 1" thick so there's no need to worry about bad cv angles. Rides great and tows great. No Complaints.