Lifting/Leveling my truck

[ohsobad_chevy]

2006 GMC Z71

I thought about putting a 3" body lift on my truck (broke as a joke right now) and some bigger tires. As I was searching around on the internet, I thought about just getting a leveling kit. (not with torsion bar keys) What is the best way to level my truck?

Will this leveling kit look better than a 3" body lift?
http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/12000T.html

Anyone who has pics of their Z71's leveled, I would like to see them. Post em up.

[TCracin440ex]

what year chevy do you have? the lift you posted is for the 07-09 with the coil spring frontends

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z254/OneBaddAssZ71/024-1.jpg

my 2000 lifted not leveled

[ohsobad_chevy]

I just realized that after I posted it. I have a 2006 GMC Z71.

I have never lifted/leveled a truck before, but from what I understand, the only way to level my truck would be to install new torsion bar keys, correct?

BTW, your truck looks awesome, what size/kind of lift and tires?

[Wills77]

i just put a leveling kit on my dads 04 2500hd duramax last week...then took it off the next day haha he didnt like it being so high for hopping in and out... new torsion keys and 3" blocks in the rear
its easy to do...but make sure you get the tool to remove/install the torsion keys... its basically a heavy duty c clamp
my dads friend tried using a regular c clamp on it and said it bent it in half

[ohsobad_chevy]

Originally posted by Wills77
i just put a leveling kit on my dads 04 2500hd duramax last week...then took it off the next day haha he didnt like it being so high for hopping in and out... new torsion keys and 3" blocks in the rear
its easy to do...but make sure you get the tool to remove/install the torsion keys... its basically a heavy duty c clamp
my dads friend tried using a regular c clamp on it and said it bent it in half

You leveled the front and then put 3" blocks under the rear springs.....so it still set higher in the back?

What kind of torsion bar keys did you use on the front?

[Dave400ex]

Check out Ready Lift

http://readylift.com/c-68-sierra-1999-2007-classic-4wd-6-lug-25.aspx

[underpowered]

www.fullsizechevy.com for all the answers.


but anyway, yeah the only way to really level your truck is new torsion bar keys. but your should be able to get it pretty darn close to level on stock keys.

mine, level still on stock keys
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v690/redneck409/Truck/PICT9233.jpg

[ohsobad_chevy]

Yeah, everytime I try to make an account on fullsizechevy.com it tell me that registration has been disabled by the administrator.....GHAY!!!

I know you can "crank" the stock torsion bars up to raise the front end. What exactly do the aftermarket keys do that the stockers can't? Do they allow you to lift it more or do they set differently causing more lift?

[underpowered]

Originally posted by ohsobad_chevy
Yeah, everytime I try to make an account on fullsizechevy.com it tell me that registration has been disabled by the administrator.....GHAY!!!

I know you can "crank" the stock torsion bars up to raise the front end. What exactly do the aftermarket keys do that the stockers can't? Do they allow you to lift it more or do they set differently causing more lift?

yeah, they are doing a server swap so it will be up as soon as the swap is done. if you want PM me what you want your username and such to be over there. i am a mod there and can have someone set up the account for you.

aftermarket keys are indexed differently, so you can get more lift from them. to get level, my stock keys are cranked as far as i can go. on aftermarket keys, i would only be cranked about half way.

[TCracin440ex]

you also can go to chevy truck world they have pretty good forums too

ive also heard you can get ford 150 torsion keys...idk not sure im not a ford man....

my truck is running 6 inch BDS suspension, 3 inch body lift, 37x12.50x16 parnelli jones dirt grips, with 4.10 gears,

[underpowered]

Originally posted by TCracin440ex
you also can go to chevy truck world they have pretty good forums too

ive also heard you can get ford 150 torsion keys...idk not sure im not a ford man....

my truck is running 6 inch BDS suspension, 3 inch body lift, 37x12.50x16 parnelli jones dirt grips, with 4.10 gears,

yupp essensially aftermarket keys are stock ford f150 keys.

[TRX_450]

ive got an 05 silverado with a truxxx leveling kit and 35's and ive got 5" all the way around on my dads stock 04, ill get pics here in a bit, its still dirty tho

[Wills77]

Originally posted by ohsobad_chevy
You leveled the front and then put 3" blocks under the rear springs.....so it still set higher in the back?

What kind of torsion bar keys did you use on the front?

it sat level with the different keys cranked up

the leveling kit for a 2500 hd is the same as a stock 1500... same keys, same blocks
we had this kit for my dads 04 2500hd but he didnt want it so i tried it on my 00 1500 and it was the exact same keys and blocks

[Wills77]

i just sent a pic i had on my phone.... heres his 2500hd with the 2-3" leveling kit on it

[TCracin440ex]

Originally posted by Wills77
i just sent a pic i had on my phone.... heres his 2500hd with the 2-3" leveling kit on it

that looks really good like that idk why he wouldnt like it...i hate how gm rakes their trucks so much

i also wish their 2500 and 3500 series came with a SFA. i believe they would sell a ton more Dmaxes if they had solid axles up front...that ifs is jus unreliable in my opinion...too much to break up front

i will admit the chevy handles pretty good bc of the ifs but far as that id rather sacrafice a little handling for durability and strength

[underpowered]

Originally posted by Wills77
it sat level with the different keys cranked up

the leveling kit for a 2500 hd is the same as a stock 1500... same keys, same blocks
we had this kit for my dads 04 2500hd but he didnt want it so i tried it on my 00 1500 and it was the exact same keys and blocks

yes, stock 1500 keys, known as "green keys" are used to lift or level a 2500. as the 2500's have stiffer torsion bars so the keys are indexed differently than the 1500 keys.

[ohsobad_chevy]

Awesome, thanks for the replies!!

Should I get the ford keys or should I go with aftermarket keys. I notices they ranged from $100 to $250 for the cam keys.
http://www.truckspring.com/suspension-maxx-maxx-cam-2-leveling-kit-for-gm-trucks-smx-mc2.html

What makes them worth $250 when you can buy the others for $100?

[redlineranger]

My dads 03' Z71 is sittin on stock rims with 285 BFG All-Terrains and the stock front torsion bars/keys or whatever they are called are cranked all the way out and it damn near leveled it perfect.

I guess it really just depends on what you want to do.

[Wills77]

here is my old truck... i had the keys cranked up...not maxed out but close... it had 305-45-22 tires on it without rubbing

my dad white dmax posted above has 285's on it now but befor that he had pro comp 305's and just had to trip the lower valance to make them not run

[v0lcom13sn0w]

just keep in mind when you crank the t bars you gotta expect a rougher ride and gettin an alignment

[ohsobad_chevy]

Originally posted by v0lcom13sn0w
just keep in mind when you crank the t bars you gotta expect a rougher ride and gettin an alignment

Yeah, I ordered some ford keys and I am going to put some 33's on it.