Yukon with Air Ride lift kit question

[black98z71]

Ok, I'm about to put the order in.

Has anyone noticed any issues with the auto exit height or the lower Aero height at cruising speeds? I'm planning on a moderate 1.5" lift so I would assume since all these rods do is change the way the computer senses height, each of the pre-programmed heights would be increased by 1.5"?

Then, I could still use the OEM controls to raise the truck higher for speeds under 50 MPH, but I would NOT want to push it to the max height through the controls while in 4WD Low?

Let me know what you figure out. My gameplan is same as yours-lift around 1.5" over stock. Let me know when you move forward so I can see pics. I am 6 months or so out. Also, have you seen the need for an alignment if swapping the links and adding 1.5" in ride height?

 

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[ThatGuy]

Let me know what you figure out. My gameplan is same as yours-lift around 1.5" over stock. Let me know when you move forward so I can see pics. I am 6 months or so out. Also, have you seen the need for an alignment if swapping the links and adding 1.5" in ride height?

Here are a few pics...
I did 2" front and back. (you will be shortening the front links and extending the rear links.) For 2", twist the new links to match the existing link and then 24 turns reduction (shorter) for the front. Twist the new rear links to match the existing links and then 24 turns extension (longer).
My front wheel well height is now 38 3/4" in front, and rear wheel well height is 39 1/2".
If you want 1.5" of lift, then 18 turns is probably your sweet spot.
I have more than 2,000 miles with the 2" lift, and I have not had any problems on the highway, in the city, or in the dirt.
I have discussed alignment with my mechanic, but I have not had time to take it in at this point. I installed a real 2" lift kit on a 16 year old Avalanche late last fall, and immediately took it in for alignment. The adjustment was very negligible. My mechanic even said "this was not necessary."
This is a 2024 Yukon XL with stock wheels and tires for now.
Apologies, the front of my truck is covered in bugs in the pics, as I just drove back from Houston...

 

[Texaspicker]

Nice. So once you install these, are you able to use the air ride suspension to increase height still? Or do you avoid the max height increase with the air ride suspension after you have these?

 

[ThatGuy]

Nice. So once you install these, are you able to use the air ride suspension to increase height still? Or do you avoid the max height increase with the air ride suspension after you have these?

You can increase the ride height to the next (third) level up. The link instructions recommend not going to the 4th level / top level with the lift.
In theory I think going to level 3 with the link lift should be similar to going to level 4 when still stock.

There are a few more pics from forum member "TheSmashko" in this link: https://www.at4forum.com/threads/2023-yukon-xl-at4-lifted-with-35-inch-tires.2101/

He has already upgraded tires and wheels

 

[Danimalx87]

Just put my order in.

Is it normal for the factory height to be all over the place? None of my wheel fenders were at the same height, I parked on a level spot and measured up from the ground. Tire pressure was 39 psi all around, so I was expecting the heights to be the same. I was +/- 3/4"

Do most people level the truck front and back the same, or have one higher? Not like those squatted trucks I've seen though....

 

[ThatGuy]

Just put my order in.

Is it normal for the factory height to be all over the place? None of my wheel fenders were at the same height, I parked on a level spot and measured up from the ground. Tire pressure was 39 psi all around, so I was expecting the heights to be the same. I was +/- 3/4"

Do most people level the truck front and back the same, or have one higher? Not like those squatted trucks I've seen though....

My initial stock measurements were all over the place as well. I cleaned that up after installing the links and just adjusted with an extra turn or two.

My front wheel wells were generally about 3/4" lower than the rear wheel wells when it was stock. I have kept with that same measurement differential after the lift.

 

[Danimalx87]

Kit should get here tomorrow. How important is having a level parking spot to make the adjustments? I'd have to go searching for something because my driveway is sloped. I'm assuming you don't want to change the link length while the truck is running yeah?

I'm excited to get this done, just before I leave for a long trip up to MN on Friday.

