Leveling Silverado

[sierraz71]

Here is what you need to do. These are aftermarket keyways. None of that ford bull. I have them on my 2003 z71, and i fit 33x11.5 Super Swamper Thornbirds.

http://www.truckin-sanantonio.com/pr...t.asp&ID=74904

you will easily be able to fit 285/75's with no rub whatsoever.

[FD-1508]

Turned up the torsion bars today 2003 1500HD. 10 turns got over 1 inch I have had people tell me it will mess up my allignment and some say it wont wish I knew for sure. This is the first chevy I ever had. I have had it seven days, now it has started, flowmasters tomorrow then K&N FIPK should be here by friday. what chip do you all recomend? I'm trying to get better gas mileage..

[jdugan]

Hypertech hands down.

[YBNRML]

Do I need any special tools to change this keyway? When I change this keyway do I still have to crank the bars or does just changing out the keyway level the truck?

[jdugan]

this site will tell you absolutely everything you need to know. and has terriffic pics: http://www.fullsizechevy.com/fscu/fordkeys.shtml

[Sivart]

One thing to think about is, as you raise the front end by adjusting the torsion bars you will get a stiffer ride and also you will not have as much down travel in the suspension. For those that still want the extra lift energy suspension makes thinner bump stops for the front and they will allow another 1" of lift up front. It will be hard on the cv joints if you wheel it hard.

[sierraz71]

Thinner bump stops? Please tell me more about this. I dont do any hard wheeling, mostly just play from time to time. How does this give you another 1" in the front? Any info will help. Thanks.

-Chris-

[Sivart]

When you adjust the torsion bars to the point that the truck is not longer getting any higher it is because the a-frame is against the bump stop. The factory bump stops are usually about an inch and a half thick(maybe a bit more) Remove those and install energy suspension bump stop which is about 1/2" thick and keep on cranking. When I worked at a 4wheel drive shop we did this on road trucks only and only when the customer knew the risks of frontend wear this can cause not to mention the stiffer ride.

[Sivart]

Remember you can fit 285/75/r16's on the factory wheels without a lift at all. Throw in a 1.5 to 2" rear add-a-leaf and crank the frontend up a half inch or so and wallah, you have a stocky looking truck with 33" tall tires and still have a good ride with very little money (except the tires).

[jdugan]

when you do that though... the allignment gets all fucked up because the camber is off. If you look at the truck from the front, the tires will point inward... then they wear faster and it looks like shit from the front.... that i why i did not want to go that route.

[YBNRML]

Whats the purpose of changing out your stock keyway if you end up in the same position (i.e. stiff ride and accelerated ware)?

[Sivart]

Yes that is correct You WILL have to have someone that knows what they are doing to align it. It can be done but not by your average alignment guy that just aligns to "within specs" because that will not work.

[jdugan]

so it can be done??? ... when the tire company tried puttin on BFG atko's 285/75/16's he said that there was no way they would work... the front tires rubbing... the allignment... it was all horrible... but you say that it can be done with perfect allignment? Have you seen a silverado with these tires that does not rub and has perfect allignment???

[Sivart]

I own one. Matter of fact I have owned 2, Z-71 extended cab trucks with the 285/75/16 and the add-a-leaf on the rear. They both drive great.I also have 4 friends that have this exact same set up. None of us cranked the front up more than a half inch simply because the trucks did not need it. Now keep in mind this is with the factory wheels. As far as getting a good alignment I have (now this will be hard to swallow) over 85,000 miles on my BFG's. I actually have the proof because of the tire warranty they wrote down the mileage of the truck when they were put on.
Now I do admit I rotate them every 5 to 7,000 miles.
They WILL fit on a half ton Z71. Now on a 3/4 ton 4x4 the same tire will rub up front if you get it twisted up because of the offset a-arms.
Go back to the same tire company and have them install the 285's up front and check it for yourself.

[jdugan]

there is my problem... i am running the tires on Mickey Thompson Classic II rims.... they are offset a little by nature of the design... but you are saying that if i take my factory rims and say have bridgestone revo's that are 285's put on that i should only have to crank up to torsion bars about a half inch??? also, when i do that with the factory rims you are saying that the camber won't be messed up and that the tires will be perfectly aligned??? How does that makes sense? when you crank the torsion bars you are in turn crankin those pit arms up.