2013 w/Auto leveling with 2.5 in lift front & rear shock fix

[No Tyme]

I fist want to share with all my luv of my 2013 LTZ 4X4 Avalanche. The ride is wonderful and turning radius so much tighter that my 13 Silverado double cab or 14 Crew cab (both 4X4?s). I had my 14 leveled and the first mod to my 13 Avalanche was to install a 2.5? level lift kit. I enjoyed the look of my lifted Avalanche as I don?t off road unless you count driving in the grass back to my barn, LOL.
This year we acquired our first RV and after installing a pair of Goodyear air assists bags I still had a bad sag in the rear when hooked to the RV. My 13 has the ?auto level? air system and I acquired a pair of 2.5? rear spacers that go under the coils. Now with new coils, air bags in the coils and 2.5? lift I had to deal with the ride which deteriorated due to my auto leveling shocks being over extended. The rear of the AV seems to bounce like I was on an inflated bouncy ball as a kid and I did not like it. I spent hours on the internet researching for a fix? reading many post from others that were looking for a fix to the over extension of the shocks, and not wanting to lose the auto leveling system? I had to improvise.
Well I did find a fix: a pair of shock extenders. These extenders are produced to provide proper shock travel for ?Lowered? trucks as I have not found a set for lifted trucks and the auto level shocks. Auto Leveling shocks cannot be twisted 90 degrees  which is required by the mass of shock extenders that are on the market. The extenders I have installed and that has given back to me the ride I enjoyed from my 2013 Avalanche is made by Belltech. I ordered a pair of Belltech 6654 Shock Extension Kit and after the install (in a lifted orientation and not lower) drove 50 some miles today with no issues and no bouncy a$$ ride from the rear.
I have the truck scheduled for an alignment next week but I believe this to be a fix that many have sought. I will update my progress and post any issues with this setup.

 

[Piute Murph]

Hi Guys- New to the forum and this seems like the right thread. Just got a 2013 LTZ with plans to put icon shocks on with a 3" lift in front and a 1" to the rear. The suspension shop said I'll need "magnetic suspension delete (or bypass) kit" like this one from http://shocksims.com/

It is advertised as working on 2015 LTZ suburban or tahoe. Anyone used these or have another way of bypassing the auto level system?

Thanks!

 

[No Tyme]

Hi Guys- New to the forum and this seems like the right thread. Just got a 2013 LTZ with plans to put icon shocks on with a 3" lift in front and a 1" to the rear. The suspension shop said I'll need "magnetic suspension delete (or bypass) kit" like this one from http://shocksims.com/

It is advertised as working on 2015 LTZ suburban or tahoe. Anyone used these or have another way of bypassing the auto level system?

Thanks!

With a 3" lift in front and only 1" in rear you are gonna have quite an odd looking truck from the side. Do you really want trucks nose up higher than the rear?

 

[Piute Murph]

Hi No Tyme- I've been talking to an off-road suspension house that was selling be on 2" front and 0" rear, he was saying it would bring it level- but now that you mention it (and I measure the rocker panel to the ground) it's less than an inch lower. Thanks!

Since you lifted the same year/model- what did you do to work around the self leveler? Was that the bit about moving the sensor? Have you heard of the ShockSims bypass?

 

[No Tyme]

Hi No Tyme- I've been talking to an off-road suspension house that was selling be on 2" front and 0" rear, he was saying it would bring it level- but now that you mention it (and I measure the rocker panel to the ground) it's less than an inch lower. Thanks!

I originally went with a level/lift kit (2.5" front, 1" in rear) but I picked up a Toy hauler last year and will be doing some towing and even with the load leveling hitch I was still sagging in the rear. So next I went to a pair of Firestone air bags to help with the sag when towing, but was still unhappy. I contacted Summit Performance where I purchased the lift kit 2 years ago and picked up up a pair of 2.5" rear spring spacers, so that left me with 2.5" front and rear lift. I am now back to the original Chevy lean... Now I was concerned with the lift and possible shock over-extension I install a pair of shocks extensions, which are sold to lower the shocks on lowered (slammed) trucks and had no issues until recently. I have owned my LTZ for 2 years now and have always heard the compressor kick on for a couple of seconds at every key turn, but just after the new year it wasn't functioning. Now just this week, new compressor and 1 new shock (replaced under warranty) but the ride has drastically changed. Its like riding in a 60's Mustang with Highjacker air shocks pumped up to the max... I just don't know if there is a problem now, or was a problem before. Even the wife noticed the difference.
Coming this week, a pair of Arnott shocks will give me piece of mind, but to the question, the rod that controls leveling. I have not found one that can be adjusted. I believe the change of geometry (the 2.5" lift) must be addressed with the leveling sensor, but I have not found a solution as of  yet.

