Did you know?In 'CSI: NY', Detective Stella Bonasera drives a GMT800 Chevy Avalanche.
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I myself am looking into doing a leveling kit. I got the same info about the Ford Keys and called my local Ford Stealership and they quoted me a price of $60 a piece for the keys!! Unless somebody knows where to get them cheaper I think I'm gonna end up going with a set of Tuff Country or Rough Country keys or some other company that deals in 4x4 suspension products. You can pick them up on EBay for about $100 or so. I found a set of 3/4 inch spacers by Daystar for the rear for $40 as well.
so just the keys arent enough? i still need spacers? and i cant keep the stock shocks?
I don't know for sure, you may want to check the specs on the 285/70/17 which I have (plenty of room) and the 33's that you want just to be sure you have enough room. As for the spacers, if you want to keep the rake (higher in the back) then you will also need to lift the rear of the AV. If you go with the Furd keys and raise the front about 2-2-1/2" then you will either need to replace the front shocks with longer ones or add shock extenders and use the same shocks. How many miles do you have on your AV? It might not be a bad idea to change the shocks?
Specifically what tire size/wheel combo and offset are you wanting to run? Do you party with your clothes on or off? (i.e. WBH or cladded). That is going to determine if keys are going to be what you need or if you will need something that will raise you AV higher. Some have simply cranked the torsion bar to accommodate the tires Fowlhunter is referencing but that is going to be dependent on several factors. So what I am trying to say is you may not necessarily need the keys or you may need more than just keys depending on what 33" tire you are wanting to run.
thing is that i just put new shocks on it. went with the rancho's. so if i use the ford set i cant use the same shocks? do you know the part number by chance for the keys? i wanna call the ford dealer and see how much they are.
Maybe try to sell the stock length shocks you just purchased? I wouldn't recommend using the stock length shocks unless you find the shock extender brackets. If you use the stock length shocks without the brackets you will destroy them. P/N for the Furd torsion bar adjusting keys is: XL3Z-5B328-CA. I hope I don't get crucified but see the attached link, I helped another member (Ski Edition) when he did his.
so this is a ford part? that any dealer should have? do you know where i can get the brackets without having to order and wait? this is something i wanna do today hopefully
First off, great looking AV!! I love the color!!!!Yes, any Furd dealer should be able to provide you with a quote for the keys. As for the brackets, I don't have a clue because I didn't go that way, sorry. As Darren and I stated (mine from a previous post) replacing the torsion bar keys may not be all that is needed to accommodate the 33" tires you want to go with, you may also need to go with a body lift?? Were you able to open the attached link on my previous post? There are pics in it!!!
im looking at the sidebiters in a 17'' and for the tire a bfg allterrain ko's in a 33"i have cladding also.http://www.jegs.com/i/Mickey-Thompson/672/%23179412/10002/-1?parentProductId=1149936if this doesnt work can you recommend something that will? i wanna get some height out of the tires
Looking at that tire you have some options for what you are describing as 33":285x70x17305x70x1733x12.50x17All of the above are different diameters and widths which is going to determine what you should go with as far as raising your AV to properly accommodate your tire/wheel combo. WHICH SIZE DO YOU PLAN ON GOING WITH?Also, looking at your pic it may be an illusion but it appears to me it is sitting a little lower than a normal stock AV?? Maybe that is due to the aftermarket shocks you put on? If so, this is going to affect what you need and want to do. You might be better off checking with a local Truck shop that specializes in lifts (don't got to a normal tire/wheel shop)and see what they recommend before you start plunking down money for keys, lifts, tires, wheels etc and then realize what you bought is not all going to work together. A good shop will recommend/order and they will mount and check for proper clearance & safety. If there are any issues a good shop will not make you pay for anything unless it all works together and you are satisfied. Just might save you a headache down the road. I've lifted a cladded 02 and my current 03 WBH (see my sig. for specs). Both had different wheel well clearances and both, I did different types of lifts to accommodate different tire sizes.
If price is the most important then you will go with the 285's as they will be the least expensive. On that note as FH said you should be good to go with Keys. , I've heard of some who simply can crank their torsion bar up and get these to fit but it's going to be trial and error. Where do you live? I can't believe there is no Truck shop close to you?
I don't think the shocks will make a difference in the height of your AV. I can tell you for a fact that you should be safe going with the Furd keys (cranking to get about 2-2-1/2" or so), 1-1/2" coil spring spacers, 4 longer shocks and 285/70/17 tires. That is my set up. You could attempt to crank on the stock keys to see how much you can get out of them but keep in mind you are going to increase the travel on the stock shocks which may not be long enough, in the end you will most likely blow out the seals and the shocks will start to leak. If you decide to go with the Furd keys and crank on them be sure you get your AV aligned.
