Lowering a 2020 2500hd

Randal Scott · December 11, 2023

Has anyone tried lowering their 2500hd 4x4? I'm an amputee and have a hard time getting in. I know that to do the rear end you either remove the blocks or use drop shackles. Just trying to find out how to do the front end. Right now the rear end is 1 1/2" plus higher then the front end. I know the front end has torsion bars and you can back out the bolts at the keys. As of now I haven't looked to see how much bolt there is to back out. This is one of the few things I don't like about this truck, it's too high/tall. I do pull a 5th wheel camper. Which would be easier to hook and unhook if it was lowered.

Crazy Canuck · December 19, 2023

Although I don't know the answer to your specific question, have you considered adding power steps? They come down much further than a factory running board.

BuckWallace · December 20, 2023

I may be wrong, but I'd imagine lowering the truck would diminish some of the GVWR/payload, which might not be great if you're towing a 5th wheel. I agree with the power steps recommendation, but that obviously wouldn't help with the hooking up/unhooking of the 5th wheel.

Randal Scott · January 18

On the back end, removing the blocks or using drop shackles. It wouldn't lower payload because you didn't change the springs. On the front I don't know. Your not changing the bar. Just reposition the key. I thought about moving them one notch. They do make keys that are adjustable. Which can fine tune in smaller amounts. Makes me wonder what the difference is between 2wd and 4wd. The 2wd do sit lower. I seen a 3500hd 2wd drw sitting beside a 2500hd 4wd. And the 3500hd sat lower.

mtbadbob · January 20

If you back off the tension bolt on the torsion bars, it'll make your front end soft & a bit bouncier. Unfortunately, if you're wanting a lower vehicle, a GM HD isn't the way to go, they are big, tall trucks. I have power retractable running boards, and my 5' 4" wife still struggles to get in. GM took away the above door folding grab handle when they started incorporating the curtain airbags, My '15 HD had them, and my wife complains that my new truck doesn't have them.

Green Giant · May 13

No one has followed up for awhile....I have a '22 2500HD (Crew cab) 4X4, AT4 trim. It does NOT have any blocks in back to remove. (1) Drop shackles. If you drop the rear too much you will lose the suspension travel for towing your trailer. For some real numbers, for my truck, the travel is 4.5" until bump stop, empty. If I use drop shackles to drop 2", there is only 2.5" left until axle hits the bump stop. My GN horse trailer drops rear 1", so that would leave only 1.5" of suspension travel - definitely not enough for any real towing. I would think your 5th wheel drops the rear more than mine. (2) So just cut the bump stops, right? That should regain the suspension travel, right? Well my shocks bottom out just 1" further, so if I cut the bump stops 1", it risks bottoming out on the shocks (ouch). So have to change the shocks too. This why I went with only 1" drop shackles. (3) With only 1" drop in in the back, I don't have to adjust the front. But it appears from other posts/videos that the stock torsion bars will adjust only an inch or two. And if you do lower the front, you have to at least get an alignment, not to say of checking first about the front bump stops and shocks bottoming out. As "mtbadbob" indicates, not much you can do with these newer, much taller HD trucks.

kevin74 · May 14

18 hours ago, Green Giant said:

No one has followed up for awhile....I have a '22 2500HD (Crew cab) 4X4, AT4 trim. It does NOT have any blocks in back to remove. (1) Drop shackles. If you drop the rear too much you will lose the suspension travel for towing your trailer. For some real numbers, for my truck, the travel is 4.5" until bump stop, empty. If I use drop shackles to drop 2", there is only 2.5" left until axle hits the bump stop. My GN horse trailer drops rear 1", so that would leave only 1.5" of suspension travel - definitely not enough for any real towing. I would think your 5th wheel drops the rear more than mine. (2) So just cut the bump stops, right? That should regain the suspension travel, right? Well my shocks bottom out just 1" further, so if I cut the bump stops 1", it risks bottoming out on the shocks (ouch). So have to change the shocks too. This why I went with only 1" drop shackles. (3) With only 1" drop in in the back, I don't have to adjust the front. But it appears from other posts/videos that the stock torsion bars will adjust only an inch or two. And if you do lower the front, you have to at least get an alignment, not to say of checking first about the front bump stops and shocks bottoming out. As "mtbadbob" indicates, not much you can do with these newer, much taller HD trucks.

I put 2" drop shackles on mine because I haul an older gooseneck 3 horse trailer that sits really low. I swapped out the factory bump stops for timbrens and now the truck doesn't squat at all while towing and it rides great pulling. Rides just like factory when unloaded. If you do the drop shackles, you will have to call Timbren to order as the GM part number for our trucks is too tall when lowered 2 inches.