Another leveling kit thread

[Silverado-Hareek]

17 hours ago, Jon A said:

The stamped arms scare me and the reported failures already seem to indicate it's not without cause.  Personally if I had the stamped arms, I'd go no higher than the 1.8" Bilstein front shocks with no spacer.  Any more than that and I'd want new upper control arms.

Unfortunately I learned more about upper control arms than I intended to.  But basically in my case my truck was equipped with the aluminum upper and lower control arms and aluminum steering knuckles.  No one makes an aftermarket UCA that works with the aluminum steering knuckle on a standard leveled truck, such as Moog.  And the aluminum arms aren't re-usable if your ball joints go bad to where you can just press in new ball joints.  You can keep the lower aluminum control arms and replace the ball joint there, but you can't do it on the uppers.  And in my case I had a loose upper ball joint and GM has discontinued the aluminum control arms and changed the part to the stamped steel design.  So now my truck has stamped steel UCA's and the original OEM aluminum lower control arms.  If the upper ball joints ever go bad again, I have to replace the UCA's again.  I'm not sure why the Moog UCA's don't work with the aluminum steering knuckles but I emailed their customer support to verify and they said they wouldn't work.

[Cjc16]

Sorry guys, I'm the OP and apparently although I started this thread, I was not automatically following.  I hadn't received any notifications so I just got on to make sure it actually posted.  

Lots of responses and I really appreciate it.  I knew when i started this thread I would get some flak because the topic has been beat to death.  However, the majority of topics are post 2017, or if after, are still regarding models prior.  Interestingly though, some of you may know, that even a 2017 may have 2 different UCA... cast aluminum or stamped steel.  All 18s will have stamped UCA.  

I have seen more UCA comments and, as mentioned, some level kits offer the upgraded UCA.  From the responses I've had from dealerships, their issues are with the steering.  I also found out yesterday that because of the major issues they've had (because they installed so many without a waiver, causing the level to be under warranty, and having to eat the cost) that the 2019s are coming with an factory level kit option that is covered under factory warranty. 

We have a farming business so it will be offroad often.  I've been leaning towards the Bilstein option.  I'm not so sure the UCA is the problem with the 2018s, as much as the electronic steering box.  I'd rather roll with factory UCA and have to replace them from wear, than have to replace the steering box... its like $2,200 to replace. 

[Silverado-Hareek]

1 hour ago, Silverado-Hareek said:

Unfortunately I learned more about upper control arms than I intended to.  But basically in my case my truck was equipped with the aluminum upper and lower control arms and aluminum steering knuckles.  No one makes an aftermarket UCA that works with the aluminum steering knuckle on a standard leveled truck, such as Moog.  And the aluminum arms aren't re-usable if your ball joints go bad to where you can just press in new ball joints.  You can keep the lower aluminum control arms and replace the ball joint there, but you can't do it on the uppers.  And in my case I had a loose upper ball joint and GM has discontinued the aluminum control arms and changed the part to the stamped steel design.  So now my truck has stamped steel UCA's and the original OEM aluminum lower control arms.  If the upper ball joints ever go bad again, I have to replace the UCA's again.  I'm not sure why the Moog UCA's don't work with the aluminum steering knuckles but I emailed their customer support to verify and they said they wouldn't work.

I stand corrected. I found a product that works for aluminum steering knuckeles:

 

https://cstsuspension.com/upper-arms/363-uniball-upper-arms-2014-2018-gm-1500.html

[Dirt-Rado]

I stand corrected. I found a product that works for aluminum steering knuckeles:
 
https://cstsuspension.com/upper-arms/363-uniball-upper-arms-2014-2018-gm-1500.html

CST is great stuff! Had them on my 04 and put it through hell.


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[Silverado-Hareek]

5 minutes ago, Dirt-Rado said:

CST is great stuff! Had them on my 04 and put it through hell.


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Nice that's good to hear!  I only wish I found this 2 weeks ago before I bought the stamped steel control arms and paid to have them installed.  I guess at this point I don't want to waste any more money...I'll just drive on the stamped steel arms until they go bad and then get these CST arms.  I didn't fully level the front end so that may help some, but I did install heavier Load Range E tires so we'll see how they hold up....

[Cjc16]

29 minutes ago, Silverado-Hareek said:

Nice that's good to hear!  I only wish I found this 2 weeks ago before I bought the stamped steel control arms and paid to have them installed.  I guess at this point I don't want to waste any more money...I'll just drive on the stamped steel arms until they go bad and then get these CST arms.  I didn't fully level the front end so that may help some, but I did install heavier Load Range E tires so we'll see how they hold up....

You got to admit... it is crazy you have to even consider that. If going to an E rated tire will cause harm, then these trucks are junk.  I have heard and read on these forums that GM has voided warranty for running a tire larger than stock, even one size up.  I mean it's a truck right?  So your concern is legitimate. Warranty or not, nobody wants to be fixing their truck. 

[Silverado-Hareek]

1 hour ago, Cjc16 said:

You got to admit... it is crazy you have to even consider that. If going to an E rated tire will cause harm, then these trucks are junk.  I have heard and read on these forums that GM has voided warranty for running a tire larger than stock, even one size up.  I mean it's a truck right?  So your concern is legitimate. Warranty or not, nobody wants to be fixing their truck. 

Agreed.  We should be able to make some reasonable modifications.  For that matter, the Z71 off road package should be a legitimate off road package in the first place.  In hindsight, I wish I would've saved the $3,000 for the Z71 package and put the money toward all these upgrades I'm ultimately having to to do anyway.    I shouldn't have to replace the shocks with proper off-road shocks, get better off-road tires, find aftermarket metal skid plates in lieu of plastic skid plates, upgrade control arms to support going off road, etc.

[Scrivs85]

I have heard of a 2" in the front and a 1" in the back.  Any ideas on the rear leaf addition?