NORCAL SS Kit info/tech on how to level the rear of a 2015 up GM SUV

[Hutch08]

Just picked up the new grocery getter... 17 Tahoe LT with Max Tow pkg.

So far I swapped over the 22" Dubs from the 13' we're trading in, going to black out the chrome, tint, 3m and level out the rear end to lose the factory rake.

From factory it's 36" to wheel well up front and 38" out back. I wouldn't mind keeping 0.5-1" of rake, I occasionally tow a 5000lbs trailer.

It has the air ride shocks, so out of curiosity I pulled the air lines to see what the static height was. Rear dropped to 37.5" so looks like new springs are in order.

I've been talking with Tony from NorcalSS, he recommends the Belltech 23301 spring kit with shock relocators and I wouldn't need to mess with the air ride links.

Anyone have a similar set-up and what was your before and after measurements?

 

[Hutch08]

Heres the fender measurements:

With the rear shocks deflated:

 

[01SLE]

Are you sure he said dont mess with the links? If you drop it with the springs, the auto ride will lift it up as much as it can and max out the air lift.

I installed the springs, spacers, and both insulators and the truck actually dropped lower in the rear than the front and looked stupid. I needed the auto ride links adjusted to dial in exactly what height I wanted because I wanted a .5" rake from rear to front like you do.

 

[Hutch08]

What spring kit did you go with? And did you replace the Auto ride links?

Any idea on fender measurements before/after?

He said I don't need the Auto ride links.

 

[UATahoe]

I though the 5321 were the ones that didn't rub as well. Thought the 23301 sagged too much and rode rough. Now I am confused too.

 

[UATahoe]

My springs are the 5305

 

[Hutch08]

I though the 5321 were the ones that didn't rub as well. Thought the 23301 sagged too much and rode rough. Now I am confused too.

Yeah I can't believe how many spring options are available for these vehicles.

Also surprised how much variation there is in ride height from factory.

There is a lot of conflicting information on this and other forums. Trying to find out what will actually work before I place an order.

 

[01SLE]

I have the kit linked at the beginning of this thread with 5305 belltech springs and auto ride links.

Initially mine sat at 35 7/8 front and 37 3/4 rear. I installed the kit and used the spacers and both factory insulators. The rear dropped to 35 1/8 and looked stupid with the rear sagging. I adjusted the auto ride links that the kit came with and couldn't get enough adjustment to raise the rear up past 35 5/8. I made longer links out of 3" long 10-24 machines screws and raised the rear to 36 1/4.

It's perfect now, rides exactly like factory and the springs don't touch anywhere.

 

[Hutch08]

I have the kit linked at the beginning of this thread with 5305 belltech springs and auto ride links.

Initially mine sat at 35 7/8 front and 37 3/4 rear. I installed the kit and used the spacers and both factory insulators. The rear dropped to 35 1/8 and looked stupid with the rear sagging. I adjusted the auto ride links that the kit came with and couldn't get enough adjustment to raise the rear up past 35 5/8. I made longer links out of 3" long 10-24 machines screws and raised the rear to 36 1/4.

It's perfect now, rides exactly like factory and the springs don't touch anywhere.

I'm surprised it doesn't ride really stiff.
On my tahoe as you can see would be sitting 36/37.5 static. Air shocks bump it up 0.5" to 38 for 2" of rake.

You're using the air shocks to bump it up over an inch. My other concern is that when I tow the air shocks will only do so much and I'll be towing nose high.

I just want a straight answer on if there's a spring available to get me 1.5"-2" lower... then I'll use the air shocks to fine tune it for ~1" of rake.

 

[01SLE]

Rides beautifully. Trust me, I spent all my younger years driving lowered sports cars and don't want anything to do with that jarring, uncomfortable daily ride anymore. If this kit screwed up the comfort on this $70k truck, it would have been taken off the same night.

My only complaint is actually in the front. All of these trucks seem to float up and down when they hit bumps at any significant speed, even those with magnetic ride control. But I've heard from a few users that Bilstein 5100s up front don't add any harshness to the ride but reduce that floating bounce feeling significantly. That's my next step.

What's the range of the auto level shocks? 0-3"?

As for towing, there's a helper bag setup available if you've got excessive tounge weight you tow regularly.

The fact that there are multiple spring options out there and people who ordered this kit a year ago got different springs than people ordering today is frustrating while trying to do research. Also, I only read about one other person getting over 2" of drop like I did from swapping the 5305 springs, and it was on a different year with 2wd. With different spring numbers and even different results from the same springs, you're not going to get a one-size-fits-all answer.

