Next Level Performance
June 22, 2026 • 11 min read
If you own a 2014–2018 Chevy Silverado 1500 or GMC Sierra 1500, the right lift kit is the single fastest way to ditch the factory nose-down rake, clear bigger tires, and give your truck a stance that actually matches its capability. But “best lift kit for a 2014–2018 Silverado 1500” means something different depending on whether you want a clean 2.5-inch level on 33s or a full 6.5-inch lift on 35s. At NLP Performance in Tampa, FL, we install these kits every week, and this guide breaks down the six kits we trust most — from a $210 front spacer to a $1,295 four-corner coilover system — so you can pick the one that fits your goals and budget.
Our Verdict
Best overall value: the Zone Offroad 6.5in/4.5in Lift Component Box.
For the most lift per dollar, the Zone Offroad system delivers a full 6.5-inch front / 5-inch rear lift with heavy-duty crossmembers, ductile knuckles, and a differential drop to clear 35-inch tires — for around $308. Want a subtle, budget-friendly level on factory ride quality instead? Jump to the Eibach Pro-Truck Lift Kit. Need adjustability? The Eibach coilover is our pick.
Shop Our Top Pick →Leveling Kit vs. Lift Kit: Which Do You Actually Need?
A leveling kit raises only the front of your GM 1500 about 2 to 2.5 inches to cancel out the factory rake, giving the truck a flat, purposeful stance and room for roughly 33-inch tires. It is the cheapest, easiest entry point and keeps your factory geometry close to stock. A full lift kit raises both ends — commonly 4 to 6.5 inches on these trucks — and ships with the supporting hardware (crossmembers, steering knuckles, differential drop, rear blocks or springs) required to do it without wrecking ride quality or CV-axle angles.
Between those two extremes sit coilovers, which replace the front strut entirely with an adjustable, performance-valved unit so you can dial your exact ride height and damping. The short version: choose a leveling kit for looks and 33s on a budget, a 4-to-6.5-inch lift for serious ground clearance and 35s, and a coilover if you want tunable height plus a genuine ride-quality and handling upgrade. Every option below is in stock for the 2014–2018 Silverado and Sierra 1500.
Best Lift Kits for 2014-2018 Silverado & Sierra 1500: At a Glance
We ranked these six kits by lift height, kit type, and the buyer they fit best. All of them bolt to the same GMT K2XX platform shared by the Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, so everything here works for both trucks in 2WD and 4WD. Prices are current at NLP Performance.
| Kit | Lift Height | Kit Type | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone Offroad 6.5in/4.5in Component BoxTop Pick | 6.5 in F / 5 in R | Full lift + diff drop | Max height, clears 35s | $307.97 |
| Fabtech 4in Lift System (Box 1) | 4 in | Strut-spacer system | Bolt-on 4in, 33–35s | $710.69 |
| Eibach Pro-Truck Coilover 2.0 | Adjustable front | Monotube coilover | Tunable level + handling | $995.00 |
| Fabtech 0-6in Uniball UCA | Fits 0–6 in lifts | Upper control arms | Geometry / alignment fix | $798.18 |
| Eibach Pro-Truck Lift Kit | 2.5 in front | Coil-spring level | Factory-ride leveling, 33s | $275.00 |
| Fabtech 4in Front Coil Spacer | 4 in front | Front coil spacer | Cheapest 4in front | $210.57 |
Below, we break down each kit in detail — what is in the box, how it rides, what tires it clears, and the honest trade-offs — starting with our top overall pick.
1. Zone Offroad 6.5in/4.5in Lift Kit — Best Overall Value
If you want the biggest stance for the money, this is it. The Zone Offroad kit is a genuine full suspension lift — not just spacers — delivering a 6.5-inch front lift and a 5-inch rear block (about 4.5 inches net once you account for factory rake). The component box includes boxed heavy-duty front crossmembers, ductile-iron steering knuckles, bolt-on front strut spacers, a three-piece differential relocation system with skid plate, CV spacers, rear blocks with longer U-bolts, and brake-line and sway-bar relocation brackets. That is the hardware that lets these trucks clear up to 35x12.50 tires on 17 to 20-inch wheels while keeping CV angles in check.
Key Specifications
What We Like
- + Full 6.5-inch suspension system with diff drop and knuckles, not a spacer-only kit
- + Clears 35-inch tires for a true off-road stance
- + USA-made and powder-coated, with huge value versus comparable 6-inch systems
Things to Consider
- – Big install — knuckles, crossmember, and diff drop mean professional installation is advised
- – At 6.5 inches up front, plan to add aftermarket upper control arms to correct geometry
2. Fabtech 4in Lift System — Best 4-Inch Ride Quality
Fabtech’s 4-inch system is the sweet spot for owners who want a meaningful 4-inch lift and 33-to-35-inch tires without giving up ride comfort. The clever part: it lifts the front using steel spacers that reuse your factory front coilover shocks, so the truck keeps its OE-tuned ride instead of riding on cheap replacement struts. You also get high-arched 1/4-inch steel lower-control-arm crossmembers and ductile-iron knuckles that retain stock track width, keeping the tires tucked under the fenders.
