Installing a rough country leveling lift kit on Silverado 1500 is one of the most cost-effective and straightforward things to do, and it won’t affect the truck and its towing capacity. Just replace a few parts then install the kit, yet that does not mean you can do this process without knowing the basics. Use a 2-inch leveling lift kit for your Silverado.
The leveling kit only lifts the front of the truck to level the front to the back. It does not take much time, only an hour. Changing the suspension lift means changing the vehicle’s alignment. Follow the steps to give your Chevy better looks.
Tools You Will Need
- Floor jack
- Jack stand
- Various size wrenches
- Pliers
- Ratchet
- Extra nuts and bolts
- Hammer
- Tape measure
- Auto spring compressor or a spring package
- Safety equipment
How to Install Leveling Kit Silverado 1500: Installation Instructions
The installation process of leveling kit needs some measures to be taken care of. Here are the guides to install it very easily.
Step 1: Take the Measurement
First of all, measure both sides from the floor to the bottom of the tires, and it is 35.3 inches. Write down the measurement in a notepad.
Step 2: Remove the Wheel
After taking the measurement, lift your truck with a floor jack and jack stand, then take off the wheel with a 20mm socket. Take out all the bolts from the upper control arm and lose the bracket that holds the speed sensor. Lose the nuts on the upper ball joint with an 18 mm wrench.
Step 3: Separate the Ball Joint
After removing the ball joint, hit the knuckle gently to separate the ball joint. Spray some lube on those areas, then pull off the axle nut so the cv joints won’t be hyperextended and damage the axle. Careful about the wires.
Step 4: Separate the Strut from the Speed Sensor
Take a hammer, gently hit the casting on the knuckle, and remove the bolt from the strut with a 15 mm socket wrench. Remove all the clips from there.
Step 5: Install the Spacer
You don’t have to loosen the sway bar to stick the spacer between the strut and control arm if you lose the bar on the other side. Put the bolt down from the top. If the strut still has tension lining up, the bolt will be slightly tricky.
In this case, loosen the top nuts to reduce the pressure, then place the coil spring spacer so the spring seat can work better and make a quick lift. Install a spring compressor too.
Step 6: Install the Nut and Bolts
The leveling kit has nuts, a washer, and bolts. Move the knuckle a little and install the bolt, washer, and nuts from the kit. The bolt head should be going down while installing. Use a different size wrench to tighten the bolts and nuts. 18mm wrench for upper strut nuts and 17mm wrench for bolts.
Step 7: Connect the Upper Ball Joint
The upper control arm has a spindle, connecting the upper ball joint to the spindle with an 18mm torque wrench. Do not stud on the ball joint.
Step 8: Reinstall the Steering Linkage Nuts
Reinstall the steering linkage nuts by holding the tie rod bottom. Go to the other side, lose the upper strut bolt, raise the control arm, and connect the ball joint.
Step 9: Reinstall Other Parts
Reinstall the sway bar, nuts, brackets, axle nuts, etc., with a torque wrench, then plug in the connectors. Reinstall the skid plate, and wheels then remove the jack stand to lower the truck.
Measure the wheel from the ground again to see if your truck is a 2-inch lift in the front. Adjust the headlights; otherwise, your truck may blind the people. Remember one thing, installing the leveling kit does not affect the brake and does not increase the truck weight.
How Much Does It Cost to Install a Leveling Kit On a Silverado?
Any decent Chevy lift kit prices depend on the kit types that you want to install.
The home leveling kit price starts at $30, and high-performing kits could be $500-$2000. You can use equipment that comes with an anti-sway bar link, but the price is higher.
Can You Install a Leveling Kit Yourself?
If you have proper wrenching abilities and know-how to do a complex installation, you can install the leveling kit yourself. Also, it would be best if you had a variety of standard hand tools to do this job at home.
Are Leveling Kits Bad for Trucks?
Leveling kit does some best things for your Silverado, like changing the overall look, giving better handling power, operating other equipment on the front, avoiding sag to flat issues, etc. Still, it also has some downside that affects your truck. It could void the vehicle warranty.
Also, the suspension could wear out quickly. Sometimes the kit impacts the fuel economy of your vehicle. However, using a high-quality spacer and fittings will reduce those impacts.
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