Sierra 2019 SLE - Factory shims installed correctly or not.

Vitaly Antonov · November 27, 2020

Hello everyone,

I will try to keep it accurate and concise.

I had my truck serviced at the dealership, the service department claims they found that the rear shims and blocks were installed 180 degrees incorrectly (the small end towards the front)

Later I had the shop where I originally had my lift kit installed taking a look at the 'problem', they claim they had nothing to do with the shims being installed incorrectly.

At this point I'll be removing the blocks and my question is: Should the big end of the shim be facing the front of the truck?

(Picture taken from the rear-passenger side)

Edited November 27, 2020 by Vitaly Antonov

Rocky-X · November 27, 2020

Haven't lifted my Silverado yet, but I did install a lift & shims on my previous vehicle (Xterra) and from my understanding you install the smaller end/bladed end of the shim towards the front. That appears to be the way you have it shown in the photo so that SHOULD be the correct way from what I understand. I'm assuming you don't have any vibrations?

Vitaly Antonov · November 28, 2020

At this point, I'll be removing the leveling kit completely and returning the truck to its stock state.

The picture above shows what is currently happening, and the dealer states that the shims and the blocks are installed 180 degrees incorrectly.

Now to complicate things further, I just got of the phone with the dealer... to return the truck to its stock state, the shims are to be removed completely and factory 1.5" blocks are to be put instead of the 3" blocks.

I was under the impression that those are factory shims and had no idea the truck even had factory 1.5" blocks.

I called the shop where the leveling kit was installed, they confirmed that those shims were already there when I first came in

and no factory 1.5" blocks were installed at the time.

I tried to look it up online, to see whether or not 2019 SLEs (new gen) come factory shims and/or factory 1.5" blocks,

No luck so far.

*The leveling kit originally installed is a KSP 3" leveling kit. No shims included in the original package.

A mystery...

JimCost2014 · November 28, 2020

3 hours ago, Vitaly Antonov said:

At this point, I'll be removing the leveling kit completely and returning the truck to its stock state.

The picture above shows what is currently happening, and the dealer states that the shims and the blocks are installed 180 degrees incorrectly.

Now to complicate things further, I just got of the phone with the dealer... to return the truck to its stock state, the shims are to be removed completely and factory 1.5" blocks are to be put instead of the 3" blocks.

I was under the impression that those are factory shims and had no idea the truck even had factory 1.5" blocks.

I called the shop where the leveling kit was installed, they confirmed that those shims were already there when I first came in

and no factory 1.5" blocks were installed at the time.

I tried to look it up online, to see whether or not 2019 SLEs (new gen) come factory shims and/or factory 1.5" blocks,

No luck so far.

*The leveling kit originally installed is a KSP 3" leveling kit. No shims included in the original package.

A mystery...

Here is the parts that come from the factory:

JimCost2014 · November 28, 2020

Think this is the part in question:

Edited November 29, 2020 by JimCost2014

Vitaly Antonov · November 28, 2020

That helps! Thanks.

lapoolboy · November 28, 2020

I assume you have an AT4/TB? If so, yes, the block in the last picture is the factory-installed part. Of course, the regular trucks don't have the blocks.

The shims are installed correctly.

Jeremy Lowery · November 28, 2020

If this is an SLE as titled...then the small end of the shims should be pointing towards the rear. Large end pointing toward front. It angles the rear diff/axle slightly to achieve the correct pinion angle.

There were no blocks installed from factory on your model. Your dealership must be confusing it with the previous generation Sierra which had factory 1" blocks.

What is the problems that you are experiencing?

Edited November 28, 2020 by Jeremy Lowery
Clarification

Vitaly Antonov · November 28, 2020

The problem I experience feels like the tranny is slipping/stumble at light acceleration (around 40-50 km/h).

My local GM service department claims they couldn't duplicate the issue and instead they found a vibration problem at those same speeds (I assuming they classify my slipping/stumble issue as a vibration problem.. whatever). Now, according to that same GM dealer, I need to remove that shim and the 3" block that's currently there, and put a factory 1" block.

I've just looked at another 2019 Sierra SLE, and a 2019 Silverado Custom (both new Gen.), neither of these trucks have factory blocks installed. Instead, they have factory shims installed with the large end pointing toward the front.

What I dont understand is why would they try to convince me removing the shim and putting a factory block in there?

Its obvious to me that the new Gen Base, SLE and Elevation trim level models come with factory shims and no blocks installed what so ever..