One honest note: the part number FTS21226 is “Component Box 1” of a two-box system — the complete 4-inch lift also uses a second box for the rear blocks and shocks. Our team will confirm exactly what your truck needs so you order a complete kit. If you only want the front piece, see the budget spacer option below.
What We Like
- + Reuses factory front coilovers, so it retains OE ride comfort
- + Heavy-duty steel crossmembers and ductile knuckles — premium build quality
- + Clean fender-line stance at 4 inches with stock track width
Things to Consider
- – Multi-box system — Box 1 alone is not a complete lift, so confirm the full kit
- – Fabtech recommends upgraded upper control arms on stamped-steel-arm trucks
3. Eibach Pro-Truck Coilover 2.0 — Best Adjustable Coilover
If you care as much about how the truck rides as how it sits, a coilover is the upgrade to make. The Eibach Pro-Truck Coilover 2.0 is a pre-assembled, height-adjustable front coilover sold in pairs that bolts in with no extra parts. Inside is a 46mm monotube damper with nitrogen-charged, variable-force valving and an anodized billet-aluminum top mount — each unit is individually dyno-tested. You get an adjustable front ride height (set near level out of the box) plus a real damping upgrade over any spacer, making this the enthusiast’s pick for a street truck that still tackles light trails.
The Eibach Pro-Truck Coilover 2.0 uses a 46mm monotube damper with an adjustable threaded perch.
What We Like
- + Adjustable front height plus a genuine monotube performance damper
- + Bolt-in pair with no extra parts required
- + USA-made and dyno-matched for a balanced street and trail ride
Things to Consider
- – Front only — rear shocks and rear lift are not included
- – Eibach advises upgraded control arms on factory stamped-steel-arm trucks at higher settings
Want both ends dialed in from one box? Step up to the Eibach Pro-Truck Coilover Stage 2 ($1,295.00), which pairs these front coilovers with matched rear Pro-Truck Sport shocks for a complete, four-corner adjustable system — the widest height-tuning range in this guide.
Step-up option: the Pro-Truck Coilover Stage 2 adds matched rear shocks for four-corner adjustability.
4. Fabtech 0-6in Uniball Upper Control Arms — Best Geometry Upgrade
This is the part most lift guides forget to mention — and the one that keeps a lifted truck driving safely. Whenever you level or lift a Silverado or Sierra past about 2.5 inches, the factory ball joint runs at an angle it was never designed for, and the stock arm often cannot dial enough caster back in during alignment. The Fabtech Uniball UCA replaces the factory upper arm with .120-inch-wall 4130 chromoly tubing and a 1-inch American-made uniball in place of the ball joint, adding built-in caster to fix the steering wander common on lifted trucks.
The Fabtech uniball arm drops into the factory spindle taper — no spindle modification, fully reversible.
Because the uniball pin drops straight into the factory spindle taper, installation requires no modifications and is fully reversible. Just match the version to your truck: this is the “OE forged UCA” part for trucks with factory forged-steel arms, and a separate version exists for cast-aluminum arms — our team will confirm which your VIN calls for.
What We Like
- + Restores safe caster and corrects ball-joint bind on leveled or lifted trucks
- + Trophy-truck-grade chromoly and uniball construction handles abuse stock joints cannot
- + Bolt-in with no spindle modification and fully reversible to stock
Things to Consider
- – Must match your factory arm material (forged vs. aluminum) or it will not fit
- – Uniballs can transmit a bit more noise and need periodic service versus sealed ball joints
5. Eibach Pro-Truck Lift Kit — Best Budget Leveling Kit
Want a clean, level stance and 33-inch tires without a big build? Eibach’s Pro-Truck Lift Kit is a 2.5-inch front coil-spring level — and because it uses real progressive coil springs rather than a strut spacer, it handles load and bumps better than a typical leveling spacer while keeping that factory-quality ride. It is the most affordable way into a leveled GM 1500 that still feels stock on the highway.
Eibach’s Pro-Truck springs deliver a 2.5-inch front level and must be paired with Pro-Truck front shocks.
The one catch to plan for: this kit is front springs only, and the taller springs must be paired with Eibach Pro-Truck Sport front shocks to work correctly — a detail many buyers miss. It also is not compatible with MagneRide trucks. Add the matching shocks and you have a budget-friendly, ride-first level that punches above its price.
What We Like
- + True coil-spring level — better ride and load behavior than a spacer
- + Cheapest path to a leveled stance and 33-inch tires
- + USA-made with a 5-year warranty
Things to Consider
- – Springs only — requires separate Pro-Truck front shocks to function
- – Not compatible with factory MagneRide suspension
What Tire Size Fits Each Lift Height?
