Denali Help?

[Joshuasvt]

Guys if you can help or at least point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it. I have a brain injury so I'm having a hard time sorting through all the threads.
I'm looking to get rid of the autoride on my 05 denali. I've kinda narrowed things down to the z71 spring with Bilstein 5100 shocks or the Arnott C-2818 kit.
https://www.arnottindustries.com/part_GMC_yid15_pid95_gid721.html

I need help with the part numbers for the z71 springs and Bilstein shocks that way I can compare prices.

I'd like to do a small lift 2-3in. From reading the threads I have found the spacers and keys I'll need (I think), but will I need to do anything else like lengthen the brake lines?

Thanks for the help guys. Don't tear me up too bad. I've spent the past 3-4 hours reading through everything here and I'm just confused.

 

[Chip18]

LOL new these things myself and yes ... the autoride! Wish I was smart enough to just remove it ...but ... nt my style so I want to go low and keep it!

Save for the fact that you said "lift," I would say yes that is the kit you need?? But ... since your lifting it ... I would say check with this guy:

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/members/norcal-ss.747/

Mostly, I follow the dropping threads but he seems to know these vehicles well.

 

[Joshuasvt]

Thanks for the advice Chip.

 

[Chip18]

Thanks for the advice Chip.

No problem no doubt there are others that know there stuff on here also but I see a lot of NorCal's post and I'm impressed!

I'm mostly a car guy and my "basis" is down not up.

Those "Key things" for the T-Bars ... not sure about those?? My "impression" is that they are not looked on with favor??? T-Bars are funny things on my mini truck ... I could drop the Truck so low that it was ... aww pretty much undriveable!! Dragged the lower frame over speed bumps!!! That did not work!!! No doubt you could go just as "crazy" in the opposite direction???

Best to "talk" with someone who knows what they are doing in that regard.

 

[Chip18]

Oh side note ... I'm also Chip18 on the GSDForm ... dog guy.

Who and what is that doggy in your avatar???

 

[01Konvict]

Keys, spacers, longer shocks, and no need to lengthen brake lines.

 

[Zach477]

I have been researching the topic for awhile and finally decided to sign up for this forum, wish i would have a long time ago. I am doing this to my 03 Denali with a shot compressor and rear shocks. I will be doing the transformation over the weekend but here is what i have bought so far, and here is what i know. I hunt a lot and wanted to give it an aggressive stance with a little more clearance, but I also have 4 young kids and need to keep it easy to get in and out of for them. So i am keeping stock wheels, going to put 285/70/17 GoodYear Duratracs on it and am looking to lift the back about 2" and bring the front up 2.5" for a nice level ride. The bigger tires and lift should get me a total of about 3.5-4" ride height increase. I'm going to do the resistor bypass for the shock sensors and am hoping the minimal lift will allow me to not have to monkey with the ride height sensors. If i do have to do anything with them, what i have heard is you have to increase the length of the rods by 1/4" for every 1" of lift.

Basically you need Z71 springs for the rear end since the stock springs are soft due to the added support from the air ride shocks. If you choose to lift, you will need spacers. I went with 1.5" spacers and am hoping the Z71 springs and 1.5" spacer will give me 2" of lift in the back. Bought the springs off amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00498ZR7...e=df0&creative=395097&creativeASIN=B00498ZR7A

And the spacers off ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/272256784789?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I got the 4 new Bilstein 5100 from shockwarehouse: http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index..._model=700822&selected_year=2003&mode=results
I went with the second option down for 1" rear lift and 2.5" lift up front.

Finally i got some keys off ebay as well: http://www.ebay.com/itm/111640015530?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

If you google z55 autoride bypass you can find a bunch of different places to buy the bypass modules which are basically just resistors that trick the computer into thinking the stock shocks are still there. You have to cut the plugs off the shock sensor wire and solder the resistors into place.

The install should be pretty straight forward, basic shock replacement, springs should come right out in the back. The keys are a little tricky due to needing to buy or make a tool to apply pressure to the key so you can remove the bolt and back the tension off the torsion bars which will allow you to put the new keys in....there are a bunch of youtube videos on how to do it.

Hope this helps, I'll post more when i get my done. I hope all the parts come before the weekend.

 

[Joshuasvt]

Zach man thanks for the info. This makes things a lot easier for me. I was tempted to just drop the $680 on the Arnott kit but now I feel more confident in buying the parts seperatly.

