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Lowering my 2011

Pontgtodad

Full Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2015
Messages
9
Location
Springfield Illinois
Wanting to lower the Avy 2in frt and 3in rear.  Im looking for a good company to get the lowering kit from.  Open to any and all suggestions.
Should mention i have been looking at the Belltech kit.  Front drop spindles and and rear lowering springs along with shock brackets.  Belltech part# 747
 
I have a mishmash of parts from different suppliers, but Belltech does seem to be the go to one stop kit for many folks out there.
Between shocks, drop brackets, springs and sway bars I have used B+G, eibach, DJM, Moog and H&R. I have been in various states of drop since 2011 on my 08.
Originally I went down 2-3, but with 26X10.5 wheels and 305/30/26 rubber I had to bring it back up to -1, -2.5
Whatever kit you decide, I highly suggest doing the swaybars, bushings and links at the same time. Keep in mind that if you go down 2+" in the rear you are going to want to shorten your rear links or get adjustable ones  to keep the swaybar as close to parallel to the ground as possible.
 
Calicak89 said:
I have a mishmash of parts from different suppliers, but Belltech does seem to be the go to one stop kit for many folks out there.
Between shocks, drop brackets, springs and sway bars I have used B+G, eibach, DJM, Moog and H&R. I have been in various states of drop since 2011 on my 08.
Originally I went down 2-3, but with 26X10.5 wheels and 305/30/26 rubber I had to bring it back up to -1, -2.5
Whatever kit you decide, I highly suggest doing the swaybars, bushings and links at the same time. Keep in mind that if you go down 2+" in the rear you are going to want to shorten your rear links or get adjustable ones  to keep the swaybar as close to parallel to the ground as possible.
Good advice there. I've used H&R stuff on other vehicles. Worked good and the ride was on par with stock.
 
Thanks for the response.  i will have to look into getting the adj rear links i didnt think of that.  I have already replaced the front bushings and links.
 
Hi guys, I’m also lowering my 2013 4x4. I went with the kit from airbagit.com.
Ive been scrolling through posts and doing some research and I’ve been trying to find the thread with the Auto-ride sensor bypass info. I’m assuming it’s a device that plugs into the wiring that plugs into the existing struts/bags or whatever. Slap up a link to that thread or part # if anybody reading this has it.

Also, if anybody has any tips, tricks, potential problems we might run into I’d love to hear what you have to say.

Lastly, should I replace/upgrade anything else while were in there? Bushings, sway bar, etc. I would love to improve the handling a bit…

Cheers fellas🍻
 
You didn't say that you own an LTZ model AV....If you don't have one no issue then. If you have one and want to replace it then you probably can find what you want with this company they have parts to rebuild LTZ and can set you up for a non LTZ setup.

 
You didn't say that you own an LTZ model AV....If you don't have one no issue then. If you have one and want to replace it then you probably can find what you want with this company they have parts to rebuild LTZ and can set you up for a non LTZ setup.


Hi Vaeaglean,
Mine is a Black Diamond edition, I don’t know if that means it’s LTZ or not…. When you say “if you have one and want to replace it”, what do you mean by “it”? What is the complication having an LTZ model makes?

Thanks!
 
Hi Vaeaglean,
Mine is a Black Diamond edition, I don’t know if that means it’s LTZ or not…. When you say “if you have one and want to replace it”, what do you mean by “it”? What is the complication having an LTZ model makes?

Thanks!
LTZ has auto leveling shocks with an air compressor and sensors to detect/adjust height in the rear, and electronically controlled shocks in the front. One more thing to deal with when lowering or lifting.

Look at the RPO codes on a sticker inside your glovebox. Do you have one of the following RPO codes?

Z71 is noted as the Off-Road package, which usually comes on 4x4 vehicles and includes heavier duty gas shocks and the Skid Plate Package.

Z66 is commonly called the Premium On-Road Package, used for the 2WD sport street suspension with 17” all season tires and Electronic Traction Assist.

ZW7 is known as the Premium Smooth Ride, which uses a conventional suspension in the front, but a self-contained, auto-leveling Nivomat suspension in the rear.

