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Rear Suspension Done the Right Way

Chris Hamilton . May 29, 2025 . HEADLINE . Chris Hamilton
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Rear Suspension, Big Wheels & Steppin’ Up

We’re back at it with our 2017 Chevy Silverado 4WD build, and if you caught the last part, you already know we dropped in Belltech’s 7-9-inch kit lift up front and got thias truck headed in the right direction. But a lifted truck with just the front done is like a mullet with no party in the back—it’s just not right. So in this second part, we buttoned things up with the rear suspension install, threw on a killer set of wheels and tires, and even added a slick set of Body Armor 4X4 electric steps to make getting in and out of this monster a whole lot easier.

Let’s start with the rear lift. Belltech doesn’t mess around. This kit is engineered solidly, with heavy-duty leaf springs, Trail Performance shocks, and all the gear you’ll need to match the front setup. The install was straight-forward using basic shop tools and a little muscle. Once everything was bolted up and torqued down, the truck finally had the stance we were after.

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Next up are the wheels and tires. We mounted a set of 35×12.50R24 Kenda ‘Klever R/T’ tires on these amazing looking 24×14 Cali Off Road ‘Auburn’ gloss black with milled accents wheels. The rubber fills the fenders just right and adds plenty of grip for when the pavement ends.

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And because climbing into a lifted Silverado can be a chore, we bolted on a set of Body Armor 4×4 electric steps. Its GM-4500 E-Steps bolt up clean, deploy automatically when the doors open, and tuck up tight when not in use. They look factory, function smooth, and are built tough enough for daily abuse. Plus, they’ve got integrated LED lights for nighttime style points and visibility.

We wrapped up the front suspension in the last issue, and it’s sitting pretty with the Belltech lift and fresh stance.

Out with the old! We started at the rear by yanking the stock shocks to make room for the new Belltech Trail Performance setup.

The factory U-bolts are getting removed and thrown away so we can drop in the fresh hardware supplied in Belltech’s kit.
Safety first—always! We strapped the rear axle and driveshaft to the frame to keep everything secure before separating it from the leaf springs. We also put stands under the axle in order to lower it.

We could then drop the axle stands down low enough to slide the Belltech block between the leaf spring and the axle.

Next, we simply installed the new supplied U-bolts to secure the rear axle.
The Belltech Trail Performance shocks could then be bolted into the factory shock location.
The Belltech kit also came with these wheel spacers to give the rear wheels the same track width as the front due to the new lift spindles.

The install is complete! Before we bolted on the new Cali Off Road wheels and Kenda tires, we wanted to get a look at the size of the truck on the factory wheels.

We bolted up a set of 24×14 Cali Offroad ‘Auburn’ wheels finished in gloss black with milled accents for a clean yet aggressive look. The deep lip design pairs perfectly with the truck’s lifted stance, and the split and straight spoke mesh layout adds strength and style. Wrapped around them are 35×12.50×24 Kenda ‘Klever R/T’ tires, which are built tough with 3-ply sidewalls, deep tread blocks, and winter stud pinning for all-season grip.
We need to adjust the front coilovers a bit to raise the truck, and we will need to trim this plastic under the front bumper so it does not rub.
The Cali Off Road 24s and 35-inch Kenda ‘Klever’ tires give the Silverado an aggressive footprint, while the 7-9-inch Belltech lift brings it all together for a head-turning, trail-ready setup.
These Body Armor 4×4 E-Steps are built tough. They feature a sleek black finish and integrated LED lights, and are about to bring style and function to our lifted Silverado.
The first part of installing these steps was to slide these threaded clips into the factory holes under the cab.

The motors could then be bolted up to the freshly installed clips. This part was easy and quick.
The running board could now be bolted to the motors using the supplied hardware.
Wiring the steps took the most time but it was a simple task that anyone can do with basic tools and time.
The steps give the perfect amount of footing for any size shoe, and the perfect height for any size person.
ith the front plastic trimmed, the wheels can now fully turn without rubbing.

 They look factory, function smooth, and are built tough enough for daily abuse.

The integrated LED lights in the steps are a big plus and will no doubt be helpful at night.

 

 

 

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Chris Hamilton

Chris Hamilton is an automotive journalist, editor, and lifelong truck enthusiast with extensive experience covering custom truck builds, fabrication, performance upgrades, aftermarket products, and a ...

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