2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Duramax: BDS 3.5-Inch Lift + 35s

A 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Duramax on a BDS 3.5-inch lift with Fox 2.5 Performance Elite shocks clears 35-inch tires — with upper control arms to make room and adjustable compression to dial in the ride.

This 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Duramax came into Juggernaut USA in Wheat Ridge (Denver), CO for more clearance and a ride the owner could actually tune. We installed a BDS 3.5-inch suspension system with Fox 2.5 Performance Elite shocks, added upper control arms, and finished it on Gear Off-Road 770 Edge wheels wrapped in 35-inch Yokohama Geolandar tires.

Why the Fox 2.5 Performance Elite shocks?

This is the part that makes the build. The Fox 2.5 Performance Elite shocks have adjustable high- and low-speed compression, so you can dial in the exact ride you want instead of living with whatever the shock came valved for. Soften it for washboard dirt and it soaks up the chatter; firm it up for towing and it stays planted under load — which matters on a Duramax that daily-drives and hauls weight. BDS has always been a quality name, and pairing their kit with Fox shocks is a combination built to last — you get the height and the tunability in one setup.

Why upper control arms are a must on a lifted GMC

We add upper control arms any time we lift a GM truck, and it is not optional in our shop. Two reasons: they open up the room needed to clear the larger, wider tires, and — more importantly — the OEM control arms on these trucks are known to fail even with small leveling hits. Spending on aftermarket arms up front is cheaper than the failure down the road. This Sierra got upper control arms; it did not need a diff drop, which kept the job clean.

Will 35s fit a 3.5-inch-lifted Sierra 1500?

Yes — this Sierra runs 35-inch Yokohama Geolandar tires on Gear Off-Road 770 Edge wheels over the BDS 3.5-inch lift with upper control arms. They clear, with one honest caveat: you can get small rubbing at certain combinations of suspension compression and steering angle. If it does contact, there is a piece of metal behind the rear mud flap that unbolts to open up that clearance. That is normal territory for 35s on a lifted half-ton, and it is exactly the kind of thing worth sorting out on the lift rather than discovering on the trail.

How the install went

A 3.5-inch system is a full suspension job — new components front and rear, upper control arms, then an alignment so the truck tracks straight and wears its tires evenly at the new height. With the Fox 2.5 shocks in, the last step is dialing the compression to the owner's roads. Done in order, it sits level and drives like it was built this way from the factory.

Common questions on this build

Do you need upper control arms to lift a GMC Sierra 1500?

We highly recommend them on any GM lift. The OEM arms are known to fail even with small leveling hits, and aftermarket arms also clear the larger, wider tires. This truck got upper control arms and did not need a diff drop.

Will 35s fit a 3.5-inch-lifted Sierra 1500?

Yes, on this setup they clear. Expect small rubbing at certain compression and steering angles; there is a bracket behind the rear mud flap that unbolts to gain clearance if needed.

What is the benefit of the Fox 2.5 Performance Elite shocks?

Adjustable high- and low-speed compression — you tune the ride yourself, softer for washboard roads or firmer for towing, instead of being stuck with one valving.

More from the build

Book the same work

We install lifts, leveling systems, upper control arms, and wheels and tires in-house at our Wheat Ridge shop north of Denver. Call (970) 341-4221 to talk through your truck, or read about our lift kit installation. A lift opens up the underbody, so it is worth protecting — see our GMC Sierra 1500 skid plates. Another from the bay: our 2020 Sierra AT4 ReadyLift build.