 

[ChrisPayne75]

I fist want to share with all my luv of my 2013 LTZ 4X4 Avalanche. The ride is wonderful and turning radius so much tighter that my 13 Silverado double cab or 14 Crew cab (both 4X4?s). I had my 14 leveled and the first mod to my 13 Avalanche was to install a 2.5? level lift kit. I enjoyed the look of my lifted Avalanche as I don?t off road unless you count driving in the grass back to my barn, LOL.
This year we acquired our first RV and after installing a pair of Goodyear air assists bags I still had a bad sag in the rear when hooked to the RV. My 13 has the ?auto level? air system and I acquired a pair of 2.5? rear spacers that go under the coils. Now with new coils, air bags in the coils and 2.5? lift I had to deal with the ride which deteriorated due to my auto leveling shocks being over extended. The rear of the AV seems to bounce like I was on an inflated bouncy ball as a kid and I did not like it. I spent hours on the internet researching for a fix? reading many post from others that were looking for a fix to the over extension of the shocks, and not wanting to lose the auto leveling system? I had to improvise.
Well I did find a fix: a pair of shock extenders. These extenders are produced to provide proper shock travel for ?Lowered? trucks as I have not found a set for lifted trucks and the auto level shocks. Auto Leveling shocks cannot be twisted 90 degrees which is required by the mass of shock extenders that are on the market. The extenders I have installed and that has given back to me the ride I enjoyed from my 2013 Avalanche is made by Belltech. I ordered a pair of Belltech 6654 Shock Extension Kit and after the install (in a lifted orientation and not lower) drove 50 some miles today with no issues and no bouncy a$$ ride from the rear.
I have the truck scheduled for an alignment next week but I believe this to be a fix that many have sought. I will update my progress and post any issues with this setup.

I like the factory look with the front being lower. So you think I could buy 2.5 inch spacers for the front and back along with the bellltech 6654 shock extenders and I will be ok?

 

[No Tyme]

Been over a year without my Avalanche. The AutoLever is tricky, but is do able. You may have to custom adjust the sensors for the rear Autolever system and re-align the front end.

 

[Capt.Crunch]

I like the factory look with the front being lower. So you think I could buy 2.5 inch spacers for the front and back along with the bellltech 6654 shock extenders and I will be ok?

Hey Chris, I lifted my Avy and I'm still using the air ride on the rear, I bypassed the front electronic suspension, added 3 inch spacers to the top of the struts, if you're interested I have a brand new set of 2 inch leveling spaces that go on the bottom of the struts or I have a set of used 3 inch spacers that go on the top of the struts, I'll sell either one of those to you pretty cheap, the top set was 70 bucks on Amazon and the bottom set was about 55 bucks, I also have a set of 2 inch rear spring extenders that are new in the box, I also have a new set of rear shock extenders, still in the box, if you're interested in any of these let me know and we'll make arrangements. I'll give you a great deal on what you want, at this point they're just collecting dust, lol

 

[ChrisPayne75]

I thought I read on here somewhere that you just have to unbolt the bottom of the front and put the lower spacer in. The directions talk about unbolting the sway bar, steering and ball joint. How did you guys do it

 

[Capt.Crunch]

I thought I read on here somewhere that you just have to unbolt the bottom of the front and put the lower spacer in. The directions talk about unbolting the sway bar, steering and ball joint. How did you guys do it

I have a 2010 and the front shocks are more like a strut, I just jacked it up and removed the wheel and sway bar links and unbolted it and it came right out, I used the 2" space that go on the top of the strut plate, I have a set of 3" that will go on the top and I also have a set of 2" that goes on the bottom where the strut belts to the lower control arm.

 

[ChrisPayne75]

I thought removing the ball joint seemed excessive

 

[Capt.Crunch]

I thought removing the ball joint seemed excessive

I didn't have to remove it to get the strut in or out. I only had to remove the sway bar links and I believe there is a bracket on the upper control arm that holds the ABS sensor wire and the brake hose and it was a 10mm bolt.

