Lift/Leveling Kit Advice for a Beginner

[mattjones]

I'm looking for a lift/leveling kit to get my '08 Tahoe LT off the ground a little and give it a more rugged look. The problem is, I know nothing about lifting other than hearing from a friend that a "body-lift" is the cheap way to go but it will seriously damage the truck in the end. Basically I'm looking for the most economical way to safely get the Hoe about 1 to 3 inches higher. I'm sure I'll upgrade the tires as well whenever I make the lift happen. Currently I have the stock 275/55r20s on there and eventually I'd like to get something like what this guy has.

So what's the difference between a lift kit and a leveling kit? What's the approximate cost? Is it something I can do myself or would I probably need a mechanic? And do you have any recommendations on a specific lift or leveling kit?

 

[mattjones]

Anyone?

 

[felixgun]

Leveling kits use a spacer that sits either on top, bottom, or both top & bottom, of the struts up front. Then a rear billet rear coil spacer is used for the rear. I just leveled my avy with a 2.5 Top Gun Customz leveling kit up front that consists of a 2" horse shoe shaped spacer that sits on the bottom of the strut, while a circular .5" spacer sits on top. The have leveling kits that go up to 3.0" but I hear 2.5" is the safest bet and going any higher could hurt your front end more. For the rear, I use a 1.5 rear billet spacer I bought on eBay. Leveling kits can cost anywhere from 100-300. I got a mobile mechanic to install mine for $135 which is relatively cheap as it could cost 200-300 depending on the shop. I went this route because it maintains ride quality and it's most practical as my avy is a daily driver.

Body lifts are basically just a bunch of spacers (anywhere from 1.5"-3")... Literally. It's a cheap way to get more height and people sometimes do a body lift + a leveling kit. These go for about 200-400 and labor will be another 400-600.

Suspension lifts are definitely the best route but also the most expensive. Labor will cost 500-900 and a 6" suspension lift will cost about 1500-3000 depending on brand.

 

[mattjones]

Leveling kits use a spacer that sits either on top, bottom, or both top & bottom, of the struts up front. Then a rear billet rear coil spacer is used for the rear. I just leveled my avy with a 2.5 Top Gun Customz leveling kit up front that consists of a 2" horse shoe shaped spacer that sits on the bottom of the strut, while a circular .5" spacer sits on top. The have leveling kits that go up to 3.0" but I hear 2.5" is the safest bet and going any higher could hurt your front end more. For the rear, I use a 1.5 rear billet spacer I bought on eBay. Leveling kits can cost anywhere from 100-300. I got a mobile mechanic to install mine for $135 which is relatively cheap as it could cost 200-300 depending on the shop. I went this route because it maintains ride quality and it's most practical as my avy is a daily driver.

Body lifts are basically just a bunch of spacers (anywhere from 1.5"-3")... Literally. It's a cheap way to get more height and people sometimes do a body lift + a leveling kit. These go for about 200-400 and labor will be another 400-600.

Suspension lifts are definitely the best route but also the most expensive. Labor will cost 500-900 and a 6" suspension lift will cost about 1500-3000 depending on brand.

I'd like to get a few buddies who are more experienced with this than I am and do the labor ourselves. I was thinking that about 3" would work, though I'm open to going as high as 6". So are you saying that leveling kits are bad for the truck? I don't want to go with a "safer" leveling kit. I want to go with safe. Does this mean that a true suspension lift is really the only route I should consider?

 

[felixgun]

Supposedly leveling kits and body lift kits tear up your front end faster than usual. With a 2.5" leveling kit in the front, it won't do as much damage versus putting in a 3"+. That's why I went with the 2.5" TGC kit. Yea I hear the way to go is definitely suspension lift. The ones for AutoRide cost way more so if you don't have AutoRide you could get a 6" suspension list for around $1k.

 

[STORMIN08]

the difference is .....

level kit, uses spsacers to achieve more height, with no change to mounting point os suspension, it increases angles on ball joints and adds stress to the joints,

a lift , usually has brackets to lower suspension mounting points , this keep as close to factory angles as possible.

do some homewrok, and do not go cheap, a well engineered system is more costly , but in the end usually is a better product.

 

[mattjones]

Supposedly leveling kits and body lift kits tear up your front end faster than usual. With a 2.5" leveling kit in the front, it won't do as much damage versus putting in a 3"+. That's why I went with the 2.5" TGC kit. Yea I hear the way to go is definitely suspension lift. The ones for AutoRide cost way more so if you don't have AutoRide you could get a 6" suspension list for around $1k.

It's looking like I'd definitely have to go suspension lift. I'd only really need about 3" though. Do you think more than that would look a little weird for a non-Z71 Tahoe?

I've heard all this stuff about Autoride but I haven't been able to figure out a definite way to tell if I have it. The owner's manual gives Autoride about a half page to explain what it is, but only leaves it at "If your Tahoe has Autoride..." Any idea how to tell for sure whether or not I have it? From what I understand it's standard on LTZ's and available on LT's. Mine is an LT.

 

[yates ™]

the difference is .....

level kit, uses spsacers to achieve more height, with no change to mounting point os suspension, it increases angles on ball joints and adds stress to the joints,

a lift , usually has brackets to lower suspension mounting points , this keep as close to factory angles as possible.

do some homewrok, and do not go cheap, a well engineered system is more costly , but in the end usually is a better product.

What this guy said. You will not have auto ride since you have an LT. Small leveling kits could be ok but the larger ones I would stay away from. Personally I would stay away from bodylifts as they look horrible and I wouldn't feel safe with one.

 

[mattjones]

What this guy said. You will not have auto ride since you have an LT. Small leveling kits could be ok but the larger ones I would stay away from. Personally I would stay away from bodylifts as they look horrible and I wouldn't feel safe with one.

Any idea what a good brand of suspension lift is? Preferably about 3" (maybe up to 6")?

 

[yates ™]

CST makes a 4", Fabtech, Cognito, and FTS make larger ones.

 

[felixgun]

Superlift makes a 6" that's way cheaper than all those lifts listed above.

 

[yates ™]

Superlift makes a 6" that's way cheaper than all those lifts listed above.

Do not know anything about superlift but usually there is a reason they are cheaper.