The 2019-2024 Silverado 1500 ships from the factory with a deliberate rake — front sits roughly 2–2.5 inches lower than the rear. That's fine for towing geometry, but it kills your stance, limits tire clearance up front, and wastes the capability already baked into the K2-era platform. A leveling kit fixes all three. The decision isn't whether to level — it's which approach makes sense for your use case: stamped-steel strut spacer for a clean daily, upper control arm kit for geometry correction under load, or a full shock-and-UCA package if you actually wheel it. Drivetrain matters too: 2WD trucks have more lift headroom before geometry becomes an issue; Trail Boss models come pre-leveled from the factory and require a Trail Boss-specific kit. Here's what we stock and what each one is actually for.
Quick links
- 1. ReadyLift 2.25" Leveling Kit (66-3086) — Best With Shocks
- 2. ReadyLift 2.25" Leveling Kit (66-3070) — Budget Spacer
- 3. ReadyLift 2.25" Leveling Kit (66-3085) — 2WD Variant
- 4. Skyjacker 1.5" Kit w/ UCAs — Trail Boss Pick
- 5. Zone Offroad 2" Kit w/ UCAs — Mid-Range 4WD
- 6. Cognito 3" Standard Leveling Kit (110-90766) — Best 3" Value
- 7. Cognito 3" Standard Leveling Lift Kit (110-90797) — Full Kit With Shocks
- How to choose a leveling kit for your Silverado
- FAQ
1. ReadyLift Suspension RL 2.25" Leveling Kit — CHEVY/GMC 66-3086
ReadyLift Suspension RL 2.25" Leveling Kit — CHEVY/GMC 66-3086 — $530
This is ReadyLift's premium 2.25" package — it includes replacement strut extensions designed to work with your factory shocks without butchering ride quality the way cheap billet spacers do. The 66-3086 is the go-to for 4WD 1500 owners running 33s who want a zero-drama install that doesn't compromise daily drivability. ReadyLift's documentation on this platform is thorough, and fitment on the 2019–2024 frame is confirmed. If you're not swapping shocks and just want the truck leveled properly, this is the one to buy.
2. ReadyLift Suspension RL 2.25" Leveling Kit — CHEVY/GMC 66-3070
ReadyLift Suspension RL 2.25" Leveling Kit — CHEVY/GMC 66-3070 — $250
Half the price of the 3086, this is ReadyLift's strut spacer-only option for the 4WD Silverado 1500. If your factory shocks still have life in them and you're not planning an immediate shock upgrade, this gets the front up 2.25" cleanly and correctly. ReadyLift's billet aluminum construction on this kit is a step above generic spacer kits — the tolerances are tighter and the hardware is actually truck-rated. Straight budget pick that doesn't embarrass itself.
3. ReadyLift Suspension RL 2.25" Leveling Kit — CHEVY/GMC 66-3085
ReadyLift Suspension RL 2.25" Leveling Kit — CHEVY/GMC 66-3085 — $250
Same price point as the 3070, but this variant is spec'd for the 2WD Silverado 1500. If you're running a 2WD truck — increasingly popular as a daily/tow rig in flat-terrain states — you need this specific SKU, not the 4WD version. Suspension geometry differs enough between the two drivetrains that swapping kits is a real mistake. Same quality billet construction as the rest of the ReadyLift lineup, correctly spec'd for your application.
4. Skyjacker 19-26 Chevrolet 1500 Trail Boss 1.5" Suspension Leveling Kit w/ Upper Control Arms — C19150
Trail Boss owners get this one. The Trail Boss leaves the factory already leveled — adding lift without addressing the UCAs wrecks your CV angles and accelerates ball joint wear faster than people expect. Skyjacker's C19150 is purpose-built for the Trail Boss with 1.5" of additional front lift and replacement upper control arms that restore geometry at the new ride height. If you own a Trail Boss and skip to a generic kit, you will regret it at 20,000 miles. This is the correctly engineered answer.
5. Zone Offroad 19-23 Chevy/GMC 1500 4WD 2" Leveling Kit w/ Upper Control Arms — ZONC1241
Zone Offroad 19-23 Chevy/GMC 1500 4WD 2" Leveling Kit w/ Upper Control Arms — ZONC1241 — $517
This is the mid-range sweet spot for 4WD owners who want geometry correction without going full Cognito. Zone includes replacement UCAs with the kit, which matters at 2" because the factory control arm runs out of positive caster adjustment range — you get handling push and uneven tire wear without corrected arms. Zone's UCAs on this kit use high-angle ball joints designed for the 2019–2023 T1 platform. Solid build quality, real-world tested, appropriately priced.
