Suspension Help

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

1xd5

Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2023
Posts
37
Reaction score
19
Hello Everyone, hope you all are well.

I have an 06 Yukon XL Denali with stock suspension, I have very little experience in suspension besides some basics.

I like the height and wheel setup for this rig and would like to do something similar. https://www.trailbuiltoffroad.com/w...lack-rhino-stadium-rough-country-leveling-kit .

My questions are,

Do I need to purchase the leveling keys mentioned on that website or similar, or can it be done with stock keys ?

What do I need, if anything, to do with the rear?

The profile mentions they did a little panel cutting ,I don't what to do any of that. I just want to raise it a bit and get some new rims and tires. I don't want the tires to stick out too far out but if it's better for stability or safety I would do it. If you have any recommendations for a better setup regarding any of this, wheels , tires, suspension components, please advise.

I attached an image of my rig and of the one I'm looking at just for reference, there's more pictures of the rig on the link above.

Thank You for your time!
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2023-04-13 at 4.55.52 PM.png
    Screenshot 2023-04-13 at 4.55.52 PM.png
    817.4 KB · Views: 13
  • 1538363-14-2005-yukon-xl-1500-gmc-rough-country-leveling-kit-black-rhino-stadium-black.jpg copy.jpg
    1538363-14-2005-yukon-xl-1500-gmc-rough-country-leveling-kit-black-rhino-stadium-black.jpg copy.jpg
    183.9 KB · Views: 14
Last edited:

swathdiver

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2017
Posts
19,605
Reaction score
26,310
Location
Treasure Coast, Florida
Hello Everyone, hope you all are well.

I have an 06 Yukon XL Denali with stock suspension, I have very little experience in suspension besides some basics.

I like the height and wheel set-up for this rig and would like to do something similar. https://www.trailbuiltoffroad.com/w...lack-rhino-stadium-rough-country-leveling-kit .

My questions are,

Do I need to purchase the leveling keys mentioned on that website or similar, or can it be done with stock keys ?

What do I need, if anything, to do with the rear?

The profile mentions they did a little panel cutting ,I don't what to do any of that. I just want to raise it a bit and get some new rims and tires. I don't want the tires to stick out too far out but if it's better for stability or safety I would do it. If you have any recommendations for a better set-up regarding any of this, wheels , tires, suspension components, please advise.

I attached an image of my rig and of the one I'm looking at just for reference, there's more pictures of the rig on the link above.

Thank You for your time!
Rubbing can also depend on the condition of the suspension before the modifications. A fresh suspension may not rub while a 15 year old original is going to sag some.

The keys will restore the ride, cranking stock keys results in a loss of how nice the truck rides.

You might consider a 285-70 tire in either 17 or 18 inch wheel if you want some height. I don't know what the typical offset used was for your generation. For the one after yours, 31mm was typical. So 12mm offset moved the wheel about 1/2 inch outboard and with a wider tire can induce clearance issues.
 
OP
OP
1

1xd5

Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2023
Posts
37
Reaction score
19
Rubbing can also depend on the condition of the suspension before the modifications. A fresh suspension may not rub while a 15 year old original is going to sag some.

The keys will restore the ride, cranking stock keys results in a loss of how nice the truck rides.

You might consider a 285-70 tire in either 17 or 18 inch wheel if you want some height. I don't know what the typical offset used was for your generation. For the one after yours, 31mm was typical. So 12mm offset moved the wheel about 1/2 inch outboard and with a wider tire can induce clearance issues.
Thank you for your reply.

Are you suggesting doing that size tires and 17/18s combo along with the keys or not touching any suspension components and leaving it stock ?

Sounds like it’ may be a good idea to get the leveling keys, so would there be anything else I would need beside the keys ? Do you know if it would affect any mechanisms like auto leveling or stabilitrak? , would I need to change any suspension components in the rear if I do the keys and would these changes affect any of the mechanisms I mentioned ?
 

swathdiver

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2017
Posts
19,605
Reaction score
26,310
Location
Treasure Coast, Florida
Thank you for your reply.

Are you suggesting doing that size tires and 17/18s combo along with the keys or not touching any suspension components and leaving it stock ?

Sounds like it’ may be a good idea to get the leveling keys, so would there be anything else I would need beside the keys ? Do you know if it would affect any mechanisms like auto leveling or stabilitrak? , would I need to change any suspension components in the rear if I do the keys and would these changes affect any of the mechanisms I mentioned ?
Don't think I know enough to answer your questions with certainty.

@iamdub @Doubeleive @gooffeyguy @Goodinblack @adventurenali92 @Rocket Man

My memory is failing me today fellas, can't remember Ron's screen name.
 

Joseph Garcia

Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2018
Posts
7,346
Reaction score
9,932
If your current suspension is working properly, your truck should be leveled. If you raise the front end, you should raise the rear end as well, or it is going to look a bit silly, and won't handle as well.

If it were me, I'd stay with the stock wheel profile (width and offset) in a wheel that you like the looks of, and then look at a wider tire with a lower profile to keep the overall tire height more or less the same as stock.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
1

1xd5

Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2023
Posts
37
Reaction score
19
If your current suspension is working properly, your truck should be leveled. If you raise the front end, you should raise the rear end as well, or it is going to look a bit silly, and won't handle as well.

If it were me, I'd stay with the stock wheel profile (width and offset) in a wheel that you like the looks of, and then look at a wider tire with a lower profile to keep the overall tire height more or lass the same as stock.
Thank you for your reply.

I agree on keeping it level , I’m not into the front or rear higher/lower than the other.

I’ve been considering if I should just do that and get the wider tires, though I do like the idea of lifting a little bit , I’m not into big lifts on these rigs. You are saying to do the tires and rims and not do any lifting right? I actually like the stock wheels it currently has, It’s just the center caps that look terrible, I did find a post about a possible diy that makes them look good, then I’d probably have to see what tires I could go with.
 

Rocket Man

Mark
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2014
Posts
26,004
Reaction score
50,862
Location
Oregon
If you were lowering it, I could be more help. I don’t have any experience with lifting these trucks. With that said, I do know the rear ride height sensors will need to be lengthened if you lift it and you want to keep the compressor, stock type rear shocks and self leveling or else the computer will think it’s already too high and the shock bellows won’t fill.
 
OP
OP
1

1xd5

Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2023
Posts
37
Reaction score
19
If you were lowering it, I could be more help. I don’t have any experience with lifting these trucks. With that said, I do know the rear ride height sensors will need to be lengthened if you lift it and you want to keep the compressor, stock type rear shocks and self leveling or else the computer will think it’s already too high and the shock bellows won’t fill.
Thank you for the info.

Is there a way to check if the self leveling is even working?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,359
Posts
1,866,601
Members
96,980
Latest member
sLickNick
Top