Measuring Wheel Well Height Before and After Installing Weight Distribution on a 2004 Chevy Tahoe

Question:

Before I hitched trailer up,I got the measurement from ground to wheelwell. The front was 35 inches,rear 361/2.Can these measurements be within 1 inch after bars installed? Also, why would the GCWR be greater by haveing a 410 Axle?

asked by: Larry G

Expert Reply:

When measuring the height at the wheel wells like you have done, you want the system to be adjusted so that the height change is with a half inch (higher or lower) than before the system was installed. A full inch would indicate that the system has to be fine-tuned a little. I have included a link to our FAQ article on weight distribution for you.

I am not sure what all each manufacturer considers when they come up with the gross combined weight ratings for the various models. The GMT 410 was a platform used in the 1990s for GM SUVs. The GMT 820 should be what is on your 2004 Chevy Tahoe. The 410 platform models could have had a 5.7 liter (350ci) V8 as opposed to the 820 and the 5.3 liter.

I cannot really find anything that explains definitively why the 410 is capable of a higher GCWR.

expert reply by: Michael H