What Lift Is For Me?

stlavsa · July 8, 2008

I am looking for a suspension lift for my 08 silverado extended cab 4x4.

Right now the truck has 305/55/20" inch tires on it. (33.5 x12" basically). The wheels are 8.5" wide rockstars, they have a close to stock offset and Backspace.

#1 I am interested in a 4-6" suspension lift. I have only the truck, wheels, and tires for a few months, and I am not interested in changing them. (tires are still like new)

#2 I like the 33s I have so what lift would look good with them? I hear some of the 4" lifts are actually like a 5+" lift, and I think they would like good with 33's. ( EVEN when these tires wear I will replace them with 33's)

#3 I want to do this as cheap as possible of course (I got other priorities right now like buying a house)

#4 I am looking for something that I could remove and turn back to stock if possible (I dont want to cut this truck up to lift it)

#5 As I said the wheels are a near stock offset, and I know that some of the lifts require a wheel that sticks out. Are their lifts that are compatible with these wheels?

Sooo i realize this is a tall order but can anyone recommend a lift for me? if you didnt read over the details of this post carefully please dont respond thanks.

Griffin86 · July 8, 2008

I would say leveling kit. If you lift it higher with 33s its going to look weird. You could go with a 4" but its too expensive, can't use those rims if they are stock offset and you cut a crossmember out.

onac255 · July 8, 2008

yeah just get a leveling kit.

stlavsa · July 8, 2008

yeah just get a leveling kit.

I already have a 2" RC leveling kit installed. It rubs like crazy. oh well. I wish somebody made a 3" lift that wasnt junk.

Thanks for the replies guys

onac255 · July 8, 2008

Add another leveling kit on top of the strut. Add a two inch spacer on top and a block in the back and you should be good.

onac255 · July 8, 2008

Or better yet add some Rancho Quicklift Struts plus you leveling kit and a block in the back.

onac255 · July 8, 2008

http://www.gorancho.com/products/shocks/quicklift.php

This plus your RC leveling kit should clear your 33s...However I am not to sure about your CV angles.

A 1" block in the back would also be good to keep it from "ass sagging" unless you like that look.

stlavsa · July 8, 2008

http://www.gorancho.com/products/shocks/quicklift.php

This plus your RC leveling kit should clear your 33s...However I am not to sure about your CV angles.

A 1" block in the back would also be good to keep it from "ass sagging" unless you like that look.

I think you have some good suggestions and I was wondering about adding another spacer or even better the rancho but I am afraid of the CV angles. Theres gotta be a reason that RC decided to make their 3" kit with a diff drop.

I never do any aggressive offroading (or driving) with the truck so I dont know how long I could get cv joints to last with this thing. I would hate to start busting up axles this truck has like 3,000 miles on it. and 1 of the reasons I went w. brand new is for the warranty.

If I didnt read about several people complaining about that 3" RC kit I would have had it by now. (Im not really looking for a huge lift anyways but another 1.5" in the front and and inch in the back wold be great)

stlavsa · July 8, 2008

also I have just been looking at the picture above. I do have the 2" leveling kit installed in that pic. I am observing 2 things.

#1. It does look like if I could just get another inch or so out of the thing I could clear the 33's pretty good. Right now its sitting right near the widest part of the wheel/tire.

#2. Its understood that a 6" lift would look bad with the 33's. I think that might be a little much, but the 4" lift that actually lifts 5" (i dont know off hand which ones do, rancho maybe??) I think would look OK. It would only actually be another 3" higher in the front than in that picture (provided I removed the RC level Kit)

I think the main problem with those kits that lift 5" would be that I would need the 10" wide Rockstars and not the 8.5" wide wheels (the 10's give the offset for lifts) That would add another $1000 to the price of the lift to do a wheel swap.

onac255 · July 8, 2008

Well here is the thing, I know quite a bit about CV joints because my father business rebuilds and replaces them. (been doing it for 20 years)

My truck has the torsion bars cranked all the way(I know the arguments against it...) and so have many other trucks that we have owned and I have never had a problem. The first 2 months I had my truck I really beat on it and did some pretty rough off roading. I check underneath my truck every time its on the lift at my dad's shop when I change the oil...and 27K miles later no problems at all.

