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TB lift on 2wd LT

Jeremiah Levy
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Jeremiah Levy Enthusiast

Jeremiah Levy

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Posted

The big difference between a 2021 2wd LT and a 2021 Trail Boss is the length of the Cv axel, right? 

 

I should be able to install Trail Boss shocks, springs, and UCAs with no issue on my 2wd LT, right? 

 

Also once doing that upgrade I would be looking at the Ready Lift 1.75 level kit made for the Trail Boss, not the LT anymore, right? 

 

RSVolcom Enthusiast

RSVolcom

Posted
Posted (edited)

Living in California, I still don't understanding lifting a 2x4 to look like a 4x4 but that just my opinion.  I'm sure all of your questions will be answered.  

Edited by RSVolcom
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Jeremiah Levy Enthusiast

Jeremiah Levy

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1 hour ago, RSVolcom said:

Living in California, I still don't understanding lifting a 2x4 to look like a 4x4 but that just my opinion.  I'm sure all of your questions will be answered.  

 

I'm not going rock crawling or anything too wild but need to be able to get out on some property from time to time. Why pay 55 for a truck when I can get what I need for 43?

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Rob Mugs Enthusiast

Rob Mugs

Posted
Posted

Why add a factory suspension to immediately mod it?  You'd likely kill the warranty anyway.  Just my 2 pennies, but I would likely just get a lift kit that does exactly what you want to start

Gangly Senior Enthusiast

Gangly

Posted
Posted

You can do the factory suspension lift, but since you would be tossing the extended CV's you would in effect be spending over a grand for 4 shocks, which is absolutely silly.  Purchase the adjustable Bilsteins, Eibachs, or any other brand shock that is superior to the factory offerings and save $500.

 

PS.  I understand wanting to lift a 2wd a tad, they look a ton better with a little added height.  However, know that your ground clearance will change minimally.  If you are looking for ground clearance, your gonna need to increase your tire diameter.

Grumpy Bear Senior Enthusiast

Grumpy Bear

Posted
Posted

I haven't looked as I don't have a need to but Bell or another by now or soon will have lift and/or drop knuckles. I do have a set on my 2015 2WD. Suspension changes are two ends of a crap covered stick. When you change one thing, you change a bunch of others you didn't intend too but can't avoid. 

 

For example when you lift or lower with preload all four A arms change angles and the intersections of these angles which changes things like scrub radius, roll, static and instant center. Preload. Rebound and compression ranges. Bump stop limits. CV axle angles for FWD. Knuckles keep most things as GM intended and engineered. 

 

Just say 'n. Think it all the way through. What will it change and how do I compensate for that change and will that compensation change something else and...and....

 

The puzzle can be solved 😉 

 

 

Jeremiah Levy Enthusiast

Jeremiah Levy

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Posted

I guess to clarify a guy locally put a bds kit on his trail boss with 400mi and is selling all his stock parts for $100. Figured that would be easier and cheaper than any other lift I was looking at. Also as noted the lift is mainly for tires and ground clearance. Lots of cactus and Mesquite on the property. 

Gangly Senior Enthusiast

Gangly

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Jeremiah Levy said:

I guess to clarify a guy locally put a bds kit on his trail boss with 400mi and is selling all his stock parts for $100. Figured that would be easier and cheaper than any other lift I was looking at. Also as noted the lift is mainly for tires and ground clearance. Lots of cactus and Mesquite on the property. 

Gotcha.  Again though, being a 2WD truck that you will be taking in the fields and what-not, your most valuable clearance will be the clearance between the rear axle and the ground.  With that being known, no amount if lift will increase that rear axle clearance.  If your truly doing this for clearance reasons, skip the lift and go for larger diameter tires since that is the only way to increase your rear axle clearances and keep you from bottoming out the rear axle in ruts or mud and high centering you.

Amcguy1970 Enthusiast

Amcguy1970

Posted
Posted
20 hours ago, RSVolcom said:

Living in California, I still don't understanding lifting a 2x4 to look like a 4x4 but that just my opinion.  I'm sure all of your questions will be answered.  

 

I don't understand people who buy a 4wd and never use it (which is most down south) just to say they have it. Much rather someone make their 2wd look like a 4wd knowing they are never going to need it than some box checker wanting 4wd for the discussion aspect as their kids soccer games and never using it; all that means is there is one less 4wd out there for those that actually need and use it to choose from.

 

Tyler

KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
Posted
10 minutes ago, Amcguy1970 said:

 

I don't understand people who buy a 4wd and never use it (which is most down south) just to say they have it. Much rather someone make their 2wd look like a 4wd knowing they are never going to need it than some box checker wanting 4wd for the discussion aspect as their kids soccer games and never using it; all that means is there is one less 4wd out there for those that actually need and use it to choose from.

 

Tyler

So, you think you only need 4WD for snow? You never been in the gumbo down south. I remember growing up in NJ. During deer season. The way they did it was they would line up and drive the deer to the road by foot and shoot. In Texas they actually have stands in the woods. There’s lots of hunting camps and leases. I know I did lots of clearing on ROWs and hunting camps. Generalization about why just shows lack of knowledge about the subject. I can easily get through snow in a Subaru. Mud not so much.

