How to Lift a Truck

If you’ve been driving your Chevrolet truck in Minnetonka for some time, we certainly think you understand the benefits of a lift kit. This premier off-roading accessory allows you to drive your truck anywhere with confidence. Whether you have a Silverado 1500, Colorado, or Silverado 3500 HD, it can be an additional benefit to your Chevy configuration.

Over the years, many Bloomington customers have asked the Suburban Chevrolet service staff, “How do I lift my truck?” While there’s much to unpack, we cover the basics in our introductory guide below.

What Tools Do I Need to Lift a Truck?

Before delving into how to lift a truck, you’ll need to know what tools are required for installing a Chevy lift kit. To undertake this task, you will need: 

• Vehicle jacks and jack stands
• Socket wrench
• Torque wrench
• Lug wrench
• Screwdriver

It’s important to have a hammer and pry bar on hand, in case there are any older or worn-out parts you might have trouble removing. Another good idea is having WD-40, or a penetrating oil of your choice to loosen tight joints. Keeping a few extra nuts and bolts around can also provide additional support. Don’t forget to order your Chevy lift kit from our parts center in Eden Prairie ASAP.

How Do I Lift My Truck at Home? A Step-by-Step Guide

Remember that no online instructions can replace the instruction manual that’s included with your Chevy lift kit. These steps are to provide you with an overview of how to lift a truck and offer an overview of what the process involves. 

Make sure you’ve purchased a Chevy lift kit that’s appropriate to your truck’s specifications, then take the following steps to lift your Chevy truck at home: 

1. Remove the negative battery cable.
2. Loosen your lug nuts, so the tires are easier to remove when your truck is off the ground.
3. Use your jack and jack stands to raise the vehicle. The process will take a while, so you’ll want to be sure that the vehicle’s center of gravity is right where it should be.
4. Remove the tires and wheels and set them aside.
5. Remove the old U-bolts, along with your vehicle’s current springs and shocks.
6. Attach the new bolts and, while assembling any parts according to the lift kit instructions, attach the new shocks and suspension.
7. Use your torque wrench to make sure all your bolts and pieces are tightened according to the proper specifications.
8. Attach your old tires, or attach a set of bigger tires that you’ve purchased for your vehicle. Use our tire finder to make sure you have the right options after your lift.
9. Lower your vehicle carefully, going little by little, and keeping it as level as possible as it inches towards the ground.

Your Chevy lift kit should be installed by now. This entire process should take anywhere from seven to fifteen hours to install your new kit. Before hitting the roads around Hopkins, we recommend you bring it down to the Suburban Chevrolet service center for our technicians to have a second look. Next time, someone wonders, “How do I lift my truck?” they might turn to you for help.

Get Your Truck Lifted at Suburban Chevrolet

Now that you know how to lift a truck, we recommend you have it done by a professional if you’re not ready to do it yourself. Bring your Chevy truck down to Suburban Chevrolet and get your vehicle lifted by a team that’s been doing these jobs for years! Don’t forget to check out our service specials to see how much you can save on your next visit. Whether it’s lifting your truck or an oil change, Suburban Chevrolet is the place to choose around the Minnetonka area!