Lifted/leveled Reverse it?

[JoshuaS]

Hi everybody,

So I bought this 2011 Denali XL for the wifey as a Christmas present 3 days ago, while I'm waiting to give it to her im falling in love with it lol. So as you can see from the pics it appears to have like a 2" leveling kit i suppose. The front looks just a hair higher than the back. My mechanic buddy says he saw a spacer on top of the stabilizer. Now he also said the rear still has the oem air ride system with what appears to be a new air compressor.

But he said the air bags around the shocks are rotted off, they are just wide open. Im not a big fan of the look of the front higher than the back so I'd like to remove the lift/level spacers. Can I just remove them and thats it or is there other components that would have to be replaced or brought back and would it require a tech2 to reprogram? As far as the bags being wide open i don't notice any issues when driving it feels fine hitting bumps, should I switch to shocks or just go back with air ride or just let them be? And im wondering if they are open because when it was leveled they didn't add spacers to the bags maybe?

 

[mb1500]

Looks like the tires might not be stock size. If they are larger you might need the level up front for clearance.

 

[drakon543]

you will atleast need to get an alignment redone

 

[adventurenali92]

Tires look like the factory 275/55 series. I have a client with a 13 Denali with the BFG KO2 tires on hers just like the picture posted, and hers are identical in size to those in the pic. If the pictured tires is indeed stock size, they will fit without the level kit. Her 2013 is not leveled at all and her KO2s fit with zero issue.

 

[JoshuaS]

They are stock size tires.

 

[Da90]

Pull the front spacer and get an alignment. Check out Arnott Suspension for the rear. They have a passive kit and an air ride kit.

Hope the compressor isn’t burnt up from trying to fill those rotted bags.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Joseph Garcia]

You should definitely replace the rear shocks, if they are toast. As stated above, it is your choice for going with a replacement air ride package or a passive package. My Yukon XL was converted to a passive package, before I purchased it, and I have no issues with it.

If I am not mistaken, if you purchase an air ride package, after installation and height rod adjustments, you should be able to achieve a level truck, without removing any spacers in the front suspension.

 

[JoshuaS]

Has anybody tried these? Very cheap, but if I replaced with these, would i get the dash light issue?

 

[JoshuaS]

Tires look like the factory 275/55 series. I have a client with a 13 Denali with the BFG KO2 tires on hers just like the picture posted, and hers are identical in size to those in the pic. If the pictured tires is indeed stock size, they will fit without the level kit. Her 2013 is not leveled at all and her KO2s fit with zero issue.

They are 285/55/R20...do you think they would still have enough clearance?

 

[adventurenali92]

They are 285/55/R20...do you think they would still have enough clearance?

Ah ok that’s why. I couldn’t see width which is why they looked the same. Those are wider than stock so on that I’m not sure. But I’m guessing the level was probably to accommodate the wider tires so they don’t rub anywhere.

 

[TahoeLTZ2012]

Replacing the blown air shocks should lift the rear an inch or two.
Just did replacement myself with the rebuilt Arnott"s

 

[Rocket Man]

Has anybody tried these? Very cheap, but if I replaced with these, would i get the dash light issue?
View attachment 265217

I would get the Arnotts, those Chinese ones won’t last a year. Ask @adventurenali92 about that. And figure on their compressor too, it’s most likely shot. Somebody might have pulled the fuse or disconnected it though to save it. You’ll have to do some troubleshooting. Your ride will improve with new Arnotts. If you decide to replace with standard shocks you need to replace the springs to Z71’s or use Arnotts passive kit.

 

[adventurenali92]

I would get the Arnotts, those Chinese ones won’t last a year. Ask @adventurenali92 about that. And figure on their compressor too, it’s most likely shot. Somebody might have pulled the fuse or disconnected it though to save it. You’ll have to do some troubleshooting. Your ride will improve with new Arnotts. If you decide to replace with standard shocks you need to replace the springs to Z71’s or use Arnotts passive kit.

Yup.... I thought I was getting genuine arnott shocks, and for them cheap on ebay. Cheap Chinese knock offs showed up in the box. And in less than a year, I was driving in the snow, and managed to drive over a huge rut in the snow from where rain had melted the snow down to the pavement, and when I went over the rut not knowing, my rear passenger shock full extended, and when it compressed again it blew the air bladder off the shock. do yourself a favor and spend the money on the new genuine arnott shocks. Spend the money once, get the good quality and reliability out of them and improve you’re ride quality.