If you haven't noticed yet, this issue is chock-full of all kinds of budget lifts. We know it's a tough economy so we're doing what we can to help you find bargains to get your truck performing better off-road. We found another great deal through Rough Country, a 2-inch leveling kit for the Chevy/GMC 4WD 1500 pickup that retails for under $200.
The kit consists of torsion keys, rear lift blocks, and shocks, and will raise your GM truck 2 inches so you can stuff larger tires underneath. This will give the rig the ground clearance it needs for more capable off-road performance.
We turned to the experts at T&J Performance Center in Orange, California, for assistance with the lift on our '05 GMC 1500 Chevy. T&Js technicians knocked this install out in a little over an hour. If you're more of a driveway installer, it should take about the same amount of time as long as you have the tools.
 1. Rough Country's GM lift...  1. Rough Country's GM lift uses torsion keys, which rotate the torsion bars and lift the front of the vehicle approximately 2 inches. This minimal amount of lift shouldn't place any irregular wear on the truck's driveline components. However, as with any IFS suspension lift, we recommend an alignment after the installation. |  2. Replacing the torsion key...  2. Replacing the torsion key on the truck's suspension is easy, but the proper tool should be used. Torsion keys are under a tremendous load, so don't use C-clamps to relieve the tension. The special tool relieves tension on the torsion key so the adjustment bolt and nut block can be removed. |  3. Once the torsion key, bolt,...  3. Once the torsion key, bolt, and nut block are removed, the torsion bar should slide slightly forward. The torsion bar might need a little persuading with a hammer and a drift pin punch. The factory key is removed; then, following the removal steps in reverse, the new lift torsion key is installed. |
 4. The rear suspension of...  4. The rear suspension of the truck is lifted with 2-inch blocks. This step is completed by first removing the shocks. The old block is removed and the new block is installed with the small end of it facing the front of the truck. Afterward, the blocks are bolted in place with the kit's Grade 5 U-bolts. |  5. To accommodate the newfound...  5. To accommodate the newfound height clearance and damp the ride, longer Nitro 9000 shocks are also provided for the front and rear of the truck. After installation, the kit and larger tires raised the truck an overall 21/2 inches and leveled the front. Since the factory leaf springs and torsion bars are retained, the ride is slightly stiffer, but very close to factory. |  6. The 2 inches of additional...  6. The 2 inches of additional clearance allowed us to install 285/70R17 E Nitto Terra Grapplers. We have had excellent on- and off-highway results with these tires in the past, even in extremely rocky wheeling. The mild all-terrain tread pattern is very quiet on the highway, yet offers excellent traction off-road. A huge savings can be found by mounting new tires on the factory wheels, as long as the rim width is correct. |