GM 2" lift kit questions

streetglider · January 1, 2021

I have a 2020 Silverado 1500 WT Crew Cab that had the 2" lift suspension upgrade system for 4WD vehicles (Part No. : 84768243) installed on it by the dealer when I bought it. It had Chevy 22" wheels with aftermarket 33" tires installed on it as well. I confirmed that all of this would be covered by the warranty before the purchase. I don't know much about lifted trucks and mainly purchased the truck as my boys liked it. Recently, in a Facebook group, I have been reading that this model truck with even a moderate lift is causing problems with ball joints due to the change in the suspension dynamics. The recommendation for people with lifted/leveled trucks is to replace the upper control arms. Should I be concerned about this? Again, I don't know a thing about lifts but from looking at what was included in the suspension system installed it didn't include UCAs. I would probably need someone else to put them on if it is recommended on this forum too.

walshie · January 1, 2021

With that 2 inch factory lift, you have basically a trail boss suspension wise. So I wouldn't worry.

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lapoolboy · January 2, 2021

That's a GM kit and the engineers didn't seem it necessary to have new UCAs.

streetglider · January 2, 2021

Thanks, I appreciate the replies. I have owned several Chevy trucks but they were always completely stock. I am enjoying this one so far.

newdude · January 2, 2021

3 hours ago, streetglider said:

I have a 2020 Silverado 1500 WT Crew Cab that had the 2" lift suspension upgrade system for 4WD vehicles (Part No. : 84768243) installed on it by the dealer when I bought it. It had Chevy 22" wheels with aftermarket 33" tires installed on it as well. I confirmed that all of this would be covered by the warranty before the purchase. I don't know much about lifted trucks and mainly purchased the truck as my boys liked it. Recently, in a Facebook group, I have been reading that this model truck with even a moderate lift is causing problems with ball joints due to the change in the suspension dynamics. The recommendation for people with lifted/leveled trucks is to replace the upper control arms. Should I be concerned about this? Again, I don't know a thing about lifts but from looking at what was included in the suspension system installed it didn't include UCAs. I would probably need someone else to put them on if it is recommended on this forum too.

No issue should be had unless...you add a level to the Trail Boss kit. The guys with failures have a Trail Boss or add the Trail Boss kit from GM and then add a leveling kit. That leveling kit is what blows out those upper ball joints.

You will be fine as long as you don't add in a leveling kit to the front end.

streetglider · January 2, 2021

Thanks. I won't be adding a leveling kit. I may add some appearance type mods but nothing more than that.

Rob Mugs · January 2, 2021

1 hour ago, newdude said:

No issue should be had unless...you add a level to the Trail Boss kit. The guys with failures have a Trail Boss or add the Trail Boss kit from GM and then add a leveling kit. That leveling kit is what blows out those upper ball joints.

You will be fine as long as you don't add in a leveling kit to the front end.

+1 to what he said. Keep it "stock" and you'll be going for many, many miles

lapoolboy · January 2, 2021

2 hours ago, newdude said:

No issue should be had unless...you add a level to the Trail Boss kit. The guys with failures have a Trail Boss or add the Trail Boss kit from GM and then add a leveling kit. That leveling kit is what blows out those upper ball joints.

You will be fine as long as you don't add in a leveling kit to the front end.

Or, replace the UCAs and install a leveling kit.

Duramax3oh · January 3, 2021

Glad OP got that settled, you shouldn't have any problems.

The GM 2" lift comes with new CV axles. I know this has probably been discussed a million times but what exactly do they change from the original stock ones (I believe it's the angle)? Does 2" create enough stress on the original cv axles though? Ie the Bilstein 5100/6112 front strut replacement with 2" lift. Would we really need to get the "trail boss" cv axles or is that not a problem to worry about?

lapoolboy · January 4, 2021

1 hour ago, Duramax3oh said:

Glad OP got that settled, you shouldn't have any problems.

The GM 2" lift comes with new CV axles. I know this has probably been discussed a million times but what exactly do they change from the original stock ones (I believe it's the angle)? Does 2" create enough stress on the original cv axles though? Ie the Bilstein 5100/6112 front strut replacement with 2" lift. Would we really need to get the "trail boss" cv axles or is that not a problem to worry about?

The included axles are longer.

I share your confusion, it seems to me that if the TB/AT4 trucks already have these longer axles, why can't we bolt in the "non-TB/AT4" Bilsteins that give 2" lift? The regular trucks can get the full 2" with the "short" axles, but the TB/AT4 can only get 1.1" lift with the longer axles. Makes no sense to me. Once the struts are out, the only thing left making it a TB/AT4 are the marginally longer axles.

Blee · January 4, 2021

It looks like Im the last one to know the 84768243 has been discontinued. I ordered one last week and the order was canceled. I should have ordered it a few months ago.

Edited January 4, 2021 by Blee

kpromero · January 5, 2021

My service department approved a level kit with the lift kit that comes from the factory on the AT4 I am about to purchase. Told me they do them all the time and has had no issues.

Firehawk99 · January 5, 2021

I have a 2020 trail boss that I installed the Moto Fab 1" leveling kit on. So far I have about 5,000 miles on it with no issues at all. I check the ball joints in the uca's from time to time and all seems well. The angle on them looks pretty good too. This is a picture of the ball joint on the uca with the 1" lift installed.

ausomecasey · January 5, 2021

18 hours ago, Blee said:

It looks like Im the last one to know the 84768243 has been discontinued. I ordered one last week and the order was canceled. I should have ordered it a few months ago.

Whoa, are you sure? I still see it on the Chevy Accessories page. I was planning on adding the TB lift to my LTZ this spring. If that’s true, then that will really really suck.

Blee · January 5, 2021

I saw it on a few websites this weekend. I tried to order one place and it said discontinued. I was able to order from another and it canceled the order yesterday. I did order from another GM outlet yesterday and so far it hasn’t been canceled. Maybe they’re a few still around. Someone at a dealer with access to parts might know more.