Leveling My 09 Sierra

[msu33]

Well, I asked about the rancho quick lifts, and I did not get much of a response. With further investigation I found that this is probably not the best route to go. Ive been looking around, and I think I may have found what I am going to level my truck with. The CST coilovers. I am also thinking about adding Bilstein 5100's and a block in the back. I want to maintain a slight rake for towing.

 

I am hoping to accomplish a 2" lift, and be able to add 285's for a little more ground clearance. I searched and found one discussion about the CST coilovers on this forum. I dont beleive anyone had any experience with them yet. Well, I also dont want to change my angles up front. If I get the Blitzkrieg Motor Sports upper control arm kit, will this prevent wear and tear on the front suspension?

 

I hope this makes sense, and is not bass ackwards, I am a complete newb to this type stuff.

 

The only downside to this setup, is the cost. After all said and done it will be about 2K investment.

 

Thanks

[Spurshot]

Travis,

The addition of coilovers will change the overall effective spring rate of the suspension and affect the ride stiffness. That goes for back or front...although I don't know how they could fit another spring in the front, since the front is a coilover from the factory on a 1500 anyway.

 

The Bilstein 5100s front shocks have an adjustable positioning collar for the OEM spring perch to change the ride height and this does not change the spring rate. However, the shocks themselves have a higher damping rate than the factory shocks (as do most any other aftermarket shock... and that's a good thing IMO) that will affect the ride quality as well.

 

I don't know about the aftermarket control arms but I'm going to look into them.

[blackout07]

Well, I asked about the rancho quick lifts, and I did not get much of a response. With further investigation I found that this is probably not the best route to go. Ive been looking around, and I think I may have found what I am going to level my truck with. The CST coilovers. I am also thinking about adding Bilstein 5100's and a block in the back. I want to maintain a slight rake for towing.

 

I am hoping to accomplish a 2" lift, and be able to add 285's for a little more ground clearance. I searched and found one discussion about the CST coilovers on this forum. I dont beleive anyone had any experience with them yet. Well, I also dont want to change my angles up front. If I get the Blitzkrieg Motor Sports upper control arm kit, will this prevent wear and tear on the front suspension?

 

I hope this makes sense, and is not bass ackwards, I am a complete newb to this type stuff.

 

The only downside to this setup, is the cost. After all said and done it will be about 2K investment.

 

Thanks

 

 

For 2K, I wouldn't even consider that setup, but that's just my opinion. You could get a quality 4 or 6 inch suspension lift, that would correct both bj and cv angles. I'm not sure if your truck is 4wd or not, so cv angles may not concern you. I would personally go with a body lift if you don't want much lift and you are worried about your suspension setup.

[msu33]

Well, I asked about the rancho quick lifts, and I did not get much of a response. With further investigation I found that this is probably not the best route to go. Ive been looking around, and I think I may have found what I am going to level my truck with. The CST coilovers. I am also thinking about adding Bilstein 5100's and a block in the back. I want to maintain a slight rake for towing.

 

I am hoping to accomplish a 2" lift, and be able to add 285's for a little more ground clearance. I searched and found one discussion about the CST coilovers on this forum. I dont beleive anyone had any experience with them yet. Well, I also dont want to change my angles up front. If I get the Blitzkrieg Motor Sports upper control arm kit, will this prevent wear and tear on the front suspension?

 

I hope this makes sense, and is not bass ackwards, I am a complete newb to this type stuff.

 

The only downside to this setup, is the cost. After all said and done it will be about 2K investment.

 

Thanks

 

 

For 2K, I wouldn't even consider that setup, but that's just my opinion. You could get a quality 4 or 6 inch suspension lift, that would correct both bj and cv angles. I'm not sure if your truck is 4wd or not, so cv angles may not concern you. I would personally go with a body lift if you don't want much lift and you are worried about your suspension setup.

 

 

Well....I looked at a CST 4inch lift. It is still going to run about 2k. The suspension lift is still an option, but I dont like the idea of cutting stock control arm mounts. I would like the option of returning to stock. My truck is 4wd. I dont want a whole lot of lift, just two to four inches. I want to run 285's on the truck, but I just dont want to compromise the front suspension. All this talk of spacers causing ball joints to wear out has been spooking me away from doing anything. But then.....I see a NBS with a slight lift and I start looking into it again.

 

I have searched the forum and read conversations of pro's and cons of body lift versus leveling versus suspension lift. The thing that I have noticed in the past, and that was mentioned in previous threads, is the gap between the tailgate and bumper, and the exposed frame that comes with a body lift. I have just never been a fan of it.

[jf781]

Well....I looked at a CST 4inch lift. It is still going to run about 2k. The suspension lift is still an option, but I dont like the idea of cutting stock control arm mounts. I would like the option of returning to stock. My truck is 4wd. I dont want a whole lot of lift, just two to four inches. I want to run 285's on the truck, but I just dont want to compromise the front suspension. All this talk of spacers causing ball joints to wear out has been spooking me away from doing anything. But then.....I see a NBS with a slight lift and I start looking into it again.

 

I have searched the forum and read conversations of pro's and cons of body lift versus leveling versus suspension lift. The thing that I have noticed in the past, and that was mentioned in previous threads, is the gap between the tailgate and bumper, and the exposed frame that comes with a body lift. I have just never been a fan of it.

 

Pretty sure with the CST lift you don't have to cut the stock control arms, it's just a bolt up kit. I'm still looking into it but their site advertises that it can be converted back to a stock setup.

 

If anyone else can verify this I'd love to hear it.

[msu33]

Hmm....that would be good to check into. I have read CST's description, but I dont remember if it said you had to cut it or not. I was told by a customer service rep at performance lifts, that they had to be cut. I will double check to make sure also.

 

Edit: Just read the installation instructions for the 4" CST kit, and you do you have to cut the arm mounts.