Installing a 2500HD Leveling Kit, Super Easy

If you want to fit some larger tires on your 2020 and up GM 2500 or 3500 HD, you have two choices. You can use the stock wheels with a higher positive offset and you really wont have to make any changes to the suspension setup, but if you want to run a wider aftermarket wheel like I want to do, you'll need to raise the front of the suspension. There are plenty of lift kits out there which can raise the truck 6" or more, I don't want to go that high, so a leveling kit is the clear answer.
This installation video includes the rear shackles (because I lowered the truck previously) as well as all the components in a typical leveling kit: torsion bar keys and new Cognito upper control arms to correct the ball joint angle at the taller ride height. I ran a shock spacer with this kit, but you can also opt for some nice Fox or King shocks to help the ride quality. This shows almost every step it takes to install the leveling kit on my 2020 AT4 HD, but can also be directly applied to the new Silverado HD as well.
Links for parts used...
Torsion Bar Unloading Tool
amzn.to/2S3JhgF
Upper Control Arms
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
Leveling kit (torsion keys and shock spacers)
cognitomotorsports.com/i-3049...
Main Vlogging Camera I use every day, Sony ZV1
amzn.to/3oeFGvi
Extra Batteries and Charger for ZV1
amzn.to/37zI21X
Tripod
amzn.to/3dOK52V
LED Light on top of camera, eliminates "raccoon eyes" from shadows
amzn.to/2HpsDX0
Wired Lav Mic for great audio
amzn.to/37tRDqY
External Shotgun Mic for outside shots
amzn.to/2Th8h4Q
GoPro Hero 7 Black for B-roll and POV
amzn.to/37sXhJP

[@rivdawg5899]

Love the vids keep up the nice work been watching you on Powernation and awesome to see you working on your own stuff

[@LawrenceTolman]

Thanks so much for watching

[@Resistolitin]

The truck is looking great, keep them videos coming.

[@LawrenceTolman]

appreciate it!

[@xiong2moua]

Just the video I was looking for. Thanks.

[@robwalters9695]

You’ll love those Ridge Graps. I’ve had them on my Cummins for a little over a year and absolutely the best tire I’ve had, will be going with them in the future whenever these wear out in several years lol

[@LawrenceTolman]

I did notice a slight drop in fuel mileage when I threw em on, but they do look great and the F load range is a nice plus...

[@robwalters9695]

Lawrence LT Tolman that’s more than likely from the size jump more than the aggressiveness of the tire lol

[@michaelhaddix2024]

@@robwalters9695 The Nitto Ridge Grapplers are a heavier tire which accounts for the decreased fuel mileage. I am on my third set of Grapplers now and they are substantially heavier (in weight) than the stock tires.

[@bbbN3r]

The truck didn’t look bad with the leveling and stock tires. I was contemplating in leveling my AT4 right now because I won’t be putting on new tires anytime soon and I didn’t want the truck looking weird with a big gap and small look tires. But I’m think I’m going to ahead and level it. Thanks for the video!

[@LawrenceTolman]

I do like how it looks with the stocks and leveled actually.

[@doncomptonjr9324]

Very good professionally presented thank you Brother

[@gregcoile8887]

great video! Very informative and just the right amount of detail.

[@LawrenceTolman]

Much appreciated!

[@suburbanhobbyist2752]

Aren't you the dude from "PowerNation"? Love that show man! Nice truck!

[@jasonjackson329]

Lol OF COURSE HE IS man. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@tomcierijr.1448]

This video is what I was looking for...Thank you and great video...👍

[@LawrenceTolman]

hope it was helpful! i have the follow up for fitting tires coming up soon

[@tomcierijr.1448]

I'll be watching for sure...Love my HD so far ...👍

[@wipatriot510]

Nice little project, although I am disappointed that you didn't upgrade the "bottom of the barrel" rancho shocks that came stock on the AT4...a GREAT upgrade would be/would've been the Fox Performance Series 2.0 shocks all the way around...I have a 2020 GMC 3500HD AT4 that I'm basically leaving alone, already did a tire upgrade to the Bridgestone At Revo 3(I do a lot of GN towing), BUT I WILL be doing the Fox Performance Series 2.0 shock upgrade in the very near future since spring has sprung...

[@adubbz23]

Great vid man good explanation and not a bunch of unnecessary camera movement. How tall is that garage door?

