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Rear Suspension Height - 01 Yukon XL 2500 4wd

tjg79

By tjg79
in 2000-2014 Silverado HD & Sierra HD

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tjg79 Enthusiast

tjg79

Posted
Posted

Hello Forum, My left side suspension height was low on my 2001 GMC Yukon XL 2500 4wd. It's stock, and the truck only has 36k miles.

 

I raised the left front to match the right front via the torsion bar adjustment bolt. The height is now 36-1/8" to the left and right wheel openings.

 

I checked the rear and it's 38-1/8" on the right rear, and 37-5/8" on the left rear.

 

Is there a way to adjust the left rear leaf spring suspension height to match the right rear height?

 

Short of replacing the leaf springs, I don't see an adjustment.

casey.mikl Enthusiast

casey.mikl

Posted
Posted

Leaf springs are about the only way to level them out. Unless you have some type of shim made to go between the leaf and the axle. I don’t believe anyone makes them that small so you would have to probably have some made


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tjg79 Enthusiast

tjg79

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Well, I would think a 1/2" height shim plate on the left rear leaf spring suspension would resolve the rear left-right suspension height discrepancy, but I only see degree shims.

 

I need to research this issue to determine if shims are available to just raise the left rear 1/2".

vucelick Enthusiast

vucelick

Posted
Posted

My 01 2500HD was sagging a small amount and was not level left to right, new springs are very expensive once you consider shipping.  I added a set of air lift 5000 airbags.  I put 5 psi in them, everything is much better, the ride was unchanged, it just gave a little lift to restore the springs to stock height.  The springs just sag after all this time.

CamGTP Senior Enthusiast

CamGTP

Posted
Posted

Don't forget that fuel adds weight and the tank is on the drivers side. So when you get under half a tank or more it should become more level or may even tip the other way if you try to compensate for it with a full tank.

tjg79 Enthusiast

tjg79

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Yes, I've been keeping my fuel tanks full. I always top off at 3/4 tank, because I don't want to have to replace the two fuel pumps again after water condensation in the tanks corroded the pumps.

 

I should allow the fuel level to drop to 1/4 tank and recheck the rear wheel opening heights.

tjg79 Enthusiast

tjg79

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My owner's manual indicates my fuel tank capacity is 38.5 US gallons. Google says a gallon of unleaded gasoline weighs about 6 lbs. Therefore, my fuel capacity is 231 lbs.

 

If I burn-off 3/4 of my fuel capacity, that would only reduce fuel weight by 173 lbs.  That fuel weight is not just carried by the left side suspension. It's carried by both sides in

 proportion to the fuel load moment.

 

Based on that analysis, I don't think the fuel weight is causing all the rear suspension left and right  height difference.

 

tjg79 Enthusiast

tjg79

Posted
  • Author
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The weight of a US gallon of unleaded gasoline is closer to 6.25 lbs. That equates to a fuel load of about 241 lbs.

casey.mikl Enthusiast

casey.mikl

Posted
Posted

The issue is that weight over the time span of when the truck is new. That extra weight over time has caused sag in the driver side spring. There’s many variables that can cause the lean. As also stated any time the truck is driven, you or someone is always in the driver seat. Thus adding more weight to the driver side. Over time causes sag and fatigue on the springs.


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tjg79 Enthusiast

tjg79

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1 hour ago, casey.mikl said:

The issue is that weight over the time span of when the truck is new. That extra weight over time has caused sag in the driver side spring. There’s many variables that can cause the lean. As also stated any time the truck is driven, you or someone is always in the driver seat. Thus adding more weight to the driver side. Over time causes sag and fatigue on the springs.


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Should I replace the torsion bars and leaf springs due to the truck's age to bring it back to original spec?

 

I only have about half the adjustment left on the driver's side torsion bar as I do on the passenger's side. Also, a half inch spacer only  on the driver's side rear leaf spring seems like I'm polishing a turd.

casey.mikl Enthusiast

casey.mikl

Posted
Posted

I wouldn’t replace the Torsion bars as you can just crank them to lift the front of the truck. If the leaf springs and height difference are bothering you that much you can change the rear leaf. Or possibly add weight in the rear to the passenger side. Maybe it will bring it down level



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