If you go with the 285/70/17 the rear coil spring spacers are not needed, this is up to you. I personally wanted the rear of my AV to sit higher than the front, I didn't want a level stance. If you add the Furd keys, crank on the torsion bars and leave the factory length shocks they may not last that long? Your ride may be affected as well, when you raise the front and add longer shocks you will have more suspension travel.
FH, How much bolt do you have left on your keys? Been tweaking my front end with the new tires and just wondering with the 1 1/2 in the rear, you would probably need to use most of the bolt. Just wondering!
Hey Ski!! Good question, I'll have to take a look. Did you have a problem with the new tires rubbing?
If you are looking to go the cheapest route you can, crank the stock torsion bars and use the 285/70/17 - these tires are technically 32.7" tall. As FH stated, get a front end alignment after you are done. Many people have done that combination. You will probably need to do a small amount of modification to the rear of the driver's side wheel-well liner as the tire will rub slightly on the "bump" that you will see when you look toward the bottom center of the liner.
what kinda modification to the rear drivers side would have to be done?
Hey Ski! I have about 1/2 or so of bolt left on my key adjustment.
That's what I figured! Thanks! I would ask for pics, but still waiting on the bowtie pic!!
Ouch, damn that hurts. One of these days I'll find some time to sit down with my camera and upload to my computer.
Why don't you just come clean and admit that Gail is still running around with that cardboard bowtie!!
I didn't put any clear on it so I imagine that the elements have got the best of it by now!!
I bet it blew off before she got 1/2 mile down the road and it's still blowing around in the wind! And she still doesn't have a bowtie.
Fowlhunter Ski Edition
Don't be a hater!!
No hater here. Man, I love you like the brother I never had!!
well i ended up just doing tires on stock rims. lifted it with the stock torsions, no modifications, no rub what so ever.
Looks good letsndy!!Go fot it OBB!!!
Welcome!It is highly recommended to get the torsion key tool. Hopefully someone you know has one. I would try some local 4x4 shops and see if one of them would let you borrow it if you were to put a deposit down. I fyou end up buying one they run around $100. The route I went was trying to use a c-clamp and it flew across the garage a couple times, you will need some good nerves if going this route, the torsion bars are under a lot of pressure. The other things you will need is a floor jack, jack stands, sockets and ratchet or impact gun. If you were in the St. Louis I would help. Anymore questions, just ask.
Make sure you get a kit with shock extensions unless you are buying longer shocks.I went 6 months with a weird binding feeling in the suspension whenever I would go over speed bumps or hard bumps. I tried sway bar bushings and sprayed WD40 on bushings, etc.I finally bought some extensions for $20 off ebay and installed them Sunday. What a difference!I forgot how smooth the AV used to ride. No more binding over bumps. It now feels like it is riding on air again. Evidently the shocks were maxing out causing it to max out harshly causing almost a pogo effect.
I have had the 2.5" leveling kit on for about 6 months now with OE length Monro shocks. I bought keys without the shock extensions. The GM garage said I wouldn't need them. Ever since they were installed the AV has ridden oddly. The front end has seemed to bind when going over big bumps. I thought it was from have the torsion bars cranked up.Here it was the shocks maxing out as the body would lift upwards after compressing. With the shock extensions it doesn't hit hard at the top of the stroke. It just rebounds nice and smoothly as it did before the leveling kit.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Shock-Extension-Mounts-Avalanche-4x2-4x4-6Lug-2002-2006-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZModelQ3aAvalancheQ201500QQhashZitem27b56f7b74QQitemZ170547706740QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesFirst one took me 30 minutes to install, the second about 10. Truck rides much better now with them installed.
Thanks. I'll see if that takes care of the bit of a different ride I have since the lift has been put on.
I had to use the tire arm wedged on top of the rotor and under the shock bracket to slowly get it to compress.That was the only hairy part. Maybe there is a better way, I don't know. To do it by hand really burns the forearms out.
Next dumb question. Was there install instructions with it?
Hi everyone! So, I buy the new Furd Stealership keys, I get the shock extenders, and ultimately get the new wheels and tires. Is it really that simple? Can I do this myself? Is there anything that says YOU CANNOT do this without the keys? Are there better results with the keys? I am kind of at a loss here, probably because I'm thinking about how easy this is :PHEELLLPPPP!!!!!Jon
Start spraying them with PB Blaster everyday about a week before you go to change them. Mine had to be cut off by the shop that did mine.