Tire clearance is the number-one question we get, so here is the quick reference for a 2014–2018 Silverado or Sierra 1500. Final fitment always depends on wheel offset, backspacing, and a little fender trimming, but these are the proven starting points:
Stock: roughly 32-inch tires on factory rake. 2 to 2.5-inch level (Eibach Pro-Truck Lift Kit or a coilover set low): about 33-inch tires — the easiest, most popular setup. 4-inch lift (Fabtech 4-inch system or front spacer): 33 to 35-inch tires, with 35s viable on the right offset. 6 to 6.5-inch lift (Zone Offroad system): 35-inch tires, up to 35x12.50 on 17 to 20-inch wheels. Going taller than a 2.5-inch level is also the point where aftermarket upper control arms move from optional to recommended.
Installation, Alignment & What to Know Before You Lift
Install difficulty scales with lift height. A front leveling kit or coilover is a driveway job for an experienced DIYer — jack stands, hand tools, a spring compressor, and 2 to 4 hours up front. A full 6.5-inch lift is a much bigger undertaking involving crossmembers, steering knuckles, a differential drop, CV spacers, and brake-line and ABS-wire re-routing, which is why most owners have those professionally installed over a half to full day.
Three things are non-negotiable no matter which kit you choose. First, get an alignment afterward — lifting changes caster, camber, and toe, and these independent-front-suspension trucks need a machine alignment to avoid tire wear and steering wander. Second, watch the brake lines and ABS sensor wiring at taller lifts; install the relocation brackets so nothing is pulled tight. Third, on lifts past 2.5 inches, budget for upper control arms to keep your geometry safe. If you would rather skip the headache, our Tampa, FL shop installs and aligns every one of these kits — and stocks the rest of your truck parts and suspension upgrades too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a leveling kit and a lift kit on a Silverado 1500?
A leveling kit raises only the front of your 2014–2018 Silverado or Sierra 1500 about 2 to 2.5 inches to erase the factory rake, so the truck sits flat front-to-rear. A lift kit raises both ends — usually 4 to 6.5 inches — and includes the extra hardware (crossmembers, knuckles, differential drop, rear blocks or springs) needed to do it safely. Leveling kits like the Eibach Pro-Truck springs are the cheapest path to a flat stance and 33-inch tires; full lift kits like the Zone Offroad 6.5-inch system are what you need to clear 35s and gain real ground clearance.
What size tires can I run on a 2014-2018 GM 1500 with each lift height?
As a rule of thumb on the K2XX Silverado and Sierra 1500: a 2 to 2.5-inch level clears roughly 33-inch tires, a 4-inch lift clears 33 to 35-inch tires, and a 6 to 6.5-inch lift clears 35-inch tires (up to 35x12.50 on 17 to 20-inch wheels per Zone Offroad). Exact fitment depends on wheel offset, backspacing, and minor fender trimming, so always confirm your wheel specs before ordering tires.
Do I need aftermarket upper control arms after lifting my Silverado or Sierra?
Upper control arms (UCAs) are optional under 2 inches, recommended around 2.5 to 3 inches, and strongly recommended at higher lifts. Lifting changes your front suspension geometry, and the factory ball joint and arm often cannot dial enough caster back in or run safely at lifted angles. An aftermarket arm like the Fabtech 0-6-inch Uniball UCA replaces the stock ball joint with a uniball for greater articulation and builds in extra caster to fix alignment and steering wander on lifted trucks.
Do I need an alignment after installing a leveling or lift kit?
Yes. An alignment is mandatory after any leveling or lift kit on a 2014–2018 Silverado or Sierra 1500. Raising the truck changes caster, camber, and toe, and skipping the alignment causes rapid uneven tire wear and twitchy, unpredictable steering. Independent front suspension trucks need a machine alignment — there is no reliable DIY substitute. At our Tampa, FL shop we bundle install and alignment so the truck leaves dialed in.
Does the same lift kit fit both the Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500?
In almost every case, yes. The 2014–2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 share the same GMT K2XX platform and front suspension, so leveling kits, lift systems, coilovers, and control arms are sold for the GM 1500 to cover both nameplates. The one thing to confirm is your factory upper control arm material (cast aluminum versus stamped or forged steel) and whether your truck has MagneRide, since a few parts are application-specific.
Can I install a Silverado leveling kit myself, and how long does it take?
An experienced DIYer can install a front leveling kit or coilover in a driveway with jack stands, hand tools, and a spring compressor, typically in 2 to 4 hours up front. Full 6.5-inch lift kits are a different story — they involve crossmembers, steering knuckles, a differential drop, and brake-line and ABS re-routing, so most owners have those professionally installed in half a day to a full day. Either way, budget for a follow-up alignment.
Ready to Lift Your Silverado or Sierra?
Shop leveling kits, full lift systems, coilovers, and upper control arms for your 2014–2018 GM 1500 — plus thousands more truck parts at NLP Performance.
Shop the Suspension CollectionFree shipping on select brands • Located in Tampa, FL
