SOLVED! 2006 Trailblazer 4x4 - 3" Lift - 2" Wheel Spacers - Large Tires 275/70/R17

SPORTSMANSSAFARI

Original poster
Member
Nov 1, 2020
1
Statesboro, GA
I finished the above build with some trial and error, but it is simple. Before starting the lift, look above each front tire and you'll see the top of the spindle coming out and over the tire. There's about 1" between tire and spindle, making it impossible to install the 275/70/R17 without 2" wheel spacers. You'll also need longer shocks (shown below), as you can't just use shocks 3" longer. The geometry completely changes. This also assumes after installing the lift kit and spacers, you will install the original wheels/tires, then take to a local tire shop to mount.balance/align new tires. There are plenty of videos and related instructions on the web, so I'll cover the overview of parts and instructions.

PARTS
  • 3" Coil Spacers Front and Rear - Supreme Suspensions® - 3" x 3" Pro-Billet Series Front and Rear Suspension Lift Kit
    • CARID.Com
    • Item # mpn4109790570
    • $200.00
  • SKYJACKER® N8030 - NITRO N8000™ Rear Driver or Passenger Side Twin-Tube Shock Absorber
    • CARID.Com
    • $116.00
  • BFGoodrich Terrain T/A KO2 Radial Tire-LT275/70R17/E 121/118R 121R
    • Amazon
    • $925.00
  • Wheel Spacers 4x 2" Hubcentric 6x5 Wheel Spacers 50mm Chevy GMC Envoy Trailblazer
    • eBay
    • Item ID: 233319041213
    • $145.00
  • Mount/Balance/Alignat a local tire shop
    • $108.00
INSTRUCTIONS - FRONT THEN REAR 3" LIFT SPACERS
  • One FRONT wheel at a time
    • Untighten front wheel lug nuts and fack front near the wheel and remove wheel/tire
    • Remove Coil/Strut from the top (under the hood, remove 2 bolts) and from the yoke. Lots of hammering required to break the coil/strut loose from the yoke. Google for video
    • Insert lift spacers according to instructions. using Coil Compressor
      • Rent or buy a coil compressor that has two external compressors; not a single internal coil compressor. Place on opposite sides of the coil between the second coil from the top and the second coil from the bottom and compress until there's only about 2" between the two coils.
      • Or, pay the tire shop about $90.00
    • Reinstall coil/strut. Likely requires some jacking of the wheel or lower control arm and hammering back onto the top of the yoke, which may require a small jack to raise lower the wheel to get the yoke to line up. 4 hands better than 1!
  • Optional - Upper Control Arm Adjustment: Reverse control arms by placing the driver's side on the passenger side, and vice versa, and mount them upside down. This gives a better fit to the ball joints attached to the yoke. I ordered and installed new upper control arms. I had to cut sheet metal in front of the forward control arm bolt to get them out; not noticeable.​
  • Fender Well Trim: Front tires rub on the inner fender well where the bumper meets the well. Saw off a very small triangle piece. It will be obvious when turning wheels; not noticeable.
  • Good time to replace all bushings and ball joints, as well as inspect brake pads/rotors.

  • One REAR wheel at a time
    • Untighten wheel lug nuts and jack rear near the wheel and remove wheel/tire
    • Remove Coil Spring using Coil Compressor. There are no bolts/nuts or straps; just pressure holds the coil spring in.
      • Place compressors on opposite sides of the coil between the second coil from the top and the second coil from the bottom and compress until there's only about 2" between the two coils.
    • Install Spacer: Hold spacer on top of coil spring and place it back in the undercarriage.
    • Decompress spring until coil spring is firmly in place.
    • Install new oversized shock absorber. Top mount, then the bottom, which may require a small jack to raise lower the wheel to get holes to line up.
INSTRUCTIONS - INSTALL WHEEL SPACERS
  • One Wheel at a Time
    • Untighten wheel lug nuts and jack near the wheel and remove wheel/tire
    • Wheel Spacer: Use existing lug nuts to install 2" wheel spacers. If using less than 2" wheel spacers you'll have to grind down wheel studs to be flush with the face of wheel spacers. Stay with 2" and avoid the headache and achieve a great look also. Someone will need to hold brakes to torque lug nuts on front wheels, else they'll just spin when tightening.
    • Replace wheel/tire.
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS - MOUNT/BALANCE/ALIGN
  • Drive to a tire shop and have new tires mounted, balanced, and a front end alignment.

