Hey Scotty and/or Mods I have a 2008 GMC Canyon 2WD and i was wanting to lift it about 2 to 3 inches I would consider to be used for medium duty so I pull a trailer every now and then but not a lot I was wondering what you thought my best option for the leaf springs would be, either Block lift, Shackle lift or Add a Leaf and would i need longer shocks for this height? I know each have their Pros and Cons but I am unsure of what my best plan of action would be.
P.S. This seems like a great topic for a video
If you add a leaf you will have decreased ride performance but solid towing performance. Alternatively a block lift will give you OK towing performance but will mostly keep your ride performance intact. A shackle lift in my opinion is bad idea if you tow. If you go on Rock Auto and check out different options for replacement shocks it will tell you on each selection how much of a lift the shock can accommodate. It varies by shock brand/model.
@inthedetails
but how do i know how high i can go with the OE shocks because the 2WD sits exactly 2" lower then the 4WD and I'm unsure if they use the same shocks
Check the specs on the shocks as described in the original comment.
@inthedetails i found the OE shocks on rock auto and do not see where it says how much of a lift it can accommodate
If you look towards the bottom under the "adjustable" section there is a Rancho shock that is made for 1"-2.5" of lift. The part number for this shock is NOT the same as the part number for the same brand OEM replacement. That means your OEM shock most likely will not work with a 2" lift. Ultimately it depends on what kind of a lift you do to the front end. The best way to modify the front suspension is to buy a complete kit that way you know all of the parts will work together.
Blocks may be the way to go, they affect the ride of your vehicle the least. Adding a leaf would make it ride rough as hell. I would not recommend adding a leaf. Usually you would use a shackle to drop your truck.
@thetexasranger
But there is a chance of axle warp with blocks and shackles can cause flat spots on the leaf and as far as ive read the only bad thing with add a leaf is it stiffens the suspension
Leave it as it is.
