2014 Silverado Level/Lift Questions and Concerns

[CRolandLJ]

Hello All,

I've got a 2014 Silverado Crew Cab Z71 and would like to at least level out the front while keeping the vehicle as stock (both in ride and appearance) as possible. My low front end has already cost me a factory mud flap and I think a slight rake or no rake at all with slightly larger tires looks great on these trucks. What i'm really looking for is someone with first hand experience (either in this body style or the previous) with a level either using Bilstein 5100's or some other relatively simple modification and perhaps even pictures? I'm under then impression you throw the new shocks in and then get an alignment and your truck sits a couple inches higher in front. Is this right?

I'm probably about 10k miles away from needing tires so i'd like to get this done now and be able to get a slightly larger tire when the originals wear out.

My main reason for this lift is aesthetic but like i mentioned, the low front end is kinda troubling when doing anything more than a fire road. I'm in Texas but get up to Colorado pretty often and like to find good fly fishing spots or take trails like the alpine loop, etc. Mostly just having a low range is enough for me but a leveled out front should get me anywhere I'm comfortable going in a truck this size that cost this much. Attached is a pic of my truck as is, the day I brought it home about 15 months ago.

 

[p nut]

I've got an f150 that I just bought and contemplating the same. For what I'm looking for: basically little more clearance for 33's and admittantly, looks, I'm just doing a spacer lift up front using spacers from Autosprings. Mild lift of 1.5-2" or so. $100 shipped for the part from the company based in Idaho (MUSA!). I'm going to install it myself once I get enough motivation.

My past trucks (Tacoma/4Runners), I'd have gone with something more "proper" like OME, Sonoran, etc. But these full size trucks ride good enough as-is and with a mild lift of 1.5"-2", it won't affect the ride quality. Good luck.

 

[thezentree]

I have a 2008 Sierra with a Rough Country leveling kit. It's basically a composite spacer that fits between the lower control arms and the bottom of the shock module. I installed it myself with hand tools over the course of about 6 hours. The instructions that came with the kit were very detailed and made installation simple - just make sure you have all the tools they list, and an extra set of hands to get everything bolted back together really comes in handy. You will also need an alignment afterwards. If I recall correctly, I got right at 2" of lift in the front and I'm running 285/70R17s now.

I've put something like 80,000 miles on the truck since then and haven't had any problems with the leveling kit, nor have I noticed any change to the ride quality. Sometime this spring I'm going to go to Bilstein 5100s, but I'm going to leave the shocks at stock height and keep using the spacer, since I have heard that the ride can get stiffer at the higher settings on the 5100s.

 

[Bushcoat]

Only level kits ive ever put in these trucks are spacers that either go above or below or both of the strut assembly. Many sizess are available from many manufacturing companies. From 1.25"-2.5". Rough country has a 3.5" kit, which is a bit more involved but has diff drop brackets. I think about 1.75" is what you need to be "level" and fit 33s. The 07-13 trucks share the same front suspension.

First thing I did to my '15 before it left the dealership was remove the front valence before I ripped it off on something as low as a parking curb. Thats my temporary solution until i can get some aftermarket bumpers on that can actually bump into things.
Also a very worthwhile investment, the '16's come with lower front edge bed protectors similar to what Toyota uses on their trucks, after tax mine were less than $30 CDN for the pair. 2way tape on and really save the stone chips, I had a few on the driver's side after about 1000 miles.

 

[CRolandLJ]

ok, great information. So with a spacer kit there's no need to replace shocks with a longer shock because shock and spring are offset by the spacer? Forgive my ignorance, this is my first IFS vehicle. Came from a LJ

 

[p nut]

ok, great information. So with a spacer kit there's no need to replace shocks with a longer shock because shock and spring are offset by the spacer? Forgive my ignorance, this is my first IFS vehicle. Came from a LJ

Correct. If you don't want to do this yourself, you can have a shop do it. At the Ford dealership, they quoted me $399, so expect around that. Definitely get it aligned afterwards.

Here is what they look like for your truck:

 

[mccustomize]

This was my brother's 14' 1500 4WD, this was just a 2.5" leveling kit with 33x12.50R17 Terra grapplers. Truck rode and drove great with this setup.

