2012 Tahoe rear 1.5 lift shock question

[GreyStone]

Is your truck 2wd or 4wd?

 

[redshift]

Is your truck 2wd or 4wd?

Standard 4WD LT no z71 so single speed transfer case.

 

[GreyStone]

Standard 4WD LT no z71 so single speed transfer case.

I am surprised you had any rubbing at all with the stock size tire - must be the offset.

 

[redshift]

I am surprised you had any rubbing at all with the stock size tire - must be the offset.

yup that is my thought as well. I'm not too sure that -10 is the exact offset for this specific version of the wheel. it is just what I found listed for the 17x9 size.

 

[CAMASO]

@redshift your post has been very helpful. I’m waiting for my Quicklifts
and 1” strut spacers to arrive and I’ll be tackling the same job. I have a 14 Yukon with stock 20’s. Do you think I’ll have a similar rubbing issue? I’m also planning to install 2” coil spacers and new extended length Quicklifts in the rear.

 

[redshift]

@redshift your post has been very helpful. I’m waiting for my Quicklifts
and 1” strut spacers to arrive and I’ll be tackling the same job. I have a 14 Yukon with stock 20’s. Do you think I’ll have a similar rubbing issue? I’m also planning to install 2” coil spacers and new extended length Quicklifts in the rear.

I don't think so,you should be fine. Let me apologize for the lack of clarity about the tire rubbing. I noticed the tire rub prior to putting on my spacer lift. I had the wheels off and was getting ready and was close enough in the wheel well when I saw the rubbing. So it had been rubbing for some unknown amount of time prior to the install. As mentioned my wheels are not stock and have some sort of offset that is probably the culprit.

 

[CAMASO]

I don't think so,you should be fine. Let me apologize for the lack of clarity about the tire rubbing. I noticed the tire rub prior to putting on my spacer lift. I had the wheels off and was getting ready and was close enough in the wheel well when I saw the rubbing. So it had been rubbing for some unknown amount of time prior to the install. As mentioned my wheels are not stock and have some sort of offset that is probably the culprit.

No worries and thanks for the advice. I appreciate the clarification.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Hi all. Ok I finally got the parts and did the lift. I used motofab's 2 inch lower strut spacer up front and their 1.5 inch coil spacer in the rear. The front went from 36 inches to 38 and the rear went from 37.5 to 39. I also replaced my rear shocks with pro-comp ES9000s. The install in the front was standard stuff although I did need to disconnect the ball joint and tie rod to get enough room to install the bolts the correct way. In the back I ended up using my spring compressor to save time. Since the coil spacers are powder coated aluminum I lined the inside of surface that sits on the frame with some leftover sticky back rubber windows flashing in case there would be any metal on metal noise. So far so good. Although I'm afraid that I must try and curtail my instinct to go bigger/higher in the pursuit of long travel.


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@redshift That looks great, thanks for the numbers I will compare those to mine. I need new ball joints so I have been researching what i need to do in order to qualify for the rough country forged upper control arms. I'm thinking that with what I have already done to my truck a CCM 2.5 in front and 1.5 in the rear should give me enough lift to where I can use those RC lifted control arms.

 

[iamdub]

Late to the party, but I ran a 2" front, 1" rear lift for almost a year on the stock shocks with no problem. I didn't huck it on some whoops, though. It's a 2WD pavement pounder. I also had 1.5" wheel spacers on the stock wheels with stock tire size of 275/55-20. Had a little rub, but only at full lock. If I didn't have the spacers, it likely would not have rubbed.

 

[GreyStone]

Late to the party, but I ran a 2" front, 1" rear lift for almost a year on the stock shocks with no problem. I didn't huck it on some whoops, though. It's a 2WD pavement pounder. I also had 1.5" wheel spacers on the stock wheels with stock tire size of 275/55-20. Had a little rub, but only at full lock. If I didn't have the spacers, it likely would not have rubbed.

Which rear shocks on the rear ?

 

[iamdub]

Which rear shocks on the rear ?

Original AutoRide/Auto-Leveling shocks. The ALC system was inoperable at the time due to blown bellows.

 

[CAMASO]

Late to the party, but I ran a 2" front, 1" rear lift for almost a year on the stock shocks with no problem. I didn't huck it on some whoops, though. It's a 2WD pavement pounder. I also had 1.5" wheel spacers on the stock wheels with stock tire size of 275/55-20. Had a little rub, but only at full lock. If I didn't have the spacers, it likely would not have rubbed.

@iamdub, what wheel spacers are you using?

 

[iamdub]

@iamdub, what wheel spacers are you using?

WERE using. Took them off when I removed the lift to lower it.

I had these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GQECY16/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 They were $10 cheaper back then. I never had a problem with them and they've been on my brother's 4WD Sierra for about a year now. We both drive "spiritedly" and he tows.

IMO, for a small lift, the wheels need to come out a little to maintain the proportions. Otherwise, it looks tall and skinny. The improved appearance is definitely worth the very minor rubbing. If I wanted to spend the extra money, I would've gotten 2" spacers for the rear since it's narrower than the front from the factory. But, a set of four in one size was considerably cheaper than two pairs of different sizes.

 

[CAMASO]

I agree the wheels need to come out a bit to be proportionate. I laughed when I read driving spiritedly! I’m going to purchase a set of spacers, so I appreciate the background. Thanks again for the link.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

I agree the wheels need to come out a bit to be proportionate. I laughed when I read driving spiritedly! I’m going to purchase a set of spacers, so I appreciate the background. Thanks again for the link.

@CAMASO I did that a few months ago. it was pretty straight forward you just need to cut the tips of your studs off to fit, like half an inch is all you cut off and its unthreaded so you aren't hurting anything.

 

[iamdub]

I agree the wheels need to come out a bit to be proportionate. I laughed when I read driving spiritedly! I’m going to purchase a set of spacers, so I appreciate the background. Thanks again for the link.

Be sure to get hub-centric spacers with whichever ones you get, if you don't get the ones in that link.

 

[iamdub]

@CAMASO I did that a few months ago. it was pretty straight forward you just need to cut the tips of your studs off to fit, like half an inch is all you cut off and its unthreaded so you aren't hurting anything.

This is correct. I think any spacer less than 1.75" thick requires the studs to be trimmed. I think I cut off about 3/8", but I wanted to cut the minimum necessary. You're just trimming off some of the unthreaded excess length- no worries.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

This is correct. I think any spacer less than 1.75" thick requires the studs to be trimmed. I think I cut off about 3/8", but I wanted to cut the minimum necessary. You're just trimming off some of the unthreaded excess length- no worries.

@iamdub I might end up going with 1.75 in the rear, the front seems to stick out quite a bit more than the back

 

[CAMASO]

@CAMASO I did that a few months ago. it was pretty straight forward you just need to cut the tips of your studs off to fit, like half an inch is all you cut off and its unthreaded so you aren't hurting anything.

Sounds good appreciate it!

 

[iamdub]

@iamdub I might end up going with 1.75 in the rear, the front seems to stick out quite a bit more than the back

It does stick out more. A wider front track reduces turning radius (cuz you're making a rectangle follow a circle) and helps with stability at high speed turns, such as with on/off ramps.

I thought the rear was 1" narrower. That's why I usually suggest 2" spacers in the rear and 1.5" in the front. It wouldn't hurt to measure yours before you order them, though.