[@jony2660]

Yeaaaa buddy, your back!

[@LawrenceTolman]

you know it! glad to be back and thanks for watching

[@user-rv4rz3ii5n]

Did the Key Lift change the ride quality at all? Keep up the great content

[@Jeff-dc2xl]

What did you torque your leaf spring shackles to? I've got a 2018 durmax and I can't find the torque specs for it. Love the content 👌

[@LawrenceTolman]

not sure, but was pretty tight. Probably 100 lb.ft. or more

[@Taterhead3e]

This may be a stupid question,, but did you have to have it lined up after this,, or did you just mark every thing and put it back like it on the marks,,, all so did it effect the ride any,, was it stiffer feeling or softer

[@garygill3294]

Loved the video as usual. How does it ride compared to before leveling it? Worth going with aftermarket control arms and shocks? Would greatly appreciate your input.

[@LawrenceTolman]

the aftermarket control arms are a must in my opinion to level an HD if you want to keep a good ride quality and keep the control arms from topping out. the stock shocks with great. a spacer, and combined the truck rides exactly like it did before. That being said, a better set of shocks might improve things further, but were out of my budget at the time.

[@garygill3294]

@@LawrenceTolman Thanks a lot. Hope all the best for you and your channel.

[@Stew1962]

I'm curious if it fits in your garage after you put the wheels and tires on it. I've got a Chevy 2500 ordered with the plans to do the same thing you're doing with the leveling kit and wheels. I don't want to have to replace my garage door.

[@LawrenceTolman]

it was very close, but it did fit with about 2 inches to spare, as long as I backed it in. And I am doing some 35's on it, I have the video shot and ready to edit, so it should drop soon

[@jaybrown8709]

What is the measurement in the from from the bottom of the fender to the ground and from the top of the tire to the bottom of the fender

[@DblA760]

Great Video! Forgive my ignorance, can the shocks be changed out to a Fox or Bilstein at a later time without unbolting/changing anything else?

[@LawrenceTolman]

yeah, shocks would be an easy swap at any time

[@FansSports]

Nice video

[@jxsanc1238]

So how do you perform the necessary alignment

[@johnmoseley6088]

How tall is it from the ground to the garage door? (Or the lowest point of your entrance to your garage). Thanks!

[@jonwm01]

The first dent scratch is the most painful on a new ride.

[@LawrenceTolman]

you got that right...

[@mikcun2799]

It's time for some custom made steel bumpers. 😁. Then when they hit your truck they demolish their car. I am going to go Mad Max style when I do mine next year. I would have considered a premade bumper but they cost a lot and don't fit well from what I have seen. Not to mention I am using -12 20x10 wheels so I would rather have them cover the tires too.

[@wipatriot510]

Got a chip in the windshield 2 days after the truck was delivered, it made me sick...

[@KevinR9763]

If you lower the keys about an inch or two would you have to get another alignment?

[@hondaman4ever]

Nice job, indexing keys is hella scary lol. BTW sucks about the rear, maybe you can replace the bumper with one from Addictive Desert Designs 🤷‍♂️

[@LawrenceTolman]

they do have some nice looking hardware for sure

[@liteovam]

Question: I had a leveling kit installed on my 19 Silverado. It’s a bit too high in the front now. Couldn’t I just crank the torsion bar down 2-3 turns without buying new keys?

[@LawrenceTolman]

give it a shot... on mine I backed the bolt out all the way with the leveling keys, and it still sat about level.

[@kadencurrie9475]

First day with mine I backed the top of the tailgate into my goose neck. Assumed my 24 was the same height as my 21 I dropped it with. And I was getting used to the camera mirror lol.

[@willsprojects2601]

Welcome back! Great looking truck! I got a 19 Silverado 2500hd. Sooooo when u plan on deleting it? Lol

[@LawrenceTolman]

lol... its on my wish list, but I wanna wait until I get UglyTruck finished up and this one a little closer to the warranty expiring

[@willsprojects2601]

Lawrence LT Tolman lol I hear you. I’m doing the same thing on mine. Keep on pushing out videos, very informative!

[@benl3rd]

By any chance do U know how many inches a full turn is ?

[@VATION3RD]

Yes sir. That Carolina Squat Ain't Right....

