Lift for 2500HD 4x4 ? 2 Inch poss.

8100 Power · April 20, 2004

Wantin' a 2 inch lift for my HD, ive heard spacers work real well? Do they affect towing capicitys?

1BADHD · April 20, 2004

Spacers? You wont get any lift out of spacers? You can crank up your t-bars and get a small block for the rear. Or a body lift.

CHevyHD4x4 · April 21, 2004

I tow with mine, and its has a 3" bodylift so far so good. And crank the TB's for a little extra in the front or to lever the rear....I did and I also added green keys.

8100 Power · April 22, 2004

I was watchin' a 4x4 show, that is where i got my spacer idea, i only want up a couple of inches.

03GMC2500HD · April 22, 2004

8100 the spacers are used on the 2wd trucks only I believe!

Cheapest way to lift is to crank your torsion bars. Cost is nothing but 10 min time. Result will be about 1.5" of lift and a harsh ride. Spend about $50 and 1 hr. on "green" keys and swap them. Result will be about 2" lift and a slightly stiffer than stock ride but not harsh. Spend a little more $$$ and time and do a body lift. Result will be 2" or 3" of lift with factory ride only a lot of frame showing. Just a couple options!

silverado3500 · April 23, 2004

8100 the spacers are used on the 2wd trucks only I believe!

Cheapest way to lift is to crank your torsion bars. Cost is nothing but 10 min time. Result will be about 1.5" of lift and a harsh ride. Spend about $50 and 1 hr. on "green" keys and swap them. Result will be about 2" lift and a slightly stiffer than stock ride but not harsh. Spend a little more $$$ and time and do a body lift. Result will be 2" or 3" of lift with factory ride only a lot of frame showing. Just a couple options!

The "keys" will affect the ride identical to cranking the t-bars, because in affect you are doing the same thing, (increasing the tension on the torsion bar to acheive lift and stiffening the ride). (the green keys just allows for a greater range of adjustment.) I would strongly NOT suggest cranking more than 1.5" as doing so places a lot of strain on your ball joints.

Better to go with a body lift, or true suspension lift if you want more than 1.5"

hope this helps

03GMC2500HD · April 23, 2004

Silverado3500, are saying that when you installed the green keys it rode and drove the same as when you just cranked your TB's to the max? I find that hard to believe since everyone else has had great results with them. You must have installed or had them set up wrong if they were harsh.

You are not increasing tension on the TB or over cranking the TB by installing the green keys. The only way to increase the tension is if the resistance is increased and the resistance is the weight of the truck. Only thing it does is change where in the suspensions range of motion you ride. You will be riding in the lower part of the suspensions travel or with more droop in the suspension. I have only seen maybe two people post up saying that they problems or parts failing because of the keys and they admitted they were running the snot out of them off road and might have happened anyway. I have yet to see anyone post up saying they destroyed balljoints, CV's or anything by lifting via. TB's with normal driving. Some have had them in for several years and over 100K mi!

8100 was aking for an inexpensive way to level his truck without an expensive suspension lift and green keys are just that and will work just fine.

Granted a suspension lift is the way to go as I plan to soon BUT until I have $1500 to throw down on a lift, the keys work great!

1BADHD · April 23, 2004

I have yet to ride in a truck with green keys, including mine that hasnt rode like a chuck wagon. Just crank your bars 1" or so and call it good. If you want over that get a body lift.

silverado3500 · April 24, 2004

Silverado3500, are saying that when you installed the green keys it rode and drove the same as when you just cranked your TB's to the max? I find that hard to believe since everyone else has had great results with them. You must have installed or had them set up wrong if they were harsh.

You are not increasing tension on the TB or over cranking the TB by installing the green keys. The only way to increase the tension is if the resistance is increased and the resistance is the weight of the truck. Only thing it does is change where in the suspensions range of motion you ride. You will be riding in the lower part of the suspensions travel or with more droop in the suspension. I have only seen maybe two people post up saying that they problems or parts failing because of the keys and they admitted they were running the snot out of them off road and might have happened anyway. I have yet to see anyone post up saying they destroyed balljoints, CV's or anything by lifting via. TB's with normal driving. Some have had them in for several years and over 100K mi!

8100 was aking for an inexpensive way to level his truck without an expensive suspension lift and green keys are just that and will work just fine.

Granted a suspension lift is the way to go as I plan to soon BUT until I have $1500 to throw down on a lift, the keys work great!

Yes, the ride with the keys is identical to cranking the t-bars 2 inches. Because you are doing the same thing. The keys just give you a different range of adjustment with the adjusters. AKA you can crank higher with the green keys. Look at the 2 keys side by side, so that the hex shaped holes (that the torsion bar goes through) are lined up, and you will see what I mean.

If you're running in 2wd the majority of the time you probably will be fine, but if you run in 4x4 frequently (which I do, and I by no means abuse my trucks) the cv joints will wear out sooner. Ours went out around 70K. Driver's side upper ball joint went out at 105k At that point I lowered it down a little (to about 3/4 inch over stock)

I was simply suggesting that 8100 might want to consider a body lift as opposed to cranking the t-bars.

