Lift Kit Help

reihart · June 3, 2018

I am currently looking for a lift kit for my truck but I've heard good things and bad things about a lot of different companies. I have little knowledge on lift kits and want to expand my knowledge on them if you could help me. I'm looking at putting a 3" lift on my 2014 sierra 1500 Denali, with 35's for tires along with a smooth ride, low maintenance, and of course a low price.(best bang for my buck) If you could leave any advice or info for me it would be appreciated. The more info the better.

Nasty · June 3, 2018

Depends on wheels but maybe a zone

texasaggies16 · June 3, 2018

Keeping stock wheels?

reihart · June 3, 2018

8 hours ago, texasaggies16 said:

Keeping stock wheels?

No, probably going with fuel wheels and whatever tire that fits best under a 3" lift.

Nasty · June 3, 2018

Those most likely have a bigger offset so youd want higher than 3 for 35s

texasaggies16 · June 3, 2018

6" rough country and leave it uncranked for a solid 4-5" of lift.. best bang for your buck so to speak. I wouldnt put a RC on a denali but if your speaking strictly price itll do the job.

reihart · June 3, 2018

20 minutes ago, texasaggies16 said:

6" rough country and leave it uncranked for a solid 4-5" of lift.. best bang for your buck so to speak. I wouldnt put a RC on a denali but if your speaking strictly price itll do the job.

I had a ford f-150 with fuel wheels and 35" tires, long story short, I tried the wheels on the GMC with a 1" leveling kit and they fit other than scrubbing the back a tad so I shouldn't need any more than 3 inches. Just looking for something that won't eat up ball joints. With a 4-5" lift, it seems like it would definitely have to change the angle of things where it would eat the ball joints.

texasaggies16 · June 3, 2018

25 minutes ago, reihart said:

I had a ford f-150 with fuel wheels and 35" tires, long story short, I tried the wheels on the GMC with a 1" leveling kit and they fit other than scrubbing the back a tad so I shouldn't need any more than 3 inches. Just looking for something that won't eat up ball joints. With a 4-5" lift, it seems like it would definitely have to change the angle of things where it would eat the ball joints.

Any kit thats not a bracket lift is going to eat your ball joints with a 6" uncranked itll sit completely like stock and you would have room to go bigger in the future.. Just google angles of 3-4" kits they are terrible... Do not go above 2.5" on a level if you want your front end to last, you could likely combine the level with a body lift for a little extra height.

reihart · June 4, 2018

1 hour ago, texasaggies16 said:

Any kit thats not a bracket lift is going to eat your ball joints with a 6" uncranked itll sit completely like stock and you would have room to go bigger in the future.. Just google angles of 3-4" kits they are terrible... Do not go above 2.5" on a level if you want your front end to last, you could likely combine the level with a body lift for a little extra height.

what do you mean "bracket lift" and could you explain how the 6" uncracked would sit like stock. Like I said, I know very little about lifts. Thank you for your feedback though.

texasaggies16 · June 4, 2018

1 hour ago, reihart said:

what do you mean "bracket lift" and could you explain how the 6" uncracked would sit like stock. Like I said, I know very little about lifts. Thank you for your feedback though.

Bracket lift i reference the lift kits that include new crossmembers that drop all your components down so that you keep stock angles. The rough country 6" is essentially a 4" lift with a 2" spacer added, if you dont add the spacer your truck will be 4" taller and still maintain all the factory ball joint angles/tie rods/ etc.

Lift kit example - any kit without the crossmembers/new knuckles is going to put your angles in a bind..

This is what a REAL kit will make your angles look like

Heres what a stretched level basically makes your angles...

reihart · June 4, 2018

That helps alot. In the first picture is that a "body lift" or is that a lift similar to a 6" rough country like you were saying. Also in the second picture could you explain why the angles are so bad.

texasaggies16 · June 4, 2018

No not a body thats a suspension lift like the rough country lift I suggested. The second picture is what happens when you buy a kit that does change the angles of your lower control arms, most of which are the 3-4" "LIFTS" they are essentially massive leveling kits that ruin your front end.. I have a 2.5" front level and my angles arent terrible but I would not go above it..

reihart · June 4, 2018

30 minutes ago, texasaggies16 said:

No not a body thats a suspension lift like the rough country lift I suggested. The second picture is what happens when you buy a kit that does change the angles of your lower control arms, most of which are the 3-4" "LIFTS" they are essentially massive leveling kits that ruin your front end.. I have a 2.5" front level and my angles arent terrible but I would not go above it..

Okay, that makes a lot more sense now. I am concerned with a rough country lift though. Thats one of the brands I heard that completely sucked. Could be completely wrong but, thats what i've heard from several people. I have heard a lot of people talk about a Zone lift though, know anything about that?

texasaggies16 · June 4, 2018

Yes rough country isn't premium but it gets the job done for most people.. For our trucks me personally I would spend the extra on Zone or BDS, both very high quality and fitting for a 40k+ truck. You'll spend more on a higher quality kit but like the saying goes you get what you pay for.