GMC Sierra leveling kit problems are super easy to fix. It’s not like you have to replace a head gasket or anything. But if you’re not sure how to track down any of these problems and fix them, then this is the guide you need to step up your DIY game.
We’ll go over some of the most common problems you might run into after installing a leveling kit on your truck and how you can fix them.
By the time you’re done with this article, you’ll once again get that sweet smoothness when driving your truck. Without any further due, let’s take a look.
Contents
Benefits of Installing a Leveling Kit
Don’t know if installing a leveling kit would make a difference? Well, here are some reasons why the leveling kit would improve your driving experience:
Badass Look
Let’s be honest for a second; everybody wants that badass look the leveling kit adds to your truck.
There is something about having a lifted truck that makes it stand out from the crowd, which you cannot achieve with the stock configuration.
Large Wheels
This goes in hand with the previous point. The second reason you should install a leveling kit on your truck is to fit in bigger wheels and tires.
For example, you could install a 3-inch leveling kit on your truck, and then you would be able to install 33-inch tires with no rubbing.
Without it, you’re relatively limited by the stock configuration.
Performance
Many aftermarket products are meant to improve your driving experience, and the leveling kit is no exception.
Despite all the possible problems, they won’t affect the factory ride quality. In fact, you might even notice a slight improvement in your riding.
Installation
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves for a moment. Installing a leveling kit sure takes time. There is no doubt about that. But it’s not nearly as hard as installing a lift kit.
The process is a lot more straightforward, and if you’re willing to put in that extra time, you can definitely pull it off.
MORE: How to install leveling kit on Silverado 1500
Off-road Driving
Ever thought about driving a truck off-road, but the stock configuration held you back from doing so?
Well, adding a leveling kit can make your dream come true.
Don’t forget that adding a leveling kit allows you to install larger tires, which is ideal when riding a truck on an unsurfaced road.
Cost-effective
Don’t get it twisted; leveling kits can be quite expensive, to say the least. That is, depending on the brand. However, they are significantly cheaper than a lift kit.
Lift kits are one of the most loved aftermarket products by truck owners, but they’re not cheap.
That’s one of the main reasons why truck owners tend to install leveling kits over lift kits.
Leveling Kit Problems in GMC Sierra Cars (+Solutions)
As much as we love leveling kits, they’re far from perfect. They’re not hard to fix, but they sure are troublesome.
That said, here are some of the most common GMC leveling kit problems:
01. Steering Wheel Goes to the Left
Were you going straight down the road like you always do and noticed how your steering wheel turns to the left? Well, it’s most likely the leveling kit acting up.
But why is it? When installing a leveling kit, we often forget about all the stress it puts underneath the vehicle.
Lifting a vehicle adds extra stress to the suspension system. Usually, your tie-rod, lower control arm, upper control arm, and CB axle are meant to be straight.
However, when you lift it up, the angles are no longer straight.
As a result, it will cause tire wear, which will ruin your set of tires.
To fix this issue, get an alignment done.
After installing a leveling kit, you should always get an alignment done even if you later decide to take it off.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a 2-inch leveling kit or a 2.5-inch leveling kit.
Doing an alignment will prevent all these issues.
02. Gas Mileage
One of the most common GMC sierra leveling kit problems truck owners have reported over the years is that they’re losing MPG right after installing a leveling kit.
Going higher than stock will only lower your fuel economy. The higher you go, the more MPG you lose.
However, keep in mind that adding more aggressive tires can also kill your gas mileage.
You could add a leveling kit, and it might not lower your MPG as much. But adding larger tires can.
So, if you’re getting about the same MPG as you did before installing the leveling kit, the larger tires might be the problem. Consider replacing them to fix this issue.
03. Front Suspension Wearing Out
If there were a single problem we’ve seen from time to time, that would be the suspension wearing out after nearly 10,000 miles.
If you’re installing a leveling kit higher than 3-inches, you should install a new upper control arm since the stock ones would wear out quickly.
Keep in mind there is always a risk when installing leveling kits on your truck.
You are essentially modifying the way your vehicle operates.
Regardless of the size you go with, you should be aware of these side effects.
04. Clunking Noise
Did you recently notice a clucking noise right after installing the leveling kit? Well, there is a high chance you forgot to tighten the sway bar end links.
This is a common issue, and you shouldn’t worry too much about it. Sometimes, when rushed, people tend to forget to tighten the sway bar ends links, which causes this annoying noise.
To fix this, you have to make sure you actually reinforced the sway bar end links.
If you’re not sure how to go about it, here is how you get rid of the clunking noise:
- First and foremost, use a breaker bar to break loose the lug nuts from your wheels.
