When GM's HD pickups came out last year, fans of the General had good reason to rejoice. Two monster engines-an 8.1L gas V-8 with enough power to push your eyeballs into the back of your skull, and a 6.6L turbodiesel V-8 with enough torque to relocate your neighbor's house into the next county-were just two of the reasons why Chevy fans were rushing to their local dealers. Of course an Allison transmission bolted to those two engines, and a ton of hauling and towing capability, didn't hurt, either.
A drawback of the new HD line, though, is that lifting its independent front suspension is a bit more complicated than lifting a truck with a solid front axle. So at first, there weren't too many lift kits to be found for these popular trucks. However, all that has changed. Now there is a wealth of offerings from many manufacturers on the market.
One of the newest ones, and one that caught our eye, is from Fabtech suspension. Why did it pique our interest? First, it allows for 8 inches of lift while providing plenty of strength through its stout construction. Other nice features include the fact that no driveshaft modifications are necessary as long as you have the Allison transmission, and no steering centerlink changes are required. We looked in as Fabtech installed its 8-inch kit on a four-wheel-drive 2500HD Crew Cab. If 8 inches of lift is too much, Fabtech also sells a 6-inch kit. And if blue is not your color, black also is available. Follow along as we look at the highlights of the install and the results.
1. The first step is to completely...
1. The first step is to completely remove the stock front suspension and differential from the vehicle. After the stock front suspension is gutted, this bracket, which holds the differential, must be cut off. So obviously, if your truck is leased and has to be returned in stock form, this lift isn't for you.
2. Since the bracket is also...
2. Since the bracket is also part of the lower A-arm mount, a gusset is welded into place to give it strength.
3. With the welding completed,...
3. With the welding completed, the new front crossmember can be bolted into position. It is constructed from 1/4-inch-thick metal for plenty of strength.
4. The rear crossmember is...
4. The rear crossmember is another 1/4-inch-thick piece. It also bolts on with no welding or drilling needed.
5. After the crossmembers...
5. After the crossmembers are in place, this bracket, which helps to relocate the front differential into the proper position to eliminate driveshaft vibration, is installed.
6. Another bracket attaches...
6. Another bracket attaches directly to the differential and helps to support the front of the diff case.
7. With the crossmembers in...
7. With the crossmembers in place and the mounting brackets for the differential installed, the diff can be wrestled into place. This takes a bit of maneuvering; better plan on having two people to help move it around.
8. A stout 1/4-inch-thick...
8. A stout 1/4-inch-thick skidplate is used to protect the front differential. Here you can also see the nice truss work that helps add strength to the crossmembers.
9. Next, the stock lower A-arms...
9. Next, the stock lower A-arms are attached to the new crossmembers.