 

[ThatGuy]

Kit should get here tomorrow. How important is having a level parking spot to make the adjustments? I'd have to go searching for something because my driveway is sloped. I'm assuming you don't want to change the link length while the truck is running yeah?

I'm excited to get this done, just before I leave for a long trip up to MN on Friday.

My driveway is sloped at least 5 degrees, maybe more, and it was fine. I used chalks behind the rear wheels as I jacked up the front, (I back down the slope) safety is the only important consideration. I'm not sure that jacking up the front per the instructions is really necessary, but it does make it easier to access the front links. Now that the truck sits higher with the engine off, I can make minor adjustments to the front links without the jack. You will have to get on your back to replace or adjust the rear links, there is no way around that, and it is easier to access while you still have the front end on the jack.
The ride height will not adjust until you remove the jack, start the truck, and drive around for a minute, so don't even bother with any measurements until you take it around the block. And yes, I would not adjust the links with the engine running because the computer will be live.
I've made three 500 mile round trips to Houston in the last two weeks, and the truck handles no different than with the stock links. I've also towed a 20 foot sailboat 80 miles round trip and it was just fine.

 

[Danimalx87]

Well Shit.

How screwed am I? The stock arms we're really difficult to remove, and one of the rear arms broke off the ball from the sensor arm.... Going to call the dealer now and pray they have a replacement part in stock because I need to leave Friday morning on a long trip....

Ugh...

 

[Danimalx87]

Funny enough, I had set 18 turns on the three connecting rods that I was able to install, and the truck seems to have leveled it out, or maybe it just raised up to the max height, but all my measurements are 2" higher than before. Putting my fronts at 39" and rears at 39.5"

It looks too high though so I'll lower it a bit once I get the replacement part, hopefully Friday morning.....

My wife is going to kill me...

 

[ThatGuy]

Well Shit.

View attachment 29474

How screwed am I? The stock arms we're really difficult to remove, and one of the rear arms broke off the ball from the sensor arm.... Going to call the dealer now and pray they have a replacement part in stock because I need to leave Friday morning on a long trip....

Ugh...

Sorry to hear about that. I don't know which vehicle you have, or which link you broke, but these should be the part numbers for a replacement sensor arm.

Rear Right
Sensor - GM (84138218) 2021-2025 GM
Rear Left
Sensor- GM (84138217) 2021-2025 GM

Front Right
Sensor - GM (84138741) 2021-2025 GM
Front Left
Sensor - GM (84138742) 2021-2025 GM

 

[Danimalx87]

I panicked and had the dealer order a replacement. 84138218 for the rear passenger side.

I ended up using a pair of snap ring pliers to remove the other two link arms after breaking one. That was the smart thing to do...

Also the sensor arm will flip up when there's nothing holding it down, didn't expect that.

 

[ThatGuy]

I panicked and had the dealer order a replacement. 84138218 for the rear passenger side.

I ended up using a pair of snap ring pliers to remove the other two link arms after breaking one. That was the smart thing to do...

Also the sensor arm will flip up when there's nothing holding it down, didn't expect that.

"Also the sensor arm will flip up when there's nothing holding it down, didn't expect that."

Yes, it will rotate up about 90 degrees, which is why I think it would be a bad idea to try to switch out the links while the truck is running and the computer is live.

 

[Danimalx87]

Drove around a bit today, the truck run as expected. Kudos to the GM engineers who figured out how to keep the air ride system functional when you're missing a sensor.

I'll need to lower the lift down just a bit, my tailgate hits the garage door when I open it, quarter of an inch should do. I really like the look from the front now, and I feel like it rides better?

 

[ThatGuy]

Drove around a bit today, the truck run as expected. Kudos to the GM engineers who figured out how to keep the air ride system functional when you're missing a sensor.

I'll need to lower the lift down just a bit, my tailgate hits the garage door when I open it, quarter of an inch should do. I really like the look from the front now, and I feel like it rides better?

"Kudos to the GM engineers who figured out how to keep the air ride system functional when you're missing a sensor."

What is the secret? Also I sent you a DM.