suspension lift/tire brand recommendations?

kountryjentleman · March 16, 2006

hey, i just got a 2000 gmc sierra 4x4 and im interested in lifting it a few inches (6 or less). can anyone direct me in brands of lift kits and tires to look at and to stay away from? im clueless... thanks!

michigan2500hd · March 22, 2006

hey, i just got a 2000 gmc sierra 4x4 and im interested in lifting it a few inches (6 or less). can anyone direct me in brands of lift kits and tires to look at and to stay away from? im clueless... thanks!

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If i didnt have a lease truck now i would be looking at a Fabtech lift. They seem to work well and so far have held up to some hard off-roading. I think skyjacker makes a new lift that 3". If i remember it a spindle lift for the front, seems fairly simple and yopu can go back to stock if you want to. IMO i would stay away from lifts that make you cut the transfer case. Not that they dont work but i would take a lift kit off a truck if i was going to sell it and if you cut off the mount on the transfer case it might be hard to go back to stock. As far as tires the ones i have had good luck with are Goodyear MT/R's and Remington mud tires. Good luck with the build up! Wish i could do the same.

caslerst · March 30, 2006

The advice I have received so far:

Go 6". If you go 3", in a few months you'll wish you went 6.

Shops recommend the Fabtech 6" for the NBS because it's the easiest to install so they get it done and out the door. One guy said it kicks the front tires out farther than the other knuckle kits.

Goodyear MTR's are too soft for full size trucks and wear out quickly. Good for heeps though.

I have no experience with the Fabtech or the MTR's though. Just passing on info

BretD04GMC · March 31, 2006

A couple more options for you. Especially if you don't want to hack-up your rig.

http://www.roughcountry.com/chevy_99-05_4ex.htm

http://www.roughcountry.com/Chevy_99-05_6EXin.htm

timskfx400 · April 5, 2006

A couple more options for you. Especially if you don't want to hack-up your rig.

http://www.roughcountry.com/chevy_99-05_4ex.htm

http://www.roughcountry.com/Chevy_99-05_6EXin.htm

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wow that 6" ex series looks good ! but i was wondering...would i need to get new springs as well? or would the stock ones work? i was thinking youd need new ones no? d**n i might have to pick up that ex series. the x series looked good as well...but i saw that you had to make an adjustment to the front diff. dont really want to do that.

BretD04GMC · April 5, 2006

wow that 6" ex series looks good ! but i was wondering...would i need to get new springs as well? or would the stock ones work?

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The 6" EX kit comes with 4" blocks for the rear. You could always do new springs if you really wanted to, but it's not a must. The down-side to blocks is that they increase the probability of axle wrap.

One of the really nice features of the Rough Country EX and X kits is that they don't drop the torsion bars. You get better ground clearance than other kits out there.

I'm pretty set on the 4" EX for my Sierra as soon as I have the extra $$$ to spend.

timskfx400 · April 6, 2006

how hard would it be to install on your own? thats what im wondering...2k for a lift and what...another 1.5k or so for labor? pffft ! thats enough for some tires.

BretD04GMC · April 6, 2006

how hard would it be to install on your own? thats what im wondering...2k for a lift and what...another 1.5k or so for labor? pffft ! thats enough for some tires.

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If you've got the right tools, it should be no big deal to install yourself. Especially since there's no cutting or welding required.

All you're really doing is swapping spindels, unloading/reloading the torsion bars and swapping the blocks in the rear. Estimated install time is 5 to 6 hours. I plan to install mine in the driveway.

If you did decide to take it to a shop, 1.5k for labor sounds pretty steep. I'd think more like $500 or $600 would be correct.

timskfx400 · April 6, 2006

If you've got the right tools, it should be no big deal to install yourself. Especially since there's no cutting or welding required.

All you're really doing is swapping spindels, unloading/reloading the torsion bars and swapping the blocks in the rear. Estimated install time is 5 to 6 hours. I plan to install mine in the driveway.

If you did decide to take it to a shop, 1.5k for labor sounds pretty steep. I'd think more like $500 or $600 would be correct.

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i was just guess-timating labor. as for the parts..ive got 2 complete sets of metric and standard tools...but i dont think i have the tool for the torsion bars they were talking about on the install directions. im really looking into this though...i might do like you and install it in the driveway one weekend. i need to start soon though because here in tx...in summer...the last place you want to be is under a vehicle in the summer heat.

about the fox shox...anyone have any input on those? how good/bad they might be? theyre only 460 more...so i figure i might as well get those with the kit.

Chad H · April 7, 2006

If you have the money. Then I would go with Rancho. They are the best in my opinion. I had a 4" suspension on my '04 silverado. The quality and build of the kit was amazing! I never had one problem out of it. I am leaning towards them again to lift this truck.