[@LawrenceTolman]

i try and keep an open mind, but there are some trends I just cant understand. Maybe thats a part of getting older...

[@haydenreyes4621]

@@LawrenceTolman nope just ugly

[@everydayguy7622]

Why did you have to jack up the bed? Can you remove the stock shackles without doing that? Im assuming you had to jack up the bed to remove your lowering shackles?

[@LawrenceTolman]

yeah, that was just to remove the lowering shackles. Because the bed reinforcement rib sticks down a little, you can't raise the leaf spring up high enough to back out the bolt, so un bolt the bed and you can raise the spring up a little further to get the bolt out and swap the shackle.

[@chrisc5574]

With the 3" level, would you go with a shock meant for a 4-6" lift or a 1.5" lift shock with the spacer? I'm looking at Bilsteins resevoir shocks and nobody can answer this question for me, seems the 3" lift is an odd one...cheers

[@vvnoxvv1716]

How was the driving after Deleting the Bump Stop?

[@christopherreynolds6964]

I have the same truck in a 2022. I swear they built them with magnets in them. I have almost been hit 10 times and the truck is 3 weeks old!

[@JoseGarcia-qw5px]

Do you think GM upgraded the old flaws from the old motor you upgraded in the race truck you made

[@LawrenceTolman]

hopefully they did

[@hodad200]

Those jorts are fire LT

[@LawrenceTolman]

cant buy these in any store (and probably for good reason haha)

[@slowyota24]

How did you get the torsion bar clamp on the passenger side? The exhaust is in the way.

[@LawrenceTolman]

I was able to push the exhaust up just enough to get the tool in place. It’s a pretty tight fit, but it worked with the tool I have

[@slowyota24]

Thanks for the reply! Last question, I bought the Cognito lift and I can't get the keys lined up. Any tips or tricks? I can't get the stock ones back in. But the new ones seem too wide.

[@maxum3300]

With the aftermarket upper control arm you shouldn't have to cut the droop stop off. The new UCA should correct for the angle and still give you enough travel without bottoming out. Now that you have cut it you have nothing to prevent from over extending the shock.

[@LawrenceTolman]

this was exactly according to the instructions on the Cognito kit

[@Zach20121]

@@LawrenceTolman but the kit you posted was just the keys and spacers that’s a 2 inch lift if you bought the uca’s separate then you didn’t need to cut I understand the instructions said to cut but that’s only for the kit with keys an spacers only

[@jarretknight5938]

What did you do for the smoked marker lights?

[@LawrenceTolman]

sprayed em with VHT nightshade, just took a couple coats

[@jarretknight5938]

@@LawrenceTolman Well then....... I am going to grab a can. Thanks

[@jwitt52]

Have you had any issues with the upper a arms since installation?

[@LawrenceTolman]

none whatsoever, and they have probably 25,000 miles on em

[@jwitt52]

@@LawrenceTolman do think 36/12.5R20 would work with OEM 20” wheels?

[@jonhodges5344]

Never let the back end sit lower. 😂 Thank god you don’t like the Alabama Rake. 🤪👍

[@unixdoes]

+1000 alabama, north corlina, cali swag... it's all wrong.

[@benl3rd]

I need to level mine out previous owner has the truck sitting about 2-2.5” higher in the front and it’s bugging me .

[@stephendoing2253]

Any chance you want to sell the drop shackles?

[@LawrenceTolman]

I actually might put em back on the truck when I change the wheel and tire setup in the future.

[@DynoDieselWagon]

Ain't a truck w/ o whiskey bumps 0:51

[@jeremyaltis2606]

Just don’t air the tires up very much until it’s out

[@Chris_L034]

you must sleep with stacy david under your pillow.

[@ewood88]

Was not expecting a menstrual cup ad while watching an automotive video

[@LawrenceTolman]

huh, that is weird.

[@unixdoes]

"irritating to know someone bumped your car and drove off" -- came out of airport and found my passenger rear fender practically folded in. no note. no security footage. yeah, people are irresponsible idiots.

[@wipatriot510]

Which is why I park in the BACK of any parking lot, a little extra walking is good for the body, and peace of mind...

[@cesarconh895]

Ugliest truck ever made!

[@Bryanbobber]

Relax Karen

[@LawrenceTolman]

you just gotta tilt your head to the side and squint