Can I lower my Adaptive Ride Control truck 2"?

[wewhit]

I'm new here and just tried to search for this topic, but didn't find anything so here goes.  I just bought a 2021 High Country 1500 4wd with the 3.0 Duramax and Adaptive Ride control.  I want to lower it 2" all around and the kits I've seen so far say will not fit with adaptive ride.  Can anyone explain the issues of lowering a truck with ARC and what it might take to lower one?  I had a 2019 High Country 6.2 4wd and lowered it as soon as I got it and really liked the look. A pic of the 2019 is below.  

 

Thanks

[kodiakdenali]

In in case anyone has any information!

 

I think the issue is just the sensors, it actually should be pretty easy to resolve, but waiting on companies to actually get it done. if you just lower the truck with ARC the ride height sensors will basically read that as the suspension is always compressed and will respond by stiffening the stocks ruining the ride, might cause premature wear also, not really sure. also possibly throw error codes as the truck might interpret that as a sensor failure. there is at least one kit out there for raising an ARC truck, to solve the arc problem all it does is add a bracket which moves the sensor attachment point to compensate for the new ride height so the sensors still correctly detect the truck's suspension as its resting position when that's actually the case. lowering should be solvable the same way, you just need to adjust the attachment point for the sensor. but as far as I know no such kit exists yet for lowering. I would like to lower my Denali at some point.

[NoLand]

Don’t have ARC, but curious what parts you used to lower it.


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[wewhit]

6 hours ago, NoLand said:

Don’t have ARC, but curious what parts you used to lower it.


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I used BelTech drop spindles on the front and shackles on the rear.  I think they see both as a kit now, but I got them separately on Ebay.  Easy install with 22" wheels.  Some smaller wheels require a thinner nut on the lower ball joint and you may need to trim the end of the ball joint stud for wheel clearance.  The thinner nut is supplied with the spindles.

[wewhit]

8 hours ago, kodiakdenali said:

In in case anyone has any information!

 

I think the issue is just the sensors, it actually should be pretty easy to resolve, but waiting on companies to actually get it done. if you just lower the truck with ARC the ride height sensors will basically read that as the suspension is always compressed and will respond by stiffening the stocks ruining the ride, might cause premature wear also, not really sure. also possibly throw error codes as the truck might interpret that as a sensor failure. there is at least one kit out there for raising an ARC truck, to solve the arc problem all it does is add a bracket which moves the sensor attachment point to compensate for the new ride height so the sensors still correctly detect the truck's suspension as its resting position when that's actually the case. lowering should be solvable the same way, you just need to adjust the attachment point for the sensor. but as far as I know no such kit exists yet for lowering. I would like to lower my Denali at some point.

I wondered about changing the location of the sensors.  When I can get it up on a lift, I'll look into it.

Thanks for the info on the lift kit!  It makes sense then that a similar fix would work for lowering it.

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

[lowpro]

Your previous truck looks perfect - love the stance. Have been researching this as well. Exactly what I am looking to do w/ my 2021. I just sent switch suspension this question. Will update if/when I hear back from them. Otherwise I will talk w/ my local guy who has dropped a lot of magnaride trucks. I assume it is a fairly similar setup as kodiakdenali said.

[lowpro]

I inquired about the Belltech 2/2 kit and this was their response:

"The 2/2 will work with adaptive ride. The Denali that is pictured with that kit is a friend of ours that we did the install on."

Edited April 3, 2021 by lowpro

[kodiakdenali]

On 4/3/2021 at 10:17 AM, lowpro said:

I inquired about the Belltech 2/2 kit and this was their response:

"The 2/2 will work with adaptive ride. The Denali that is pictured with that kit is a friend of ours that we did the install on."

very interesting..and a great look too. so I guess this is 2" front and rear so its lowered but retains the rake? I could probably live with that. which kit exactly is this? I'd enjoy hearing from anyone else who has this done how it is, good quality? I wonder what the cost is to install something like this...if I could get my truck lowered a bit id get the look I want and also be able to remove the power steps which I don't really care for.

[wewhit]

On 4/5/2021 at 12:25 PM, kodiakdenali said:

very interesting..and a great look too. so I guess this is 2" front and rear so its lowered but retains the rake? I could probably live with that. which kit exactly is this? I'd enjoy hearing from anyone else who has this done how it is, good quality? I wonder what the cost is to install something like this...if I could get my truck lowered a bit id get the look I want and also be able to remove the power steps which I don't really care for.

Interesting that they said that it would work with Adaptive ride when all the ads I've seen says it won't, BUT, the spindles do not change the relationship of the upper control arm to the frame on the front, so it should not throw codes and be fine.  As for the back, the shackles will change the position of the rear axle in relation to the frame, so I think there may be a need to change the length of the links or re-calibrate the control module.  Thoughts?

[wewhit]

Here's the '21 from the same angle as the '19.

[Geti]

I just lowered my 2023 gmc sierra ultimate denali with arc and the ride is very stiff

i used the rough country 1.5-2" drop shackle. Truck looks good leveled but ride sucks, and the drivetrain vibrates at 25-30mph. Going back to stock shackle.