In stock trim the 2007 Chevy K1500 Crew Cab sits nose low, in this case by about 2-inches. The Rancho QuickLIFT raised the front of the truck 2-inches for a level stance on this vehicle.
Rancho’s QuickLIFT™ Levels and Adds Room for Larger Tires.
In stock trim the 2007 Chevy K1500 Crew Cab sits nose low, or tail high depending on how you look at it. This is typical of most light trucks and SUVs, and is done by the factory so that when loaded to capacity, the truck sits basically level. This is fine for work trucks, but when trucks and SUVs are used as daily drivers with empty beds, a level ride is more desirable. Raising the front end also allows one to increase the tire size by a few inches.
The proliferation of front struts on pickups and SUVs has created a need for a new approach to lifting and leveling late model rigs. One of these new solutions is the QuickLIFT from Rancho Suspension. The system enables owners of these strut equipped trucks and SUVs to swiftly raise their front-ends from 1 to 2.5-inches, both leveling the rig and providing more clearance for larger tires and wheels. Our test rig was a 2007 Chevy K1500, 4WD half-ton Silverado Crew Cab. The QuickLIFT raised its front end an even two inches and will allow for at least a one inch increase in tire size. The stock wheels can be reused with the QuickLIFT, or aftermarket wheels with a similar offset can be substituted if desired.
One of the nice features of the QuickLIFT is that it’s quick to install. A competent shop with a strut spring compressor should be able to install a complete QuickLIFT and rear shock package in about an hour and a half the first time around. On the D.I.Y. side, home installers should be aware that a strut spring compressor is absolutely required for the install. You might find a local rental yard or an auto parts store with one for rent.
Installation of the QuickLIFT front struts on the 2007 Chevy was straight forward. Simply remove the brake caliper, upper ball joint, and tie-rod end at each front corner. Then disconnect the ABS sensor and remove the factory strut. Once the strut is disassembled, using the strut compressor, the O.E. spring and bump stop are swapped over to the new QuickLIFT strut. Then everything is reassembled in reverse.
The QuickLIFT provides lift by raising the spring seat on the strut body, but retains factory ride quality by retaining the factory spring and its factory spring rate. However, the QuickLIFT strut features a nitrogen gas-charged, tri-tube, patented monoflow design and Rancho’s MyRIDE™, 9-position tuning system. MyRIDE allows the user to dial in nine different stiffness settings to tune the ride to suit road conditions and/or driver’s preference. This can be done by turning the knob at the bottom of the strut body, or via an optional in-cab remote control kit.
Users have two options of shocks that are compatible with the QuickLIFT front struts. Both shocks feature the same 9-position tuning system. The first option is the venerable Rancho RS9000. The second option is the new, extra-large RS9000XL shock. The RS9000XL features either a 2.75- or 2.38-in. diameter reserve tube that delivers up to 48-percent greater oil capacity than the standard RS9000. In addition, the RS9000XL features an 18-mm chromed piston rod and Rancho’s patented nitrogen gascharged, tri-tube, mono-flow design. This all means that in the same application, an RS9000XL will run cooler and more consistent than an RS9000. The RS9000XL is truly a shock for the most demanding drivers and the most grueling conditions.
Rancho offers the QuickLIFT for latemodel GM (Chevy and GMC), Dodge, Ford (Lincoln and Mercury), Nissan, and Toyota applications.
1When measuring the quick lift height increase,
we measured from the center of the wheel to the
inside of the fender lip. Stock, this measurement
was 22-inches front and 24-inches rear.
After the QuickLIFT was installed, the truck
measured 24-inches all around.
2 Installation was quite simple. The brake
calipers, the tie-rod ends, and upper ball joints
all need to be disassembled from the knuckles in
order to remove the O.E. struts from the vehicle.
3. Here is a comparison of the stock strut
and the QuickLIFT strut. Notice that the
spring seat is taller on the QuickLIFT
body than the stock unit.
4. The stock struts are disassembled and
the bumps stops and springs are reused
on the new QuickLIFT struts.
5. A strut spring compressor is a must
have tool to install the system. If you do
not have one, either rent one, or have a
shop do the work for you.
6. Once the QuickLIFT struts are assembled,
they are simply reinstalled on the
truck and everything else is reconnected
in reverse order of disassembly.
7. With the new QuickLIFT struts in place,
all that’s left to be done is install the tires
and wheels and enjoy the ride.
8. Here you can see a comparison
between the venerable Rancho RS9000
and the new RS9000XL shock. The
RS9000XL features either a 2.75- or
2.38-in. diameter reserve tube that
delivers up to 48-percent greater oil
capacity than the standard RS9000. Both
of these shocks feature MyRIDE 9-position
tuning.