2000 Silverado 4x4 Leveling Lift Kit?

Gunner82 · October 28, 2008

Ok new here. Recently inherited a 2000 silverado 4x4 extended cab 4.8, This will be my first 4x4. My question here is this I just had the local tire shop get me a set of Hercules TrAIL DIGGER mt in 285/75/16 to replace the 245 on the truck now. Not yet installed. With this I would like to get the thing up a little and make sure these look good under this thing. Im thinking of the rough country leveling kit, is this a good kit and should I do the Front keys the back blocks and the shocks or just keys and blocks? Are there a lot of issues after putting a kit like this on? Does the 2" have a good look with 285s or should I do a body lift? This will be my hunting truck and it won't see much highway at all. I don't want to go extreme because of the cost but would like some input on what makes these look and perform good with 285s. Thanks for any sugestions.

2000DV4.8 · October 28, 2008

If you just want to raise up the front of the truck a little, just crank the stock torsion keys. You should be able to get at least 1.5" of height out of the stock keys, which is the highest you can go safely anyway (a leveling kit does the same thing to the suspension as cranking the stock keys by the way). If you go over about 1.5", you'll put extra stress on your tie rod ends (inner and outer), ball joints, pitman arm, and idler arm, and risk having those parts fail prematurely. Much further than 1.5" will also make the truck ride like complete ass.

Do a search on here for 'torsion bars' 'torsion crank' or something similar, and you should find a lot of good reading.

BIGCHEVY2 · October 30, 2008

Ok new here. Recently inherited a 2000 silverado 4x4 extended cab 4.8, This will be my first 4x4. My question here is this I just had the local tire shop get me a set of Hercules TrAIL DIGGER mt in 285/75/16 to replace the 245 on the truck now. Not yet installed. With this I would like to get the thing up a little and make sure these look good under this thing. Im thinking of the rough country leveling kit, is this a good kit and should I do the Front keys the back blocks and the shocks or just keys and blocks? Are there a lot of issues after putting a kit like this on? Does the 2" have a good look with 285s or should I do a body lift? This will be my hunting truck and it won't see much highway at all. I don't want to go extreme because of the cost but would like some input on what makes these look and perform good with 285s. Thanks for any sugestions.

You can crank the factory bars some. However, not every 1/2 ton truck will achieve much lift with factory keys. Some of the 99-06 model trucks have less adjustment on one side than the other which will hinder you from getting much lift. The after market keys are the way to go. Front shocks are a must when putting on keys, if you dont, the factory shock like to top out and give you a choppy ride. Lots of companies build them for all types of prices. They are just about all the same when it comes to quality and height. I have been using Rough Country stuff for years, so I recommend them. They have them for cheap, several of my buddies are running their leveling kit with shocks and rear blocks. If you want to spend a bit more, check with Truxxx, Ready Lift, Suspension Maxx. If you want to save some do and get great quality product, do what I do.

BIGCHEVY2 · October 30, 2008

Key kits will run 285's perfect. If you want to run 305's - you can also achieve this with no problem.

svensk · October 30, 2008

Lots of people use the rough country kit on here, and so far most seem pleased with it.

Gunner82 · October 31, 2008

Got the shoes mounted and they look great but the front REALLY needs brought up 2 inches, I took a look at the torsion adjustment bolts and the passenger side has like a mile of thread left and the drivers like inch or so. I don't know if I could get an 1.5" out of it with the little bit of adjusment on that side.

2000DV4.8 · October 31, 2008

Got the shoes mounted and they look great but the front REALLY needs brought up 2 inches, I took a look at the torsion adjustment bolts and the passenger side has like a mile of thread left and the drivers like inch or so. I don't know if I could get an 1.5" out of it with the little bit of adjusment on that side.

Each revolution of the bolt, nets about 1/4" of "lift". To get 1.5", I needed to go up I think 7 full revolutions, so just count the threads, and see if it'll be close. And it can't hurt to try to crank the stock keys, I'm betting you'll be able to get the 1.5" easily (the distance on the bolt isn't a direct correlation to the amount of lift gained).