Z55 is termed Autoride, and uses the Electronic Suspension Control (ESC) system to make changes to each of the four shocks in milliseconds as you drive, adjusting the stiffness and handling of the suspension. This RPO also includes rear auto-levelling air shocks and a compressor, which can often be the failure point for these suspensions.

Another way to tell (on a working Z55 system), when you something heavy in the bed of the truck, do you hear an air compressor kick on and raise the rear back to normal height? And/or do you hear the compressor kick on (under truck, near fuel-fill location) briefly around 5 seconds after starting the truck?
 
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Ya I got auto-ride with the compresor. Is it possible to have a black diamond without auto-ride?
 
All 2013's are black diamond, so I assumed that it came in all trims including LS, LT and LTZ, but I've been wrong before!
 
Ya I got auto-ride with the compresor. Is it possible to have a black diamond without auto-ride?
Bainman is correct all 2013 AVs are Black Diamond but only the LTZ models had the auto leveling shock system, so you could have a 2013 Black Diamond Z71 as an example with the off-road shocks and heavier springs.
Another thing to consider is the LTZ suspension uses a lighter spring rate since the shocks help carry the load. You may want to consider heaver springs if you go with a standard shock setup. But I guess your lowering kit company should know that.
 
Bainman is correct all 2013 AVs are Black Diamond but only the LTZ models had the auto leveling shock system, so you could have a 2013 Black Diamond Z71 as an example with the off-road shocks and heavier springs.
Another thing to consider is the LTZ suspension uses a lighter spring rate since the shocks help carry the load. You may want to consider heaver springs if you go with a standard shock setup. But I guess your lowering kit company should know that.
Ok cool, I did not know all 2013’s were Black Diamond.
Im not sure if my AVY being LS, LT, LTZ, or Z71 makes a difference when installing the lowering kit. What do you guys think?
But I am curious what package it has, Ill check the RPO codes and I‘ll let you know what I find.
 
Ok cool, I did not know all 2013’s were Black Diamond.
Im not sure if my AVY being LS, LT, LTZ, or Z71 makes a difference when installing the lowering kit. What do you guys think?
But I am curious what package it has, Ill check the RPO codes and I‘ll let you know what I find.
If you have autoride (like you said above), you have an LTZ. And yes, if you have LTZ w/ autoride it will be a consideration when raising/lowering. Look for a kit compatible with autoride, at the very least you'll need new 'rods' in the back for the height sensor.
 
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If you have autoride (like you said above), you have an LTZ. And yes, if you have LTZ w/ autoride it will be a consideration when raising/lowering. Look for a kit compatible with autoride, at the very least you'll need new 'rods' in the back for the height sensor.
I do have Z55 suspension. I'm going to call the kit supplier tomorrow and chat about their options for my Z55 suspension and sensors.

So do you think worst case scenario I'll need to modify the rod lengths to trick them into thinking theyr're running at factory height? And maybe this bypass sensor I see mentioned but nobody lists make/model/manuf/part# etc? Or are the rods connected to the sensors?

Anybody else have any insight, things to watch out for, or tips/tricks they'd like to share?

I appreciate all ya'lls help :cheers:
 
I'm in the same boat, looking for the right lowering kit. Someone said I need bypass modules, someone else said I just need shorter rods. Others say just by a lowering kit. Still researching it.... guess if you purchase the modules you won't need the rods? Correct?

Belltech Kit Part #: 998SP Lowering Kit

Here are the bypass modules: Bypass modules
New Rods: Magnetic Ride Adjustable Height Sensor Rod
 
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BLU! Thank you good sir! Do I need a module and rod for each corner (4)? I wanted to be able to change ride height when I wanted/needed, and I'd like to be able to drop it low low when parking so bags seemed like the right choice for me. Did you check out the kit I ordered in the link above?

With the sensors and the rods that should prevent any codes from popping up right?
 
Going with bags definitely seems like the right choice for you. You should only need the modules I guess, but I'm not to sure.
 
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