CV joints actually hold up pretty well these days and if you are not going to beat on your truck too bad then I think you should be fine.

So basically you doing the "Stacked" leveling kit route is like cranking torsion bars all the way. Plus if you get the Rancho Quicklift system its adjustable so you can just get that extra 1.5" your looking for.

onac255 · July 8, 2008

also I have just been looking at the picture above. I do have the 2" leveling kit installed in that pic. I am observing 2 things.

#1. It does look like if I could just get another inch or so out of the thing I could clear the 33's pretty good. Right now its sitting right near the widest part of the wheel/tire.

#2. Its understood that a 6" lift would look bad with the 33's. I think that might be a little much, but the 4" lift that actually lifts 5" (i dont know off hand which ones do, rancho maybe??) I think would look OK. It would only actually be another 3" higher in the front than in that picture (provided I removed the RC level Kit)

I think the main problem with those kits that lift 5" would be that I would need the 10" wide Rockstars and not the 8.5" wide wheels (the 10's give the offset for lifts) That would add another $1000 to the price of the lift to do a wheel swap.

I think stacking would be the best choice for your situation. Like you said you already have 2", adding the rancho quick lift you can adjust it from 0" to 2.5" so you could adjust them to 1.5" in order to clear the wheels and tires you already have.

Also since you don't plan on abusing your truck then I think you can pull it off that way.

stlavsa · July 8, 2008

Well here is the thing, I know quite a bit about CV joints because my father business rebuilds and replaces them. (been doing it for 20 years)

My truck has the torsion bars cranked all the way(I know the arguments against it...) and so have many other trucks that we have owned and I have never had a problem. The first 2 months I had my truck I really beat on it and did some pretty rough off roading. I check underneath my truck every time its on the lift at my dad's shop when I change the oil...and 27K miles later no problems at all.

CV joints actually hold up pretty well these days and if you are not going to beat on your truck too bad then I think you should be fine.

So basically you doing the "Stacked" leveling kit route is like cranking torsion bars all the way. Plus if you get the Rancho Quicklift system its adjustable so you can just get that extra 1.5" your looking for.

http://www.gorancho.com/products/suspensio...07silverado.php

What would be the argument against this lift??? I know that one thing is the price, but other than that what? It says it clears stock wheels, which would mean it should def clear my wheels they have a bigger diameter. The only thing would be the 33's. I dont know exactly how high that rancho lifts, if it was a true 4" that would be great but if its really 6" then that might look a little funky. I just have no interest in running 35" tires, I dont like the look of the thicker sidewall, and I dont wanna mess with gearing and all that BS.

Y dont u tell ur dad to build some CV joints that are capable of extreme angles and Ill buy the first set!

stlavsa · July 8, 2008

IM going to look into the quick lifts, If you can adjust them I will just set it to exactly where it clears the tires and no more. Then get some rear blocks to match.

onac255 · July 8, 2008

Well here is the thing, I know quite a bit about CV joints because my father business rebuilds and replaces them. (been doing it for 20 years)

My truck has the torsion bars cranked all the way(I know the arguments against it...) and so have many other trucks that we have owned and I have never had a problem. The first 2 months I had my truck I really beat on it and did some pretty rough off roading. I check underneath my truck every time its on the lift at my dad's shop when I change the oil...and 27K miles later no problems at all.

CV joints actually hold up pretty well these days and if you are not going to beat on your truck too bad then I think you should be fine.

So basically you doing the "Stacked" leveling kit route is like cranking torsion bars all the way. Plus if you get the Rancho Quicklift system its adjustable so you can just get that extra 1.5" your looking for.

http://www.gorancho.com/products/suspensio...07silverado.php

What would be the argument against this lift??? I know that one thing is the price, but other than that what? It says it clears stock wheels, which would mean it should def clear my wheels they have a bigger diameter. The only thing would be the 33's. I dont know exactly how high that rancho lifts, if it was a true 4" that would be great but if its really 6" then that might look a little funky. I just have no interest in running 35" tires, I dont like the look of the thicker sidewall, and I dont wanna mess with gearing and all that BS.

Y dont u tell ur dad to build some CV joints that are capable of extreme angles and Ill buy the first set!

We thought about it but Rough Country beat us to it...