lifting with torsion keys?

[vortecforever]

How do you lift the front end of the 2000 silverado with the torsion keys that are in there stock? or can you? I would like to go with the 4 inch blocks in the back and I'm not quite sure how to easily lift the front of these newer trucks. Any help would be appreciated.

[memphismatt]

You can lift these trucks 1" to 1 1/2" by simply cranking the torsion bars up by running the bolts on the keys all the way in. The aftermarket keys clock the torsion bars further around essentially doing the same thing as a longer bolt (if using a longer bolt were possible) I think you only get 2" out of those.

Now, I always heard that cranking the torsion bars past the factory specs greatly shortens there life. So I would assume that the keys would also. Probably the best thing is those darn pricey lift kits.


Hope that help

[vortecforever]

thanks for the response, in my research on this issue I happened to find another forum on fullsizedchevys that has alot of talk on these torsion keys and the general responses are that yes you can lift them a bit but it definitely wears things out quicker so I guess if I want those extra 4 inches it's going to be damn near $2000.

[hilljob26]

well,i have lifted over 100 chevy trucks from 88-06 and each one was the same.i usually use a set of keys which would normally give you 1 1/2 to 2 but i started making a shock extender.you get an extra inch out of it.thats why your trucks ride so rough after you have done this.i put a 3 inch block in the back,keys and shock extenders in the front,and i get a 3 inch lift.you can do the same thing with a longer shock,but i have yet to see one out on the market

[vortecforever]

can I just get like a Rancho shock then, would they be long enough or does it still need a shock extender. This is my first newer truck style, my old Blazer was so easy I just threw in the blocks at the back and extra springs in the front and waa laa 4" lift.
What kind of job is it to turn these keysanyway, and how did you make a shock extender
Thanks for the help guys

[finch]

doing anything with the t-bars in my experience greatly and rapidly turns ride quality to ****. keys are better than cranking IMO, and extenders can be bought for not a lot of money. i think aftermarket shocks are only for significant lift like 3+ inches and there will be issues. i would just do keys and extenders in front and an add a leaf in the rear, summit has them for $77 a pair for my 2005, yours should be similarly priced.

andy

[vortecforever]

thanks, sounds reasonable, I'm not ready to put $2000 down on a lift quite yet.

[tswore]

I lifted the wifes 01 denali with torsion keys got about 2 inches in the front. rear has coil springs in the rear so i used coil spring spacers which gave me 1.75 inches. now clears 305/55/20 (33/12.50/20) no problem. i will see if i can find a pic to post up.

[tswore]

found one

[vortecforever]

looks good, bet the wife loves drivin that thing