1BADHD hit the nail on the head. 1 inch or less is safe.

As for the spacers. If your thinking of a coil spring spacer (looks kinda like a donut) those work on the 88-98 2wd trucks (front coil spring suspension). The new HD trucks 1500hd and bigger share the same torsion bar suspension as their 4wd counterparts. There were a few exceptions to this in 99-00 2500LD series 2wd trucks having front coils, but those have also gone to t-bars.

03GMC2500HD · April 24, 2004

What ever!!!!

These green key debates are boring me! You're right! You know more! I'm glad the solution was because they are hexed different and just allow more adjustment. Don't know why anyone didn't notice that before. I just went and drove my truck and now that I know this, your right, it does ride like crap now. Thanks for the help, I will order a suspension lift first thing Monday!

rsrxc700 · April 28, 2004

Where is a good place to buy the "green keys" ? Alignment is mandatory, right?

Thanks!

RSR

8100HD · April 29, 2004

03GMC2500HD, Don't worry you are not alone with your thinking......there is more than meets the eye here guys..from an engineering point of view. I also agree with the whole "they allow you more adjustment, but are the same as cranking" theory, but I have installed them on three trucks so far and each has an improved ride with the keys,getting the LCA off of the factory"snubbers" something to do with it.

Hecktorx · April 29, 2004

Silverado3500, are saying that when you installed the green keys it rode and drove the same as when you just cranked your TB's to the max? I find that hard to believe since everyone else has had great results with them. You must have installed or had them set up wrong if they were harsh.

You are not increasing tension on the TB or over cranking the TB by installing the green keys. The only way to increase the tension is if the resistance is increased and the resistance is the weight of the truck. Only thing it does is change where in the suspensions range of motion you ride. You will be riding in the lower part of the suspensions travel or with more droop in the suspension. I have only seen maybe two people post up saying that they problems or parts failing because of the keys and they admitted they were running the snot out of them off road and might have happened anyway. I have yet to see anyone post up saying they destroyed balljoints, CV's or anything by lifting via. TB's with normal driving. Some have had them in for several years and over 100K mi!

8100 was aking for an inexpensive way to level his truck without an expensive suspension lift and green keys are just that and will work just fine.

Granted a suspension lift is the way to go as I plan to soon BUT until I have $1500 to throw down on a lift, the keys work great!

Yes, the ride with the keys is identical to cranking the t-bars 2 inches. Because you are doing the same thing. The keys just give you a different range of adjustment with the adjusters. AKA you can crank higher with the green keys. Look at the 2 keys side by side, so that the hex shaped holes (that the torsion bar goes through) are lined up, and you will see what I mean.

"Cranking the bars" and using green keys is the same thing. Your just re-indexing the bars.

8100, before you go out and buy new torsion keys, you should try re-indexing the bars with the keys you have. You may get the height you want without replacing the keys.

Kenny

SOM Truck · May 3, 2004

Silverado3500, are saying that when you installed the green keys it rode and drove the same as when you just cranked your TB's to the max? I find that hard to believe since everyone else has had great results with them. You must have installed or had them set up wrong if they were harsh.

You are not increasing tension on the TB or over cranking the TB by installing the green keys. The only way to increase the tension is if the resistance is increased and the resistance is the weight of the truck. Only thing it does is change where in the suspensions range of motion you ride. You will be riding in the lower part of the suspensions travel or with more droop in the suspension. I have only seen maybe two people post up saying that they problems or parts failing because of the keys and they admitted they were running the snot out of them off road and might have happened anyway. I have yet to see anyone post up saying they destroyed balljoints, CV's or anything by lifting via. TB's with normal driving. Some have had them in for several years and over 100K mi!

8100 was aking for an inexpensive way to level his truck without an expensive suspension lift and green keys are just that and will work just fine.

Granted a suspension lift is the way to go as I plan to soon BUT until I have $1500 to throw down on a lift, the keys work great!

Yes, the ride with the keys is identical to cranking the t-bars 2 inches. Because you are doing the same thing. The keys just give you a different range of adjustment with the adjusters. AKA you can crank higher with the green keys. Look at the 2 keys side by side, so that the hex shaped holes (that the torsion bar goes through) are lined up, and you will see what I mean.

"Cranking the bars" and using green keys is the same thing. Your just re-indexing the bars.

8100, before you go out and buy new torsion keys, you should try re-indexing the bars with the keys you have. You may get the height you want without replacing the keys.

Kenny

Exactly. I mean I don't know how you could possibly think it was anything else actually unless you've never got under there and looked. Swapping the keys just adds part of the TB adjustment to the casting of the key. The suspension configuration is altered in the exact same fashion. Perhaps the guys that are cranking up over 2" get past the "harsher" ride zone or something. Personally I didn't really notice any harsher of a ride when cranking mine up with the stock keys, but I also went with a slightly softer tire too (more dampening effectively).