OEM specified ride height.

Ronjon · December 18, 2022

Does anyone have the OEM specifications for the factory ride height? Bottom of the fender to center hub. Different engine weights may cause sag or to sit higher than others. It'd be nice if the stock and max (4") measurements by the manufacturer were easier to obtain.

A lot of Coilover lifts are adjustable and I don't want to exceed a 3" lift in the front.

Amcguy1970 · December 18, 2022

21 minutes ago, Ronjon said:

Does anyone have the OEM specifications for the factory ride height? Bottom of the fender to center hub. Different engine weights may cause sag or to sit higher than others. It'd be nice if the stock and max (4") measurements by the manufacturer were easier to obtain.

A lot of Coilover lifts are adjustable and I don't want to exceed a 3" lift in the front.

You really shouldn't exceed 2", those stacking kits north of 2" are hit or miss having problems.

Tyler

Ronjon · December 18, 2022

3 minutes ago, Amcguy1970 said:

You really shouldn't exceed 2", those stacking kits north of 2" are hit or miss having problems.

Tyler

What is a "stacking kit"? Like strut spacers? The kind that preload?

Amcguy1970 · December 19, 2022

On 12/18/2022 at 2:38 PM, Ronjon said:

What is a "stacking kit"? Like strut spacers? The kind that preload?

The Trailboss/AT4 is basically a strut leveling kit (similar to Bilstein) and that is at 2", then these guys want to sit level so they add another 1-2" on there with another kit (IE a spacer either on top or bottom); so they are over 2" and it can hit or miss cause problems. GM uses the same control arms for both a stock truck and a TB/AT4 and that is 2", anything over you are really pushing the boundaries of the front suspension. If you don't off road much at all and it is mostly for looks then chances are you will be good for a while, if you off road or tow and haul (which you shouldn't be level at that point) then you can cause front suspension issues. The TB/AT4 also includes longer CV axles btw.

Point is anything over 2" whether stacking kits or a single large adjustable coil over can impact the front suspension and steering and wear out sooner, make noises or fail.

Tyler

newdude · December 21, 2022

On 12/18/2022 at 3:11 PM, Ronjon said:

Does anyone have the OEM specifications for the factory ride height? Bottom of the fender to center hub. Different engine weights may cause sag or to sit higher than others. It'd be nice if the stock and max (4") measurements by the manufacturer were easier to obtain.

A lot of Coilover lifts are adjustable and I don't want to exceed a 3" lift in the front.

On 12/19/2022 at 4:50 PM, Amcguy1970 said:

The Trailboss/AT4 is basically a strut leveling kit (similar to Bilstein) and that is at 2", then these guys want to sit level so they add another 1-2" on there with another kit (IE a spacer either on top or bottom); so they are over 2" and it can hit or miss cause problems. GM uses the same control arms for both a stock truck and a TB/AT4 and that is 2", anything over you are really pushing the boundaries of the front suspension. If you don't off road much at all and it is mostly for looks then chances are you will be good for a while, if you off road or tow and haul (which you shouldn't be level at that point) then you can cause front suspension issues. The TB/AT4 also includes longer CV axles btw.

Point is anything over 2" whether stacking kits or a single large adjustable coil over can impact the front suspension and steering and wear out sooner, make noises or fail.

Tyler

Yep. Any level over 2 inches on a non Trail Boss/AT4 needs arms. Any level on a Trail Boss/AT4 needs arms. GM has denied many a warranty on TB/AT4 for ball joint failure with leveling kits on them.

@Ronjon

As for factory ride height, it varies significantly based on the cab, 2wd or 4wd and the factory tire option installed on the truck.

What configuration is your truck? What is the OE tire size and brand if still on it?

Edited December 21, 2022 by newdude

DenaliBQ · December 21, 2022

So AT4X with a 1.5" level needs control arms as well with factory wheels and tires ?

Ronjon · December 21, 2022

23 minutes ago, newdude said:

@Ronjon

As for factory ride height, it varies significantly based on the cab, 2wd or 4wd and the factory tire option installed on the truck.

What configuration is your truck? What is the OE tire size and brand if still on it?

2020 Silverado crew cab, short bed, 3.0 Duramax, z71, 265/65r18 bright silver OEM wheels. Front wheels sit a 21.75" fender to center hub, rear wheels sit 23" fender to center hub. Measured on a level concrete surface. From what I read it seems relatively low to everyone else. When I install the coilovers next month I wanna know I did a true 3" lift in the front. Btw I have aftermarket UCA's with Moog 1 ton problem solvers going with the coils.

I'll attach a photo, no suspension mods have been done yet.

newdude · December 21, 2022

1 hour ago, Ronjon said:

2020 Silverado crew cab, short bed, 3.0 Duramax, z71, 265/65r18 bright silver OEM wheels. Front wheels sit a 21.75" fender to center hub, rear wheels sit 23" fender to center hub. Measured on a level concrete surface. From what I read it seems relatively low to everyone else. When I install the coilovers next month I wanna know I did a true 3" lift in the front. Btw I have aftermarket UCA's with Moog 1 ton problem solvers going with the coils.

I'll attach a photo, no suspension mods have been done yet.

So GM measures from the ground to the bottom of the fender on the hub center line. They call it P height for the front and R height for the rear.

For a crew cab short box 4x4 non Trail Boss with P265/65R18 its 37.40 in front, plus or minus 0.55". For the rear its 38.50 in plus or minus 0.55". The cross height difference, so between left and right should be no more than plus or minus 0.47" front and plus or minus 0.47" rear.

These should be taken with a full tank of fuel, tire pressures set to the door jamb, level as possible ground and no occupants.

Edited December 21, 2022 by newdude