- After that, please jack up your truck using a floor jack and jack stands. Once you’ve jacked up the vehicle, remove the wheels.
- Now that you have access to the sway bar, go ahead and tighten the bolts.
And that’s about it. Once you’ve tightened the bolts, you shouldn’t hear any noise coming from the leveling kit.
05. Tire Rub
With any suspension, you’ll always run into some rubbing issues. However, if your wheels rub a lot every time you turn the steering wheel, then we suggest replacing the current set of tires.
The reason is that you probably installed 35-inch tires on a 3-inch leveling kit.
Even though they look like they fit at first glance, you’ll soon run into rubbing issues as you go down the road.
So, consider going back to the old set of tires to stop the constant rubbing.
When installing a 3-inch leveling kit, we suggest going for 33-inch tires as that seems to be the sweet spot for the GMC Sierra.
06. Damaged Shocks
If you have any GMC 2500HD leveling kit problems, you should check up on the shocks as they probably got damaged.
This is a common problem with using a leveling kit on these trucks, and it’s pretty easy to tell when your shocks stopped working.
Usually, you can tell the shocks are no longer working when the truck randomly bounces up and down when going over bumps.
To fix this issue, you’ll have to replace the worn shocks. But here’s the thing: do not get cheap aftermarket shocks for the GMC.
Many mechanics come across customers that claim they just replaced the shocks only to find they used some cheap Chinese knock-off.
They do more harm than good. As such, get OE parts if you want your truck to ride right.
MORE: Best Shocks for Lowered Trucks
How to Prevent GMC Sierra Leveling Kit Problems
Most people know that installing a leveling kit is kind of a big deal. Not only are you leveling up your vehicle, but you’re also modifying the car’s geometry.
That said, here are some tips that will help you prevent some of these issues in the long run:
Size
There are many different sizes for a leveling kit. For example, you can find an inch and a half leveling kit, a two and a half-inch, and so on. But what size should you buy for your truck to avoid problems?
The first thing you need to know is that a leveling kit helps you raise the front of the vehicle to match the original height in the backside to get rid of the factory rake.
With that said, head over to the back wheels. Now measure the distance from the center of the hub to the fender.
Next, measure the front wheels. Say, for instance, you got 13 inches on the back and 11 inches on the front. You would need a 2-inch leveling kit to level up your truck.
Alignment
You would be surprised by how many people don’t know they must get an alignment done after installing a leveling kit to find out the outer thread of the front tires is wearing out.
If you don’t align the truck after putting the leveling kit on, you’ll destroy your tires and make the handling quite unpredictable.
It’s worth the extra bucks, and you won’t run into any weird problems.
Maintenance
Unfortunately, when running a leveling kit, there is a high chance that it might damage the truck’s suspension.
This is a pretty typical problem that truck owners face after setting up a leveling kit.
However, if you are installing a 2-inch leveling kit or anything less than that, this constant stress you put underneath the vehicle is not as concerning, and the ball joints won’t get worn out as fast.
But if you go above 3 inches, you should expect the ball joints to wear out pretty quickly.
There is nothing extraordinary about it. You just need to be aware of it.
READ NEXT: Silverado Leveling Kit Problems
FAQ
There’s a lot of work ahead of you before you can install a leveling kit. As such, here is some useful information before installing the kit:
1. Will a leveling kit damage my truck?
No, installing a leveling kit won’t damage your truck. However, you have to make sure you installed it correctly, or you could run into GMC leveling kit issues.
Also, don’t go above 3 inches, as you’ll run into premature wear.
2. How much does a 2-inch leveling kit cost?
It depends on the manufacturer you get it from. But you should expect to pay anywhere from $70 all the way up to $200.
As for the installation cost, the average price for installing it is about $400-$600.
3. Does a leveling kit affect alignment?
Yes, running a leveling kit affects the alignment. When you install a leveling kit on the truck, get an alignment done as soon as possible. Things can get pretty messy if you don’t.
4. Does a leveling kit make a difference?
Yes, installing a leveling kit does make a huge difference. For example, by installing a leveling kit on the truck, you’d have more room to install larger tires.
The stock height does not offer much flexibility, hence why these kits are quite popular among truck owners.
Conclusion
As much as we love leveling kits, you need to be aware of the leveling kit problems before installing any leveling kit.
Otherwise, you will have a hard time figuring out what’s going on.
Regardless of all the problems you might experience using a leveling kit on your truck, there are plenty of advantages that make this kit quite attractive to truck owners.
You can install bigger tires. It enhances your truck’s appearance and makes your overall driving experience better. With that being said, we hope the above solutions helped you fix your truck’s performance.
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