Cognito leads the industry in leveling and lift kits for GM trucks and SUV's. Engineer/Founder Justin Lambert has the knowledge and over 23 years of experience in understanding how to optimize the capabilities of the front suspension, tune shocks, and solve drawbacks in the steering system of these vehicles. Front shocks are the droop limiter of the front suspension, Justin and Cognito are the best at optimizing the amount of droop travel squeezed out of these trucks. By adding droop travel, and converting it into ride height, the result is a ride height to level these trucks while maintaining at least 3" of droop travel providing a fantastic look with ride quality that is excellent, better than stock!
Everything required to level your 2020-up 2500HD/3500HD (except AT4X/ZR2) is included in the base package here, including:
- Front and rear Cognito 2.0 IFP aluminum shocks, rebuildable and tuned specifically for these trucks providing on-road comfort and control with the ability to venture off-road more confidently. Proper length front shocks to maximize suspension travel without binding tie rods, lower ball joints, and cv axles (front suspension droop limiter is the front shock). The specific length of front shock used adds 35% more travel (down/droop travel). To provide consistent damping performance, the shocks are gas charged using the highest quality oil with an Internal Floating Piston (IFP) separating the gas from the oil preventing aeration of the oil that is a characteristic of non-gas charged shocks. A vulcanized upper bar pin and bushing is pressed in the shock end cap to provide OEM like mounting quality. Hard anodized body, end cap, and seal head are used for corrosion resistance.
- Torsion keys to convert droop travel into increased ride height, up to 3" over stock.
- Cognito SM Series Upper Control arms. When adding droop travel, the upper ball joint is the first component to run out of articulation, therefore Cognito arms are required for this caliber of leveling kit. These arms have a corrected high angle ball joint to accommodate the extra travel provided by the longer shocks. The corrected ball joint angle places the ball joint in the optimal position for the trucks' new and improved ride height. These boxed sheet metal upper control arms are media blasted, powder coated black, and fully assembled at our factory, ready to bolt-on right out of the box saving the installer precious time. Caster is also increased within the control arm design for better highway speed drivability. The Cognito arms also feature the patented Cognito Alpha Ball Joint, the ultimate heavy duty upper ball joint for IFS suspension.
Highly recommended to add to this leveling kit is the patented Cognito Pitman and Idler Arm Support kit. Pitman and Idler arms have been an Achilles heel in the GM steering since the 1980's. The leverage on the steering system is hard on the joint in the pitman and idler arms. Adding oversized tires and leveling or lift kits exaggerates the stress on the pitman and idler arms causing the joints to prematurely wear quickly, causing several inherent problems including lack of the ability to hold a toe alignment setting. The Cognito Support Kit corrects the flaws in the GM steering system. Add it now, it is an item that will pay for itself many times over by providing a consistent toe alignment setting, in turn preventing pitman and idler arm premature replacement cost, excessive front tire cupping, related fuel efficiency loss, driver fatigue and confidence.
If you always have a tool box or several hundred pounds in the bed of your truck and the rear has squatted slightly, or you prefer a slight rear high rake along with your leveling kit, you can add the optional Cognito 1" Block and U-Bolt Kit to lift the rear. The rear shocks in this package have an extended length longer than stock to accommodate up to 1.5" of lift over stock height, while still being short enough collapsed as to not bottom out the shock if the rear is not lifted. Therefore, since using the Cognito rear shocks, adding a 1" block to this package at any time is an option.
Each Kit Features:
- Cognito front and rear 2.0 IFP shocks tuned vehicle specific providing 35% more front wheel droop travel than stock.
- Cognito Torsion bar keys provide desired front ride height improving vehicle appearance and more clearance for larger tires.
- Cognito SM Series Upper Control Arms add caster, correct ball joint angle, and feature high angle patented Cognito Alpha Ball Joint.
- Yields up to 3" of front lift, improving vehicle appearance.
- Optimizes potential of the front suspension.
- Maintains necessary droop travel providing excellent ride quality.
- Optional, add Cognito 1" tall block and u-bolt kit if slight rear high rake is desired.
- Optional, add patented Cognito Pitman and Idler Arm Support kit. Highly recommended upgrade to correct the GM steering flaw.
- 4 to 6 hour install time depending on optional add-ons.