Leveling out my Envoy?

[Jimmyz]

I just bought my Envoy XUV with the 5.3L and air ride in the back. Truck has 150k on it. Still running on the stock suspension. I would like to level the truck out.

What's the best way to level it out? I'm going to replace all the shocks too, so if there's a leveling kit with shocks for these trucks please advise me on were to buy one.

I won't be doing any hard core off roading, just want to level it out and improve the ride quality.

[v7guy]

Maybe a half inch spacer above the front strut. Bilstein HD shocks are the standard suggestion for the front. They work well.

[bilit66]

You might want to replace all of the coil springs. With that many miles they probably have some sag in them. Just a thought.

[The Roadie]

... please advise me on were to buy one....

Welcome! There is a sticky thread that's mandatory reading: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=20

You will also get a lot of ideas by visiting the "Build Threads" and seeing what other folks have done. Some of them even have EXT/XLs, with the same wheelbase as your XUV.

BTW, it pains me to see anybody call it an SUX on purpose. Please reconsider. (I came within $1500 of buying one, which would have - in the long run - saved me about $15K and my life would have taken an entirely different turn.)

[Jimmyz]

OK. I ended up buying some Monroe quick struts for the front of my envoy. Can I still install a 1" spacer with these struts? Where can I find a 1" spacer? Seen 2" everywhere but I don't wont to rise the rear of my truck because it has good work factory bags on it now. Don't think you can lift a truck with air bags? Right?

[Cable810]

E-mail MarkMc he can set you straight for the spacer. Yes you can lift with airbags. Roadie installed airbags in his rig and is running, what 2, 2" spacers and Z71s? This is something more suited for GMTNation.com not offroadtb.com hence the name Off-roadTB we wheel our rigs not pussy foot around the mall. Not trying to be harsh in any way just saying.

[The Roadie]

There's a difference between factory Envoy air springs, and Airlift1000 bags inside coil springs. I have the latter. BDS spacer on top, SMAXX on the bottom. Tahoe Z71 springs with the larger Airlift bags needed for those springs.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Some of us wheel them. Others talk about and act tough on here.

Why can't the guy just get help? He shared his mission and made no BS claims yet this site once again gives someone shit about a mall when 90% of the trucks on here never see anymore than a dirt road.

[Jimmyz]

Some of us wheel them. Others talk about and act tough on here.

Why can't the guy just get help? He shared his mission and made no BS claims yet this site once again gives someone shit about a mall when 90% of the trucks on here never see anymore than a dirt road.

Well put! Everybody likes to talk trash to others via the internet! I'm not a fended by all these high school kids on here! LOL!!!

[v7guy]

OK. I ended up buying some Monroe quick struts for the front of my envoy. Can I still install a 1" spacer with these struts? Where can I find a 1" spacer? Seen 2" everywhere but I don't wont to rise the rear of my truck because it has good work factory bags on it now. Don't think you can lift a truck with air bags? Right?

The reason I suggested the 1/2" spacer (maybe a 1" would work too) is because MarkMC has one in the 2.5" kit. He's an extremely helpful guy and can probably set you up. The small spacer would work fine with your quick struts too. This isn't a tested combo though and will require a lil measuring on your part to see how much lift you want.
You could also use the spring chart and see how much spring would get you the lift you want to be level. It would ride rougher and you would be throwing away the spring on the quick strut you just bought... maybe some 87s would work. With the stiffer spring you would most likely want a better shock like I mentioned.
I've never been a fan of Monroe shocks personally (tried em on 3 different vehicles). They've always left my vehicles under dampened in my opinion, but that's just an opinion.
I would imagine a spacer of some sort can be made for the rear bags if you were inclined. But that would require the front to be lifted more to level it out. Sometimes the 2.5" lift is considered a "leveling kit".

These are educated guesses. I haven't ran across anyone that has tried such a minimal lift. But the spacer or spring is probably a real good place to start.

As far as improving the ride goes, that means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

Some of us wheel them. Others talk about and act tough on here.

Why can't the guy just get help? He shared his mission and made no BS claims yet this site once again gives someone shit about a mall when 90% of the trucks on here never see anymore than a dirt road.

Kyle, do you know of anyone that has gone this route and leveled it out by just raising the front a smidge? Can you think of anything I haven't suggested or know of a proven combo? I've lifted several, but everybody has mostly gone big.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Either marks inside or outside spacer but you have to measure your rig to know how much of a bump the front needs.

[Shdwdrgn]

...when 90% of the trucks on here never see anymore than a dirt road.

My truck sees mountains every day ... from the highway, as I drive to work

Just for reference, I have Mark's front 3/4" spacers. They won't level the vehicle, but for such a cheap cost and relative ease of installation, they do make a noticeable difference in the stance. I've never regretted getting them, but now that I have the extra weight of the steel bumper, I've been considering having him make me a custom-sized front lift to bring it back closer to level.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Or just use the existing inside strut spacer he makes n lose the outside...

Not sure he can do custom as easy as he used to...fyi

[Silverbullet]

Some of us wheel them. Others talk about and act tough on here.

Why can't the guy just get help? He shared his mission and made no BS claims yet this site once again gives someone shit about a mall when 90% of the trucks on here never see anymore than a dirt road.

Well said, there's a lot of keyboard warriors here!

[bilit66]

You can run the spacers under the stock rear air springs also to lift it. You asked about lifting with the air ride. I used Marks 2 1/2 level kit. I started with installing the front kit and adjusting the sensors to lift the rear. I then installed the spacers under the rear air springs. I rode like that for 6 months or so. Then sprung a leak in one of the bags. this will happen. I replaced the bags with coils from Arnott. Variable rate with spacers. Very pleased. You have many options. There is a ton of information on this sight. It is full of very knowledgeable people that have posted great information. Search and search. Good Luck