I currently have CST 4" lift spindles with a 3" rear block and I'm thinking of either doing a 4" block in the rear or 4" Deavers. I need 2 more inches of lift in the front for 6 inches of total lift.

What's the best way to achieve this?

Crank up stock torsion bars 2 inches?

Replace keys?

Whether it's cranking up the stock torsion bars with the stock keys or replacing the keys and cranking them up, will I need the Cognito upper a-arms?

Again, this is a '06 Chevrolet 2500HD 2WD with CST 4" lift spindles. I want 2 more inches of lift.

Thanks in advance.

why the two threads for the same truck? well, on this one, if you bars are completely uncranked right now, then you might be able to get the lift you want, but it wouldn't be Ideal. The ride quality will suffer tremendously. If you go that route, you will definitely need the Cognito UCA's to give you some extra down travel. I would just do the 7-9" like you mentioned in the other thread.

So if it's not ideal to crank up the stock torsion bars 2 inches, then what is the aftermarket keys offered for? What do they do?

the keys, such as green keys, are indexed differently. the Hex pattern in them is slightly rotated, to give the torsion bar more preload, and to enable you to get more lift out of them, but the ride quality will still suffer greatly with the amount of lift you are wanting to get from them. It might be possible to get the lift you want, I'm just saying the ride will not be "GM" quality. Maybe stock Dodge quality. lol

Why not 2 threads no one told him what he wanted to hear in the first one so he should try again right.... Only 1 way to fine out do it.

So there is no height difference between the stock keys and the green keys, it's just the amount of preload that differs them?

So why does Cognito, a very very popular brand of lift for our trucks advertise all their kits at a range? For instance, 4-6", 7-9", 9-11", etc.? To get the maximum lift, it says to crank up the torsion bars. If this was so bad, why do they advertise it?

dozerboy, ahh c'mon man, why you gotta be like that?

well its not necissarily bad, but what I'm getting at is this. You can get 2" out of them form completely uncranked to cranked, thats where the 7-9" comes from. But if your bars are already cranked at all, like 1", then you will only get at most another inch, and without the cognito UCA's, you will be pushing to get that inch. I'll put it this way, if your bars are uncraked all the way right now, then you should be able to get the lift you want out of them, but I would recommend the cognito UCA's to give you some extra down travel to help the ride.

Doh! I should have clarified.

Ok...I have 4" lift spindles, 3" blocks in the rear. I also have the torsion bars cranked up a little. I'm not sure how much, but I'm thinking around an inch. I wanted to either do 4" Deavers in the rear or a 4" block, more than likely the Deavers. I need another inch in the front, which I'm guessing will be 2" total. Again, I don't know how much I've lifted the truck with the torsion bars, but I was just insisting on maxing them out to see if it'll give me the clearance I need.

i think your truck came with green keys...they started putting them in the hd's around 2005 or so

crank it all the way and try it...if its what you want cool......then get your front end aligned

I say that you can get two more inches with new keys. you have 4" spindles now which doesn't effect the keys. It would be the same as someone who wants to raise their front end at stock height to level the truck out, only thing is you are 4" tall to start off with. Your ride quality will not be the best with cranked keys and I would look into new upper control arms for sure.

I was thinking the same thing. How is it any different than someone with a stock truck wanting to level it out by cranking the torsion bars. The spindles have no affect on the torsion bars.

i think he already has green keys.

You would be out of the green zone for what you want, why not a 6 inch lift? Its done right and you can fits 35s no problem

Ok, let me ask this, what's the max you can crank the torsion bars before getting out of this "green zone"?

I have a 2wd gmc 2500 lly W/ 4" cst spindle and 2-3" truxxx keys set at 2" w/ fox HD series shocks with res and 4" deavers. It clears 325X60R22 and rides great on the road but as soon as you hit the dirt UCA's are a must(need that down travel) I would just pick up a set of truxxx/readylift or a key like that, they are clocked a hair more than the green gm keys. Befor you spend the money on a full drop down kit try some keys and if you got the cash UCA's are a plus. Thats whats nice about a 2wd you can still get 6" without spending big money on a full dropdown kit. If you would like some pics let me know ill send you some. :)

Doh! I should have clarified.

Ok...I have 4" lift spindles, 3" blocks in the rear. I also have the torsion bars cranked up a little. I'm not sure how much, but I'm thinking around an inch. I wanted to either do 4" Deavers in the rear or a 4" block, more than likely the Deavers. I need another inch in the front, which I'm guessing will be 2" total. Again, I don't know how much I've lifted the truck with the torsion bars, but I was just insisting on maxing them out to see if it'll give me the clearance I need.


Ok, it should work then. Sorry for not understanding your original post. I thought you were looking for an additional 2" of front lift out of the bars. If you're only looking for an extra inch, I would say its doable. When you do it, you will want to keep an eye on the clearance between the UCA and frame stop. You want at least 5/8" clearance between the two. But if you can't get the desired height, while keeping this minimum between the UCA and Frame Stop, then you will need to look at another option. I still recommend just doing a lift. You'll be way better off, and so will the truck.

here are some pics including the distance between uca and stop!!! plenty of room and still clears 35's rides like stock TOO!!!!

dozerboy, ahh c'mon man, why you gotta be like that?

Because you start 10 threads about the same BS, and I have nothing better to do really.:D

I haven't gotten on here in quite some time and I don't follow you around on the boards, but I remember you back when I was pretty active on this site. Seems like every time you post something on my threads, it's something along the lines of what you posted above. Do you ever have any help to contribute other than just bad mouthing my threads?

As you can see, there are many helpful people in this particular thread who have proven and explained to me what I should know. All in all, I still haven't decided. I may temporarily do the keys, but may end up doing the full kit.

Thanks everyone for your help, much appreciated.

Eliminator619, what keys did you get again? Did you do the full 2 inches that it's capable of? What is the max on the aftermarket keys? I assume you had to get an alignment? It didn't look like you had aftermarket UCAs, but everyone says they're a must. I clear 35s too no problem with stock keys cranked about an inch and the 4" spindles. I think I can clear 37s with about another inch of lift, do you think you could clear them? Your truck looks lower in the rear, but overall looks good.