Chip18
That is Smoke. He's a blue merle smooth coat collie. I received him from Brigadoon Service Dogs about two years ago. I served in the army from 1999-2009 and did tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Smoke helps me manage ptsd and the brain injury. Your boxer (I think) looks pretty awesome.

 

[Chip18]

Zach man thanks for the info. This makes things a lot easier for me. I was tempted to just drop the $680 on the Arnott kit but now I feel more confident in buying the parts seperatly.

Chip18
That is Smoke. He's a blue merle smooth coat collie. I received him from Brigadoon Service Dogs about two years ago. I served in the army from 1999-2009 and did tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Smoke helps me manage ptsd and the brain injury. Your boxer (I think) looks pretty awesome.

Well it looks lIke "Zach" got you covered on the lift thing!

I still don't understand the "Keys" thing ...but I figure if I keep "whining" long enough" someone will explain.

A smooth coat Collie ... LOL that's why I was having trouble! Don't really see a lot of those guys around ... well heck ... any Collies really?? Well save for Sheep Farmers, we do have those on the West Coast.

Wanna say "Thank You for Your Service!" I tried to join back in the day but I screwed up ... so I could not join. My dad is a vet and I'm a Personal Care Assistant. So I work with Veterans.

A few WWII vets, and Vietnam and now Afghan Vets ... I have never worked with any Korean War Wars (The forgotten War) not really sure how that happens??

And yes ... that is "Struddell!" a "White Boxer" Boxers are the "Clown Prince of the Dog World!" A breed fit for only the few the proud and the long of patience!

Boxers, German Shepherds and American Band Dawgs ... are my Dawgs! If you Google Chip18 and aggression ... I'm that guy.

Brigadoon Service Dogs you say ... I'll check them out ... my latest client is saying he would like a service dog.

 

[Zach477]

Got the lift done and new tires on, truck looks great and rides better than ever. Pulled a 6,000 lb trailer with it yesterday and am very happy with the ride even without the air leveling. I am getting the service stabilitrak warning and I am going to get the bypass modules soon to address that. Not sure if I will need to do anything with the ride height links or not, going to put the bypass modules in first and then worry about those if need be.

So a few things:

1. I was shipped 1" spacers instead of 1.5". The ebay seller offered to send me 1.5" no charge but with the Z71 springs and 1" spacer I got 2" of lift in the back....which is perfect so I told them not to worry about it. My Denali is an XL so I would imagine a short version may get a little more than 2" due to less weight.

2. (Rear) Make sure to disconnect the wheel speed sensor wires from the frame mounting clip so you don't damage them, you will need to disconnect the stabilizer bar in order to get the axle to drop down enough. I also had to use a ratchet strap to suck down the spring a few inches so I could get it into place. Took me about 1.5 hours to remove old shocks and springs, and replace with new shocks, springs and spacers. Minus the lug nuts, its 6 total bolts to do the whole swamp.....much easier than I anticipated.

3. Have a small bottle jack available to manipulate the axle and spindle height to make it easier to install shocks.

4. If your truck has 225,000 miles of rust and corrosion expect the top bolt of the drivers side front shock to be a pain in the ass, I had to cut it off with a angle grinder after swearing at it for 10 minutes. The drivers side is really the only side that's a pain due to some steel brake lines routed above the bolt that doesn't allow you get to it from the top and you have to get to it from the side. The pass side I was able to get my impact on from the top and zip it right off.

5. THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP....Go to O'Reilly's and rent the GM torsion key removal tool. You buy it for full price ($90) but you get every penny back when you return it, you basically put a deposit on it. The receipt says you have 48 hours but the guy at our store told me they would only make a big deal out of it if it was out for 4-5 days. This tool makes taking the keys out a piece of cake. Total time to add new shocks and keys was around an hour. I cranked my bolts down all the way and then backed off 3 turns to get 2.45" of lift up front.

6. The 285/70/17 tire looks good and has no rubbing issues, the 2" in back and 2.5" in front complement the wheel size perfectly IMO.

All in all, its a easy job and shouldn't take you more than 3-4 hours to do. Getting the torsion key tool makes the job a whole lot easier and more safe but I have seen a 2 claw puller will work. If you can rent the tool for free, however, why not?

I'll follow up when I get the bypass module in and let you know if that took care of the warning lights.