6. Cognito 19-24 Chevy/GMC Silverado/Sierra 1500 2WD/4WD 3" Standard Leveling Kit — 110-90766
Cognito 19-24 Chevy/GMC Silverado/Sierra 1500 2WD/4WD 3" Standard Leveling Kit — 110-90766 — $788
If you want 3" of front lift and you're serious about keeping geometry intact, Cognito is the benchmark the forum community keeps returning to. The 110-90766 covers both 2WD and 4WD trucks, ships with Cognito's forged aluminum upper control arms, and includes everything needed to get the front end 3" up without introducing the CV binding or premature inner tie rod wear that kills cheap 3" spacer builds. This is the right kit for anyone running 35s on a street truck that occasionally sees dirt.
7. Cognito 19-24 Chevy/GMC Silverado/Sierra 1500 2WD/4WD 3" Standard Leveling Lift Kit — 110-90797
Cognito 19-24 Chevy/GMC Silverado/Sierra 1500 2WD/4WD 3" Standard Leveling Lift Kit — 110-90797 — $1088
The 90797 is the 90766 with shocks included — a complete front-end overhaul in one purchase. For trucks where the factory shocks are worn or were never adequate for the intended use (towing, off-road, loaded bed regularly), buying the lift and shocks together is the smarter financial move than sourcing them separately. Cognito's shock valving on this kit is tuned specifically to the lifted geometry, not just a generic shock slapped into the package. At $1,088 for a complete 3" leveled front end with UCAs and shocks, the value math works.
How to choose a leveling kit for your Silverado 1500
Drivetrain first. 2WD and 4WD kits are not interchangeable. Upper strut geometry, CV angle concerns, and caster correction needs differ significantly between the two. The ReadyLift 66-3085 is the 2WD version; 66-3070 and 66-3086 are 4WD. Cognito's 90766 and 90797 cover both. Do not assume a kit fits your truck without confirming the drivetrain spec.
Trail Boss owners need Trail Boss-specific kits. The Trail Boss uses a factory-leveled suspension tune. Standard leveling kits designed for the raked base truck will over-lift the Trail Boss front end and put your CV axles in a bind. The Skyjacker C19150 is the correct fitment.
Upper control arms matter at 2"+ of lift. Above roughly 1.5–2" of front lift, the factory UCAs run out of caster correction range and the ball joint angles start causing accelerated wear. Any serious street or off-road use at 2"+ should include replacement UCAs. The Zone ZONC1241 and both Cognito 3" kits all include UCAs.
Shock compatibility. A strut spacer-only kit like the ReadyLift 66-3070 works fine on trucks with healthy factory shocks. If you're over 50,000 miles or running any meaningful off-road use, pair the leveling hardware with matched shocks. The Cognito 90797 solves this in one purchase.
Tire fitment reality check. A 2.25" level on the 2019–2024 Silverado will typically clear 33" tires without trimming. Getting to 35s reliably requires the full 3" lift with UCAs and often a minor fender liner mod. Check our Tire Size Chart before committing to rubber, and pair your leveled truck with properly sized wheels from our catalog.
Also worth reading: our guides on Best Lift Kits for the Ford F-150, Best Leveling Kits for the Toyota Tacoma, and Best Leveling Kits for the 4Runner for cross-platform context. If you're also modding the exhaust, see our Best Exhausts for Silverado 1500 guide. Once the truck is sitting right, the suspension category and wheels catalog are the logical next stops.
FAQ
Do I need an alignment after installing a leveling kit on my 2019-2024 Silverado?
Yes — always. Any leveling kit that changes front ride height alters caster and camber. Even kits that include UCAs with caster correction still require a professional alignment to dial in the final settings. Skipping the alignment is how you burn through front tires in 15,000 miles.
What's the largest tire I can fit with a 2.25" leveling kit on the Silverado 1500?
On a stock-width Silverado with a 2.25" level and no wheel spacers, most owners clear 33x12.5 tires with minor fender liner trimming. Fitting 35s cleanly without rubbing typically requires a full 3" lift with UCAs, like the Cognito 110-90766. Wheel offset also plays a role — see our Tire Size Chart for reference.
Can I install a standard leveling kit on a Trail Boss?
No. The Trail Boss comes with a factory-leveled suspension tune and a higher front ride height than the standard 1500. Installing a kit designed for the raked base truck will over-lift the front and create harmful CV axle angles. Use the Skyjacker C19150, which is engineered specifically for Trail Boss geometry.
Do these kits void the factory warranty?
GM cannot void your entire factory warranty simply because you installed a leveling kit. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, they must demonstrate that the modification caused the specific component that failed. That said, suspension-related warranty claims (shocks, ball joints, CV axles) become harder to pursue after a lift. If your truck is still in the powertrain warranty window and dealer service is a priority, consider a conservative 2.25" spacer kit and keep documentation of your install.
Try wheels on your Chevrolet Silverado 1500: see the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 bolt pattern, wheel sizes by year and wheel builds in our free wheel visualizer.