The spacers that go on top of the strut are a little more difficult to install, the spacers that go on the bottom are a breeze.

 

[deminimis]

I can only speak to the NBS Silverados, but I did a Cognito kit on my former 07/08. Frankly, it seemed like the best solution out there. Also, there was a myriad of upgrades that addressed some of the shortcomings (weak points) of the IFS design. Nor Cal was great to work with. Got my shocks custom valved. I was extremely pleased and it proved it's worth in Baja. Install was no big deal. Here's a leveling kit for you: http://norcaltruck.com/index.php/component/com_ixxocart/Itemid,591/id,735/p,product/parent,15/

 

[*TRD*]

I'd be careful with the spacers that go above the oem shocks, they will cause excess wear on the ball joints. I have installed replacement coilovers on GM trucks and the upper and lower ball joints do limit travel.

Since you have a new truck it would make sense to buy a quality replacement such as Bilstein or Fox Performance Series. Both are available with a 1" lift and won't cause your suspension to wear prematurely.

 

[Bushcoat]

I can only speak to the NBS Silverados, but I did a Cognito kit on my former 07/08. Frankly, it seemed like the best solution out there. Also, there was a myriad of upgrades that addressed some of the shortcomings (weak points) of the IFS design. Nor Cal was great to work with. Got my shocks custom valved. I was extremely pleased and it proved it's worth in Baja. Install was no big deal. Here's a leveling kit for you: http://norcaltruck.com/index.php/component/com_ixxocart/Itemid,591/id,735/p,product/parent,15/

That's a 2500/3500 kit.


Either way, these level kits add extra strain on balljoint's and steering components. The ones using properly engineered replacement upper control arms will help reduce balljoint wear and make for a bit better ride, but these kits still take a toll on steering parts.

Like mentioned above, the lower spacers are easier to install than the uppers, and are dirt cheap. Rough country 2" are about $50 iirc.

I'm debating a mazzulla kit for mine with king coilovers, I'm interested in something that will perform as well as look good. What's holding me back are the cold, salty winters we face up here. Might just go with cheap spacers for now until I figure out what to do with wheels and tires.

 

[CRolandLJ]

This was my brother's 14' 1500 4WD, this was just a 2.5" leveling kit with 33x12.50R17 Terra grapplers. Truck rode and drove great with this setup.

The spacers that go on top of the strut are a little more difficult to install, the spacers that go on the bottom are a breeze.

That looks great, how many miles has he put on this set up? Ball joints are something i've worried about but i'm not sure if its 10% faster to replace them or like twice as fast....

 

[kylevd23]

Very true on the leveling kits wearing out ball joints on these Chevy/GM trucks. But I've seen kits that address that with aftermarket control arms such as the cognito leveling kit. Shouldn't be a problem.

 

[p nut]

Is this is GM-specific issue? Friend of mine has been running a spacer on his 07 Tundra since brand new. No issues to date. I haven't seen any reports on Fords either.

 

[CRolandLJ]

Is this is GM-specific issue? Friend of mine has been running a spacer on his 07 Tundra since brand new. No issues to date. I haven't seen any reports on Fords either.

I'm not sure but i've definitely heard about it in relation to GM trucks prior to this discussion. And i can't seem to get anyone who has experience with exactly how premature this wear is... like 80k miles instead of 100k.... or 15k in stead of 60... i have no idea what to expect on ball joints on my truck to begin with.

 

[Burb One]

On our non-offroad stock NBS suburban(don't have it anymore but had it up to 200k) and NNBS friend's Silverado (100K+ miles work truck) the ball joints are original.

My current offroad/towing NBS suburban I replaced them at 100k, and even with a leveling kit for 50k miles they still looked good. For off-road reliability I now replace them at the 50k major service mark and am over 220k miles. Now a few changes in, with the NAPA brand ones, not one has felt like it's failing when replacing them... However, I must say, getting the lower ball joints out after a few thousand miles, is sometimes a PAIN. The usual caliper tool works super easy 9 out of 10 times, however I have had one or two where a 20ton shop press with heat and prep barely did the job.