Dealer won’t install leveling kit

hoghead4349 · February 3, 2022

I have had several Silverado

that this Chevy dealer installed 2” leveling kit called today to have one installed on My 2021 RST and they said no more two many coming back with broken control arms. What are your guys opinions on this should I not do it.

Gangly · February 3, 2022

Leveling kits on non TB's and AT4's have no issues. If you own a TB or AT4, be mindful that yo udont raise it to much more as you will most likely experience UCA issues over time. The install is very simple, you can do it yourself in your driveway.

AD80 · February 3, 2022

If yours is a non at4/ trailboss, and you put a level, you’ll be running the same angles as a factory at4/tb. Those have a factory 2” lift (level) with the same control arms and ball joints that are on a regular non at4. So in other words, ask him if these things are breaking control arms, then what about all the factory at4/tb on the road ?

On the other hand, if you already have an ar4/tb, and you add a level to on top of what you already have, then you might have problems.

Edited February 3, 2022 by AD80

todd308 · February 12, 2022

Yep that's really the issue, guys that already have a 2" spacer lift that come on the TB/AT4's are putting another 2" on it, basically spacer lifting the truck 4" without adjusting drivetrain angles and things break. If you want to level a TB/AT4 the correct way is to put a real 2.5" lift on it that has a diff drop. That or remove the 2" spacer out of the back. You can do a 1.75-2" level, and replace the upper control arms, but all you really do is move buy some time because the failure point will be the CV joints. Blame GM for taking the cheapest possible route to lift the truck 2"

Edited February 12, 2022 by todd308

hoghead4349 · February 12, 2022

So I should be ok with a 1.5” for a non AT4/Trailboss?

AJMBLAZER · February 12, 2022

1 hour ago, todd308 said:

Yep that's really the issue, guys that already have a 2" spacer lift that come on the TB/AT4's are putting another 2" on it, basically spacer lifting the truck 4" without adjusting drivetrain angles and things break. If you want to level a TB/AT4 the correct way is to put a real 2.5" lift on it that has a diff drop. That or remove the 2" spacer out of the back. You can do a 1.75-2" level, and replace the upper control arms, but all you really do is move buy some time because the failure point will be the CV joints. Blame GM for taking the cheapest possible route to lift the truck 2"

GM didn’t use spacers.

todd308 · February 13, 2022

It's not a spacer but it's nothing more than a longer strut assembly but with the same shock travel. So while it might not be a spacer, it has the exact same effect, there's no more wheel travel and no benefit to the suspension at all, they just made the fixed shafts longer. In the rear all they did was shove a spacer block in.

Showing again just how far behind GM is falling. While the other big manufacturers have gone to real suspension travel increases, with linkage rear end suspension, allowing for less squat towing, better bump compliance, and way more wheel articulation. GM is starting to catching up with the ZR2/AT4-X to where the raptor suspension was 10 years ago, except they still have way less wheel travel.

Edited February 13, 2022 by todd308

AJMBLAZER · February 13, 2022

No, they designed the suspension so that it can accommodate that taller ride height.

2wd, 4x4, Z71, and Trailboss all use the same mounts, A-arms, series of coils and struts, and alignment parts.

Drop your truck? Realign it.
Raise it up to Trailboss height? Realign it.

Comparing the regular model suspension to the Raptor is apples and oranges. One is a pickup truck and the other is next step to a factory prerunner.

todd308 · February 13, 2022

There's a reason why you can put a 2" level on a stock silverado/GMC (non AT4-TB) and never have an issue with ball joints, cv joints, UCA's but if you do the same thing to a AT4/TB we see guys with front wheels coming off, upper ball joints failing, CV joint issues. The upper ball joint angles are already bad on a AT4/TB stock. If the suspension and drivetrain angles were adjusted for the extra lift on the TB/AT4 we wouldn't see this happening only on those models. You also wouldn't see lift/level companies giving special restrictions only when levels are used on the TB/AT4 like don't use 4-auto etc.