 

[Hutch08]

Rides beautifully. Trust me, I spent all my younger years driving lowered sports cars and don't want anything to do with that jarring, uncomfortable daily ride anymore. If this kit screwed up the comfort on this $70k truck, it would have been taken off the same night.

My only complaint is actually in the front. All of these trucks seem to float up and down when they hit bumps at any significant speed, even those with magnetic ride control. But I've heard from a few users that Bilstein 5100s up front don't add any harshness to the ride but reduce that floating bounce feeling significantly. That's my next step.

What's the range of the auto level shocks? 0-3"?

As for towing, there's a helper bag setup available if you've got excessive tounge weight you tow regularly.

The fact that there are multiple spring options out there and people who ordered this kit a year ago got different springs than people ordering today is frustrating while trying to do research. Also, I only read about one other person getting over 2" of drop like I did from swapping the 5305 springs, and it was on a different year with 2wd. With different spring numbers and even different results from the same springs, you're not going to get a one-size-fits-all answer.

Yeah man I agree.. I think the issue comes from the fact that physically you can put springs in there from any Yukon/tahoe/suburban/avalanche and it'll "fit". Then there's different height, stiffness, spacers, manufacturers, etc to throw into the mix.

Good to know that an inch on the shocks still rides fine... like you said, Tony advertises the Auto kits 1" to 4.5" of drop so I guess you can say they have over 3" of range.

I don't tow often, but it'll be interesting to see how low it sits when hooked up.

 

[400exr1]

Hi all. Long time lurker never posted. I purchased this kit, based on the feedback from this thread, about 6 months ago for my 15 Yukon Denali. The install was straight forward and ride quality was excellent.

Now 6 months and 8,000mi later the ride is now absolutely terrible. I have called Tony 3-4 times and have not reached him. My shocks are adding 5/8" ride height as currently adjusted.

I pulled the compressor fuse and bled all the air from the shocks and the ride quality was noticeably worse. Anyone with similar issues? I'm about ready to pull this stuff off and toss it in the trash.

Anyone that can help?

 

[gat0r]

^ i've had my kit on for over a year (& 15-20k miles) & it still rides great. & i tend to abuse it

i've only ever emailed tony & he always gets back to me within a day, if not a few minutes.
do you have his email?


how did you set yours up? which spacers?
are the shocks/lines leaking?

 

[01SLE]

I'm curious on what springs your kit came with too?

 

[400exr1]

I'm curious on what springs your kit came with too?

I believe they are the belltech 5305. Running the only spacer provided and both insulators. No leaks. No issues with factory air ride.

 

[400exr1]

^ i've had my kit on for over a year (& 15-20k miles) & it still rides great. & i tend to abuse it

i've only ever emailed tony & he always gets back to me within a day, if not a few minutes.
do you have his email?


how did you set yours up? which spacers?
are the shocks/lines leaking?

I don't have his email.

 

[16blkltz]

Hi all. Long time lurker never posted. I purchased this kit, based on the feedback from this thread, about 6 months ago for my 15 Yukon Denali. The install was straight forward and ride quality was excellent.

Now 6 months and 8,000mi later the ride is now absolutely terrible. I have called Tony 3-4 times and have not reached him. My shocks are adding 5/8" ride height as currently adjusted.

I pulled the compressor fuse and bled all the air from the shocks and the ride quality was noticeably worse. Anyone with similar issues? I'm about ready to pull this stuff off and toss it in the trash.

Anyone that can help?

Back in Nov/Dec of 2016 I started with a 2/3 drop from Mcgaughys (Chevy dealership installed and aligned). In Jan/Feb 2017 I installed the 4" belltech springs without spacers, and shortened my autoride rods/endlinks (I installed and later re-aligned at Chevy dealership). So far, my ride has been great and no issues.

Can you elaborate on "terrible"? Is your ride bouncier, bottoms-out, too stiff, etc., etc?

 

[400exr1]

Back in Nov/Dec of 2016 I started with a 2/3 drop from Mcgaughys (Chevy dealership installed and aligned). In Jan/Feb 2017 I installed the 4" belltech springs without spacers, and shortened my autoride rods/endlinks (I installed and later re-aligned at Chevy dealership). So far, my ride has been great and no issues.

Can you elaborate on "terrible"? Is your ride bouncier, bottoms-out, too stiff, etc., etc?

Ride is terribly bouncy. Rides like a low rider with no suspension travel. Not bottoming out.

 

[Tahoe14]

400exr1, his email address in listed in every post that he makes and is in the beginning of this thread.

 

[gat0r]

@400exr1
how low did you go?
are you sitting on the bump stops?
have you done the 'free travel mod'?