 

[Capt.Crunch]

These are the 2 different types of levelers, I'm going to insert a picture of them, I used the 3 bolt spacers that go on top of the strut, it seemed safer than the 2 bolt spacers because of the longer bolts they sent with the kit. I felt that if I would hit a rock or a good size pothole the bolts on the bottom would be more apt to break. But that's just me being overly cautious,

 

[Capt.Crunch]

These are the 2 different types of levelers, I'm going to insert a picture of them, I used the 3 bolt spacers that go on top of the strut, it seemed safer than the 2 bolt spacers because of the longer bolts they sent with the kit. I felt that if I would hit a rock or a good size pothole the bolts on the bottom would be more apt to break. But that's just me being overly cautious, View attachment 232494View attachment 232495

The 3 bolt spacers don't look like the picture on the box, they are actually a solid shinny piece of aluminum and they are very well built.

 

[shadow1973]

I have the RC aluminum bottom spacer. Jacked it up, removed tires, undid upper ball joint, took out lower shock bolts and put it all together took me 30 minutes per side.

 

[shadow1973]

Have to clarify; undoing the upper ball joint allowed me to rotate the cv out of the way so the new lower shock bolts can be properly installed downward, thus zero cv interference.

 

[Capt.Crunch]

Have to clarify; undoing the upper ball joint allowed me to rotate the cv out of the way so the new lower shock bolts can be properly installed downward, thus zero

Have to clarify; undoing the upper ball joint allowed me to rotate the cv out of the way so the new lower shock bolts can be properly installed downward, thus zero cv interference.

When you face them downward, doesn't the excess of the bolt hang below the control arm, I thought installing them from the bottom up would eliminate anything possibly hitting them and breaking them off. I didn't use this particular style so I'm not sure how much of the bolt hangs down below the control arm.

 

[He who dies with the most toys wins]

Hey Chris, I lifted my Avy and I'm still using the air ride on the rear, I bypassed the front electronic suspension, added 3 inch spacers to the top of the struts, if you're interested I have a brand new set of 2 inch leveling spaces that go on the bottom of the struts or I have a set of used 3 inch spacers that go on the top of the struts, I'll sell either one of those to you pretty cheap, the top set was 70 bucks on Amazon and the bottom set was about 55 bucks, I also have a set of 2 inch rear spring extenders that are new in the box, I also have a new set of rear shock extenders, still in the box, if you're interested in any of these let me know and we'll make arrangements. I'll give you a great deal on what you want, at this point they're just collecting dust, lol

Still have the rear spring and shock extenders?

 

[He who dies with the most toys wins]

When you face them downward, doesn't the excess of the bolt hang below the control arm, I thought installing them from the bottom up would eliminate anything possibly hitting them and breaking them off. I didn't use this particular style so I'm not sure how much of the bolt hangs down below the control arm.

I installed mine by just taking the wheel off, take 2 bottom bolts(holding strut on) off, pop off clip nuts. Then had a buddy hang on the rotor and rolled the rough country 2" spacer(that was only about an inch tall. Then dropped one bolt from the top and ran the one, under axle, up from the bottom. The end of the bolt was close to the axle BUT would only rub under full articulation with shocks over extended. Just as a precaution I ended up putting 4 washers under the head of the bolt to pull the bolt further away from the axle. Before anyone asks...I didn't cut the bolt because if I ever do take the front end apart I WILL switch the bolt to the top and will probably add a little to the lift.
Capt.: see image, the lower control arm has a recessed section where the shock bolts so that isn't really an issue.
Ok, no image. New here and dont know how to add a pic.

 

[Capt.Crunch]

Still have the rear spring and shock extenders?

I didn't use the extenders, I installed the heavy duty rear springs and moved the rear air ride sensors up on the control arm a little, I put them in front of the original mounting location. It gave me 2 inches of height in the rear and I installed 2.5" spacers on the top of the front struts, I still have plenty of travel and it still rides pretty smooth, I also put 18" wheels and LT275/65/18 Goodyear Dual Track tires on it. They are basically equivalent to the original 20" wheels and tires that it came from the factory with. After all said and done I gained about 3.5 more inches of height on the whole truck and I still have my air ride on the rear.

 

[mr flintstone]

good day. question on lowering my 2011 LTZ avy in rear. bought the truck with 150k on it . the air shocks and pump were destroyed. I got a new set of arnotts front and rear with pump. i disabled the magnaride as I do alot of driving with tools. in the 2 years i had the system I broke 2 rear shocks drivers side. I think the rear shocks are over extended. The question is, how to lower rear 1 inch and keep it there. I have read many ways from a few gm sites. whats the easiest way to do it . Thank you. love this avy. gave my 2004 to bro with 450,000 in it