Factory tires almost rubbing upper control arms after leveling.

cg02175 · September 11, 2022

I have a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 4x4, and I just had the Bilstein 5100 self leveling shocks/struts installed at the highest setting (1.85") on the front. After having the 5100s installed and getting it aligned directly after installation, the sidewall of my factory tires (265/65/18--31.6" tall x 10.4: wide) on my factory stock 18" rims are now very close (1/8' or less) to rubbing my upper control arms at full tilt. Also, I have no other blocks or lift on my truck whatsoever.

I see countless people online saying they put 275/70/18 (i.e. 33" tall x 11" wide) on their stock Silverado rims with no rubbing issues with 2" leveling kits and/or the 5100 leveling shock/strut, but with my stock 265/65/18 tires are already on the verge of rubbing my upper control arms, and the 275/70/18 is over a half inch wider than my factory tire. I feel certain the 275/70/18 will rub the upper control arms.

I like the factory rims and don't really want to buy new rims, and I am also would like to avoid using wheel spacers. What and I missing here? Has anyone else run into this issue? I did a lot of research and thought the 275/70/18 would fit without rubbing, so I am really disappointed. Thanks for any help/advise!

Edited September 11, 2022 by cg02175

Nathan Barr · September 14, 2022

That seems odd to me. I am currently running a 3 inch leveling block in the front, with rough country upper control arms. Tires/wheels are 275/55r/20 on 20x9 aftermarket wheels. Wheels have the same offset as factory. I've got a solid inch when at full lockout. 2014 silverado 1500 z71 4x4

MudLovingSilverado · September 15, 2022

On 9/13/2022 at 8:11 PM, Nathan Barr said:

That seems odd to me. I am currently running a 3 inch leveling block in the front, with rough country upper control arms. Tires/wheels are 275/55r/20 on 20x9 aftermarket wheels. Wheels have the same offset as factory. I've got a solid inch when at full lockout. 2014 silverado 1500 z71 4x4

How do you like the UCAs from Rough Country? I'm looking at them for their 2" leveling struts but I notice it states only 2.5"-3" and its making me have doubts.

Nathan Barr · September 15, 2022

14 hours ago, MudLovingSilverado said:

How do you like the UCAs from Rough Country? I'm looking at them for their 2" leveling struts but I notice it states only 2.5"-3" and its making me have doubts.

To be honest I am a little torn. I like the ride quality better than the stocks arms after installing the leveling kit, that's for sure. However, I am rather bitter when it comes to the actual ball joints themselves. The ball joints are proprietary to Rough Country so you can only get replacements through them directly. On that note as well, when I installed the arms I installed them incorrectly as I forgot to include the little sleeve that they include in the kit. That's my fault and I take full blame. However, when replaced the ball joints due to a torn boot from incorrect install, the boot on the drivers side arm tore again. I got a replacement ball joint and installed and again, it tore on install. I cannot figure out why it's happening but it is.

So I am a bit salty about the ball joints themselves but when working properly, they do offer a nice ride. If I were to go back and do it again I would quite possibly cough up the extra money and go with some different UCA's.

MudLovingSilverado · September 17, 2022

On 9/15/2022 at 1:12 PM, Nathan Barr said:

To be honest I am a little torn. I like the ride quality better than the stocks arms after installing the leveling kit, that's for sure. However, I am rather bitter when it comes to the actual ball joints themselves. The ball joints are proprietary to Rough Country so you can only get replacements through them directly. On that note as well, when I installed the arms I installed them incorrectly as I forgot to include the little sleeve that they include in the kit. That's my fault and I take full blame. However, when replaced the ball joints due to a torn boot from incorrect install, the boot on the drivers side arm tore again. I got a replacement ball joint and installed and again, it tore on install. I cannot figure out why it's happening but it is.

So I am a bit salty about the ball joints themselves but when working properly, they do offer a nice ride. If I were to go back and do it again I would quite possibly cough up the extra money and go with some different UCA's.

So I ordered them. Couldn't pass up the deal and I want to get this level installed quickly. 1 of my arms had a torn boot on arrival. Got real annoyed, hopped back on here, and saw your comment.

But! I went searching and found the attached comment on Rough Country's website. I'm going to order a couple and see if they fit. Hopefully this will solve both our issues.

Nathan Barr · September 17, 2022

1 minute ago, MudLovingSilverado said:

So I ordered them. Couldn't pass up the deal and I want to get this level installed quickly. 1 of my arms had a torn boot on arrival. Got real annoyed, hopped back on here, and saw your comment.

But! I went searching and found the attached comment on Rough Country's website. I'm going to order a couple and see if they fit. Hopefully this will solve both our issues.

Definitely let me know, please! I ordered a different moog model that people recommended for the older style of RC UCA's and it doesn't fit. If that one really does fit I'll be ordering them ad well!

steve76t · October 6, 2022

with a 2" level kit on my 17 I was rubbing slightly with 285/55's on stock 20" wheels. Had to use spacers to get needed clearance. That's no longer on my truck as I now have a 6" Fabtech lift on it & aftermarket wheels with 35" tires

MudLovingSilverado · October 13, 2022

On 9/17/2022 at 6:16 PM, Nathan Barr said:

Definitely let me know, please! I ordered a different moog model that people recommended for the older style of RC UCA's and it doesn't fit. If that one really does fit I'll be ordering them ad well!

Unfortunately, it does look like RC has gone full proprietary on their ball joints and these Moog ones did not fit. I ended up using a Cognito setup with bolt in greaseable ball joints instead because I didn't want to have to be pressing out ball joints every 20,000 miles.

Nathan Barr · October 13, 2022

12 hours ago, MudLovingSilverado said:

Unfortunately, it does look like RC has gone full proprietary on their ball joints and these Moog ones did not fit. I ended up using a Cognito setup with bolt in greaseable ball joints instead because I didn't want to have to be pressing out ball joints every 20,000 miles.

That's weird. I actually ended up ordering 1 ball joint right after I had replied to you. I got it pressed in without any issues. I didn't end up using the snap ring though, since the RC arms don't have that built into them. However, everything else went in fine and I didn't need to use the stupid adapter sleeve that RC provides either. A couple of days later I ordered a 2nd ball joint and pressed that into the passenger side.

Been running them for a couple of weeks now, so far no issues. We will see how they hold up. If they die quickly, I will be eyeing other arms all together.