  • IMAGES
    chtb02fk3030_1.jpg
    s-l140.jpg
    n8030_1.jpg
    bfg_allterrain_ta_ko2_rwl_full.jpg


  • BEFORE
    1378994899.jpg


  • AFTER: Coming Soon!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: fletch09

matermark

Member
Nov 3, 2020
59
Niagara Falls NY
I finished the above build with some trial and error, but it is simple. Before starting the lift, look above each front tire and you'll see the top of the spindle coming out and over the tire. There's about 1" between tire and spindle, making it impossible to install the 275/70/R17 without 2" wheel spacers. You'll also need longer shocks (shown below), as you can't just use shocks 3" longer. The geometry completely changes. This also assumes after installing the lift kit and spacers, you will install the original wheels/tires, then take to a local tire shop to mount.balance/align new tires. There are plenty of videos and related instructions on the web, so I'll cover the overview of parts and instructions.

PARTS
  • 3" Coil Spacers Front and Rear - Supreme Suspensions® - 3" x 3" Pro-Billet Series Front and Rear Suspension Lift Kit
    • CARID.Com
    • Item # mpn4109790570
    • $200.00
  • SKYJACKER® N8030 - NITRO N8000™ Rear Driver or Passenger Side Twin-Tube Shock Absorber
    • CARID.Com
    • $116.00
  • BFGoodrich Terrain T/A KO2 Radial Tire-LT275/70R17/E 121/118R 121R
    • Amazon
    • $925.00
  • Wheel Spacers 4x 2" Hubcentric 6x5 Wheel Spacers 50mm Chevy GMC Envoy Trailblazer
    • eBay
    • Item ID: 233319041213
    • $145.00
  • Mount/Balance/Alignat a local tire shop
    • $108.00
INSTRUCTIONS - FRONT THEN REAR 3" LIFT SPACERS
  • One FRONT wheel at a time
    • Untighten front wheel lug nuts and fack front near the wheel and remove wheel/tire
    • Remove Coil/Strut from the top (under the hood, remove 2 bolts) and from the yoke. Lots of hammering required to break the coil/strut loose from the yoke. Google for video
    • Insert lift spacers according to instructions. using Coil Compressor
      • Rent or buy a coil compressor that has two external compressors; not a single internal coil compressor. Place on opposite sides of the coil between the second coil from the top and the second coil from the bottom and compress until there's only about 2" between the two coils.
      • Or, pay the tire shop about $90.00
    • Reinstall coil/strut. Likely requires some jacking of the wheel or lower control arm and hammering back onto the top of the yoke, which may require a small jack to raise lower the wheel to get the yoke to line up. 4 hands better than 1!
  • Optional - Upper Control Arm Adjustment: Reverse control arms by placing the driver's side on the passenger side, and vice versa, and mount them upside down. This gives a better fit to the ball joints attached to the yoke. I ordered and installed new upper control arms. I had to cut sheet metal in front of the forward control arm bolt to get them out; not noticeable.​
  • Fender Well Trim: Front tires rub on the inner fender well where the bumper meets the well. Saw off a very small triangle piece. It will be obvious when turning wheels; not noticeable.
  • Good time to replace all bushings and ball joints, as well as inspect brake pads/rotors.

  • One REAR wheel at a time
    • Untighten wheel lug nuts and jack rear near the wheel and remove wheel/tire
    • Remove Coil Spring using Coil Compressor. There are no bolts/nuts or straps; just pressure holds the coil spring in.
      • Place compressors on opposite sides of the coil between the second coil from the top and the second coil from the bottom and compress until there's only about 2" between the two coils.
    • Install Spacer: Hold spacer on top of coil spring and place it back in the undercarriage.
    • Decompress spring until coil spring is firmly in place.
    • Install new oversized shock absorber. Top mount, then the bottom, which may require a small jack to raise lower the wheel to get holes to line up.
INSTRUCTIONS - INSTALL WHEEL SPACERS
  • One Wheel at a Time
    • Untighten wheel lug nuts and jack near the wheel and remove wheel/tire
    • Wheel Spacer: Use existing lug nuts to install 2" wheel spacers. If using less than 2" wheel spacers you'll have to grind down wheel studs to be flush with the face of wheel spacers. Stay with 2" and avoid the headache and achieve a great look also. Someone will need to hold brakes to torque lug nuts on front wheels, else they'll just spin when tightening.
    • Replace wheel/tire.
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS - MOUNT/BALANCE/ALIGN
  • Drive to a tire shop and have new tires mounted, balanced, and a front end alignment.

  • IMAGES
    chtb02fk3030_1.jpg
    s-l140.jpg
    n8030_1.jpg
    bfg_allterrain_ta_ko2_rwl_full.jpg


  • BEFORE
    1378994899.jpg


  • AFTER: Coming Soon!
Any AFTER Pics yet?
 

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