question about suspension/ leveling kits

leviticusj2k · 01-29-2007, 12:57 PM

Hey people, I need some advice. I want to lift my 3/4 ton gmc. Which is better? A leveling kit or maybe a 4" lift. I was thinking about using 33" tires along with the lift. I just want to avoid any potential problems with either solution. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

75K30 · 01-29-2007, 01:17 PM

You are going to get quite a few different opinions about this. Here is mine: The problem with any lift kit is that larger tires are associated with them, and that generally brings more drivetrain related stress, which leads to premature parts failures. You own a 3/4 ton truck, so with 33's this will be minimal.
Leveling kits for your truck are not my idea of a good thing. See with an A-arm type suspension, the amount of travel is limited to the length of the arm. These are pretty short to start with, so there is not a whole bunch of up, and down movement to start with. A leveling kit only raises the vehicles static heigth within the limited suspension travel. (hope that makes sense) This means, although the truck looks higher it does not have much room for the suspension to extend until it top's out, because depending on how much you have raised it, you may be topped out already. This will promote poor handling, and terrible driving maners. For these reasons, the complete lift kits available are desireable. If you select a very good one, much engineering has gone into it , and most do a decent job of addressing the above problem. These kits are on the spendy side, you own a truck that is no easy one to lift. Good luck whichever way you decide, i just wanted to give you an opinion, and some more to think about.

Chevy808 · 01-29-2007, 03:18 PM

Go with the 4" suspension its well worth the money. Although I don't use a leveling kit but I've heard a lot of bad things about it.

bradrhale · 01-29-2007, 06:40 PM

hey 75, you sound like a physics and engineering teacher now.

75K30 · 01-30-2007, 02:41 PM

Yeah that was a little on the cornball side huh? LOL.

bradrhale · 02-01-2007, 11:45 AM

no, it sounded good to me. almost like you knew what you were talking about. jk

75K30 · 02-01-2007, 12:23 PM

I am no professor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night! LOL!

mrjohnwayne · 02-01-2007, 01:01 PM

hahahahaha

bradrhale · 02-01-2007, 03:02 PM

i like that. that was good. i would agree about using the lift kit vs the leveling kit too.

01-29-2007, 12:57 PM	#1
leviticusj2k Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3	question about suspension/ leveling kits Hey people, I need some advice. I want to lift my 3/4 ton gmc. Which is better? A leveling kit or maybe a 4" lift. I was thinking about using 33" tires along with the lift. I just want to avoid any potential problems with either solution. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

01-29-2007, 03:18 PM	#3
Chevy808 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Born & raised in Hawaii had to move to Salt Lake City...bummer Posts: 275	Go with the 4" suspension its well worth the money. Although I don't use a leveling kit but I've heard a lot of bad things about it. __________________ '85 Oldsmobile 442 '93 Chevy 2WD C1500 350 Silverado Extended Cab Shortbed '95 Chevy 4WD K2500 454 Silverado Extended Cab Long Bed

02-01-2007, 01:01 PM	#8
mrjohnwayne Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,722	hahahahaha __________________ John Wayne 2000 F-350 7.3L Powerstroke 4x4

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01-29-2007, 01:17 PM	#2
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	You are going to get quite a few different opinions about this. Here is mine: The problem with any lift kit is that larger tires are associated with them, and that generally brings more drivetrain related stress, which leads to premature parts failures. You own a 3/4 ton truck, so with 33's this will be minimal. Leveling kits for your truck are not my idea of a good thing. See with an A-arm type suspension, the amount of travel is limited to the length of the arm. These are pretty short to start with, so there is not a whole bunch of up, and down movement to start with. A leveling kit only raises the vehicles static heigth within the limited suspension travel. (hope that makes sense) This means, although the truck looks higher it does not have much room for the suspension to extend until it top's out, because depending on how much you have raised it, you may be topped out already. This will promote poor handling, and terrible driving maners. For these reasons, the complete lift kits available are desireable. If you select a very good one, much engineering has gone into it , and most do a decent job of addressing the above problem. These kits are on the spendy side, you own a truck that is no easy one to lift. Good luck whichever way you decide, i just wanted to give you an opinion, and some more to think about.

01-29-2007, 06:40 PM	#4
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,027	hey 75, you sound like a physics and engineering teacher now.

01-30-2007, 02:41 PM	#5
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	Yeah that was a little on the cornball side huh? LOL.

02-01-2007, 11:45 AM	#6
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,027	no, it sounded good to me. almost like you knew what you were talking about. jk

02-01-2007, 12:23 PM	#7
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,992	I am no professor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night! LOL!

02-01-2007, 03:02 PM	#9
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,027	i like that. that was good. i would agree about using the lift kit vs the leveling kit too.