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newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 7/20/2021 at 10:35 AM, Jeremiah Levy said:

The big difference between a 2021 2wd LT and a 2021 Trail Boss is the length of the Cv axel, right? 

 

I should be able to install Trail Boss shocks, springs, and UCAs with no issue on my 2wd LT, right? 

 

Also once doing that upgrade I would be looking at the Ready Lift 1.75 level kit made for the Trail Boss, not the LT anymore, right? 

 

 

2 hours ago, Jeremiah Levy said:

I guess to clarify a guy locally put a bds kit on his trail boss with 400mi and is selling all his stock parts for $100. Figured that would be easier and cheaper than any other lift I was looking at. Also as noted the lift is mainly for tires and ground clearance. Lots of cactus and Mesquite on the property. 

 

 

So.  If you were shopping new (which you aren't hence your killer price for the stock parts) GM DOES sell BOTH a 2WD and 4WD version of the Trail Boss suspension upgrade kit.  The only difference being the 4x4 kit comes with new CV axles. 

 

Chances are the takeoff parts will fit, however...What is the exact configuration of your LT?  Extended, crew, 2.7, 4.3, 5.3, 3.0 diesel, 6.2?

Edited by newdude
Jeremiah Levy Enthusiast

Jeremiah Levy

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Posted
2 hours ago, newdude said:

 

 

 

So.  If you were shopping new (which you aren't hence your killer price for the stock parts) GM DOES sell BOTH a 2WD and 4WD version of the Trail Boss suspension upgrade kit.  The only difference being the 4x4 kit comes with new CV axles. 

 

Chances are the takeoff parts will fit, however...What is the exact configuration of your LT?  Extended, crew, 2.7, 4.3, 5.3, 3.0 diesel, 6.2?

Crew, 5. 3, short bed

newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted
28 minutes ago, Jeremiah Levy said:

Crew, 5. 3, short bed

 

Gotcha.  Yea so all of those takeoff parts from the Trail Boss you found will fit.  As I mentioned in my other response, the only differences are that the 4x4 kit comes with CV shafts which are obviously not needed on a 2WD truck.

 

That said.  You will need the following parts to make all of those takeoff Trail Boss parts work:

 

- 4 new U bolts.  GM U-bolts are 1 time use.  11602109 is the # for the Trail Boss U-bolts.

 

- Because you have an LT, you will NEED new rear leaf springs.  The Trail Boss rear parts DO NOT work with the LT's composite leaf springs which are found on 5.3 powered LT trim level trucks (aka your truck).  The Trail Boss steel spring replacement kit is 84768245.

Jeremiah Levy Enthusiast

Jeremiah Levy

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
10 minutes ago, newdude said:

 

Gotcha.  Yea so all of those takeoff parts from the Trail Boss you found will fit.  As I mentioned in my other response, the only differences are that the 4x4 kit comes with CV shafts which are obviously not needed on a 2WD truck.

 

That said.  You will need the following parts to make all of those takeoff Trail Boss parts work:

 

- 4 new U bolts.  GM U-bolts are 1 time use.  11602109 is the # for the Trail Boss U-bolts.

 

- Because you have an LT, you will NEED new rear leaf springs.  The Trail Boss rear parts DO NOT work with the LT's composite leaf springs which are found on 5.3 powered LT trim level trucks (aka your truck).  The Trail Boss steel spring replacement kit is 84768245.

 

Awesome, Thank you!

 

He's actually keeping the rear blocks so could I just buy a rear lift for an LT and it would all stay kosher or do I 100% need rear steel leafs? I think I had read on another thread wither it was stock or blocked the rear leaf's should incur much of a difference if any at all, its roughly the same amount of connective area?

 

 

Edited by Jeremiah Levy
added link
newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted (edited)
26 minutes ago, Jeremiah Levy said:

 

Awesome, Thank you!

 

He's actually keeping the rear blocks so could I just buy a rear lift for an LT and it would all stay kosher or do I 100% need rear steel leafs? I think I had read on another thread wither it was stock or blocked the rear leaf's should incur much of a difference if any at all, its roughly the same amount of connective area?

 

 

 

 

Honestly I wish I could provide more insight as to why that is.  

 

I'm just going by the installation instructions from the GM Service Manuals for the Trail Boss kits.

 

Quote

 

TRUCKS WITH A COMPOSITE REAR LEAF SPRING REQUIRE THE ADDITIONAL STEEL LEAF SPRING KIT:

  • Chevrolet LT Trim with 5.3L V8 (L84) Engine
  • Chevrolet LT Trim, 2WD, Crew Cab, Short Bed with 3.0L Turbo Diesel (LM2) Engine and Z85 Suspension

 

  • LT trim with 5.3L V8 engine (L84) requires additional steel leaf spring kit

 

 

 

The theories in the first post in that thread you linked seem the most plausible.  Sadly, only GM seems to know why this is.  

 

I do know that the LT 5.3 got the composite springs for weight reduction on their volume 5.3 trim level.  Other engines on the LT and then loads of other trims don't use the composites at all, they are all steel springs.    

Edited by newdude
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