Grille Guard Front-End Leveling

[ericag02]

I recently bought a 2004 1500 Silverado Crew Cab 4x2 that had a grille guard already installed. I noticed that the front end is not as "level" as the rear end of the truck, is there a simple, easy, and safe way to raise the level of the front end up without potentially damaging the suspension or steering aspects? How much would something like this cost, or can it be done for free?

 

Here are some images of what I'm talking about. Granted it's not a huge problem, but it would be nice if I were able to have it leveled out. Or, am I crazy? I can accept that!

 

 

[facn8me]

Use the search function and look up torsion bar crank. You should be able to find all the info on what you want. Basically slide under your truck and find the t-bar cross member. You will see and adjustment bolt (head facing the ground) It is a 18mm. Mark the head of the bolt and the frame with a sharpie. Now you can jack the truck up letting the control arms hang to make it easier to crank or just crank the bolts 2-3 turns and check the height .(move truck back and forth after) Do this untill it's level or your out of threads. If you can not gain a level stance with this method reindexed keys are next. Commonly called ford keys. Again search for this and you'll get even more info.

 

IMO cranking up the tbars to help with the weight of winches, grill gaurds and such is acceptable. Watch your cv angles.

 

It's always a good idea to have the alignment checked after any front end adjustment.

[busta]

You can crank the torsion bars up some and that will help...or you can by some keys that will raise it up...some people in here will tell you that cranking the t bars up is a bad idea and then some say it wont hurt anything...i just cranked mine up last week and it raised it up some...made it look alot better

[ericag02]

Now you can jack the truck up letting the control arms hang to make it easier to crank or just crank the bolts 2-3 turns and check the height .(move truck back and forth after) Do this untill it's level or your out of threads.

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What tools are required for this? i.e. should I use my ramps, or just jack stands to get the wheels off the ground? Is the bolt loose enough to be hand cranked or will it need a breaker bar or an air gun?

 

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it!

[facn8me]

18mm socket. a ratchet. and 5 min's of your time. A jack is not needed but the bolt's do turn a bit easier with the weight off the control arms (no ramps) jack up by frame only to do any good. I personally didn't jack mine up.

[ericag02]

18mm socket. a ratchet. and 5 min's of your time. A jack is not needed but the bolt's do turn a bit easier with the weight off the control arms (no ramps)  jack up by frame only to do any good. I personally didn't jack mine up.

 

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I apologize for being such a pain about all of this, but I don't want to mess anything up on my truck when I'm workin' on this... Just so I'm absolutely clear, when you said to watch the cv angles, you're referring to the boot between the two bars connected to the middle of this wheel? I've been doing some reading and most people say to keep the CV angle flat if at all possible, otherwise at a slight angle, so I'm just making sure I'm not going to regret this later on. (Note, this is not my truck)

 

 

Likewise, would my ride still get "worse" for simply leveling out my truck due to the grille guard, or would it stay about the same? I just had Chevy replace my sterring column due to it being worn out (the intermediate shaft) at 8,400miles and was wondering if the grille guard could have caused that to happen and if this will possibly help it out?

 

Lot's of questions, I know, but I appreciate ya'lls help!

[mdub]

Uhhh, if this is a two-wheel-drive truck, you don't have CV angles to worry about. And you shouldnt' have any torsion bars available to crank.

 

There are other methods available for lifting two-wheel drive trucks. Someone else with more experience than I can reply. I just wanted to point out that all the replies so far were aimed at 4x4 trucks.

[facn8me]

Bam it did say 2wd didn't it. Sorry. I'd have to research 2wd stuff. Sorry.

[ericag02]

Bam    it did say 2wd didn't it. Sorry.  I'd have to research 2wd stuff. Sorry.

 

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No worries....Better than me looking under the truck for Torsion bars that don't exist...I would have thought I lost my mind.

[plainvanilla]

They make front coil spring spacers or better yet, replacement front springs. You will need about 1.5 to 2 inches in the front.

 

Suspension Connection sells part # KG 09101 for $83.95. (spacers)

 

I personally am going with just a replacment front coil spring, I don't care for spring spacers. I am looking for the application now, I think I found a company who has them for under $100, I get back to you on that.

[plainvanilla]

Fabtech makes a front spindle/rear block kit that gives the whole truck a nice level mild lift. A little pricey, but....whose counting?

[Guest chevydeerhunter]

The reason the rear is higher than the front is so that it will sit level with a full load. What happens if you level the truck and then you carry or tow a huge load without other mods? Personally, I like a bit of rake in my ride

[ericag02]

They make front coil spring spacers or better yet, replacement front springs. You will need about 1.5 to 2 inches in the front.

 

Suspension Connection sells part # KG 09101 for $83.95. (spacers)

 

I personally am going with just a replacment front coil spring, I don't care for spring spacers. I am looking for the application now, I think I found a company who has them for under $100, I get back to you on that.

 

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Let me know what you find out. I'm curious to see what you end up doing and about how much it costs...if it is reasonable, I might just do the same thing. Heck, I might just put a 2" lift on it and keep the angle, it just seems way low to the ground to me for some reason.

[ericag02]

Does anyone know where some instructions are located for either installing the spring spacers or replacing the springs all together?

 

How much work is involved in this?

 

I've also read a little that if you put in spacers to get the lift, the truck will eventually sag some (if it is a new truck). Mine is an '04 with 8500 miles on it. Will putting in the spacers defeat its self in a little bit of time?

 

Again, I appreciate the help!

[facn8me]

I noticed the daystar spacers are about the only way to get small lift on a 2wd. Main problem with spacers is if you have enough adjustment for alignment after install. You will need a alignment. Should be easy enough to change. Jack. jackstand and possibly a inside spring compessor. Jack up truck put jackstand under frame. Put jack under control arm. Seperate lower ball joint from spindle. Un hook shock. Let jack down. Spring should come out, put spacer in place and reverse procedure.