There's a reason dealers that are happy to install level kits on non AT4/TB pickups refuse to do so on AT4/TB's. If the suspension angles were the same, it wouldn't matter what model it was.

It's why when you go to Ready Lift's webpage and look up options for a 2021 silverado they offer 2" level kits without UCA's and with zero restrictions, but if you look for options with a TB/AT4 your only option is a 1.75" level that includes new UCA's, or a 2" kit that also includes UCA's and the restrictions say not to use 4-auto.

"When combining a traditional leveling kit on these factory lifted trucks, several issues present themselves including binding problems with the factory control arm ball joint and contact concerns with the lower strut/CV axle assembly." Strait from RL's webpage.

Head to Rough Country's webpage and you'll find the only level they offer for the TB/AT4 is a 1.5", their 2" kit specifically says not to use it on TB/AT4

Now personally I think GM has a UCA/upper ball joint weakness issue, and 5-10 years from now we'll probably see these have issues even on stock AT4/TB trucks (we've already seen a couple failures on stock AT4's posted), but putting a level on increases the likelihood of failure, even more so with the AT4/TB. If I was putting a level in any of these trucks, considering once you do GM is not going to cover a UCA/ball joint/CV failure or any other driveline/suspension damage that happens, I'd be replacing the UCA's, partly because I don't want to have a suspension failure and be stranded somewhere or have it cause an accident (hard to steer with only 1 front wheel on) and partly because if there is a failure GM isn't going to cover it. We've already seen posts on the FB AT4/TB groups that dealers have gotten notices from GM to not cover any front end suspension/drivetrain issues if a level is installed.

Edited February 13, 2022 by todd308

AD80 · February 13, 2022

The new zr2 and at4x both will have the dssv shocks, and looks like they will also use the same uca and ball joints as the other standard trucks. I also heard on one of the reviews that the zr2 will be.an inch higher than the trailboss. They are obviously marketing these as aggressive off road trucks that will see some tough riding. you’d think they would have put stronger ucas and ball joints on them if they are a weak point.

todd308 · February 13, 2022

It all depends on if they adjust the angles, it's the extreme angles that usually make those parts fail. I'd be very surprised to see the upper ball joint angles be the same or worse (since it's 1" taller yet) than the TB/AT4 is now. CV angles are the same, if they drop the diff a bit, or I'm sure adjust any number of other items that impact suspension geometry and correct the CV angles they also will be more durable.

AD80 · February 13, 2022

42 minutes ago, todd308 said:

It all depends on if they adjust the angles, it's the extreme angles that usually make those parts fail. I'd be very surprised to see the upper ball joint angles be the same or worse (since it's 1" taller yet) than the TB/AT4 is now. CV angles are the same, if they drop the diff a bit, or I'm sure adjust any number of other items that impact suspension geometry and correct the CV angles they also will be more durable.

They could have. Their is a YouTube review, I think it was tfl, where they were showing the shocks up close and there was a good view of the uca. To me, it didn’t look any different than the other trucks, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t.

supercooper · May 25, 2022

I bought a new 2018 Silverado with a dealer-installed 69 3414 ready lift 69 3414. The truck was taken to the dealer for regular maintenance and I did mention the noise but was told it was nothing even though the tech noticed wear on the tires, they neglected to inspect, and I don't think they know how or what to do. Left front tire fell off last week with just over 60k and of course dealer states no warranty coverage as it was not maintained. I will fight it, any help for my plea appreciated.

dc

supercooper · May 25, 2022

what about a 4inch on a 2018 Silverado 1500

Nestor Romero · May 25, 2022

On 2/3/2022 at 7:54 AM, hoghead4349 said:

I have had several Silverado

that this Chevy dealer installed 2” leveling kit called today to have one installed on My 2021 RST and they said no more two many coming back with broken control arms. What are your guys opinions on this should I not do it.

Could be a legitimate reason.

have you considered buying the 2” OEM lift as the one the trail boss comes with?

It might cost a little more but I’m sure they will install it without hesitation and you will have peace of mind.