Bilstein 5100 adj shocks (front and rear)

Coach Hill · February 10, 2015

Third from the bottom and my truck is approximately 1/2" lower in front. You can barely tell it isn't level without measuring.

Edited February 10, 2015 by Coach Hill

Chad2815 · February 10, 2015

Yeah third from bottom, I just told the dealer to go to the max setting and then go back down one to avoid confusion.

Skeet I am 1/2 inch tail high.

WendysOrBust · February 10, 2015

Really debating getting a set of these. I would really like to ride in a truck before hand though. I do think the front could be a bit stiffer, however I think the rear is stiff enough. I think these would help since the front's would increase the springs pre-load without affecting the rear.

Chad2815 · February 11, 2015

Third from the bottom and my truck is approximately 1/2" lower in front. You can barely tell it isn't level without measuring.

Did you align the front after your install? My dealer said it would be a waste of money but they did check it, these are guys I have been working with for a lot of years.

Coach Hill · February 11, 2015

I am a High School teacher so I brought my truck in and the Auto class instructor had two of his higher level kids (with his supervision) install my shocks. Great real world experience for them and it was free for me.

Since I didn't pay for the installation, I'm taking it this afternoon for an alignment. The shop I'm taking it to says it might not need it but, I'm having them check it anyway. Better safe than sorry for 45 bucks.

The instructor at my school told me that it might need it and it might not. He said he was sure that it wouldn't be off very bad if at all. If you trust your dealer, then I wouldn't worry about it. Sounds like they've always been straight up with you.

Do you think your truck handles and rides better? I didn't like the way the front end on mine would sway up and down for a second after hitting a bump. The Bilsteins have taken that away and I like it better. Truck seems to stay planted to the road better than before.

Chad2815 · February 11, 2015

Yeah, thats the exact thing that drove me nuts with mine as well. I have the Max Tow and it felt like the back was really stiff but the front would float alot, the bilsteins fixed that. I think it rides alot better, they should have put these shocks on from the factory in my opinion. Let me know how your aligment looks, I am still debating on doing it just for peace of mind.

Coach Hill · February 11, 2015

Will do!

GMC-AT · February 11, 2015

Bilsteins were removed today after one day... new Rancho Quick lift was installed in the front....with new Rancho adjustable in the back. .only have about 10 miles .. but I can already tell the Rancho is 10x better... ( unless you like a harsh off road ride)

Plus I haven't messed around with the adjustments yet.. Remember... all these new Rancho's are adjustable...

I'm probably the first one that has had BOTH the Bilsteins and Rancho quick lift installed on a new body 2014-2015 GM... so take my option for what it's worth....

If you are looking for a 2in level... get the rancho quick lift set up (loaded with new springs) beats a level kit / and or extended out Bilstein anyday...

WendysOrBust · February 11, 2015

Bilsteins were removed today after one day... new Rancho Quick lift was installed in the front....with new Rancho adjustable in the back. .only have about 10 miles .. but I can already tell the Rancho is 10x better... ( unless you like a harsh off road ride)

Plus I haven't messed around with the adjustments yet.. Remember... all these new Rancho's are adjustable...

I'm probably the first one that has had BOTH the Bilsteins and Rancho quick lift installed on a new body 2014-2015 GM... so take my option for what it's worth....

If you are looking for a 2in level... get the rancho quick lift set up (loaded with new springs) beats a level kit / and or extended out Bilstein anyday...

I'm trying to figure out what you did previously and reading your past posts does not give me a straight answer.

Did you install the Bilstein 5100's with an additional 2" leveling kit? Was it just the 5100's at the highest setting (i.e ~2" front lift)?

GMC-AT · February 11, 2015

Yes... kinda confusing.. let me break it down...

I had the Bilstein 5100's with an additional 2" leveling kit. I had to keep my 2 in level installed ( I got last year) because the top threads on the springs were to cut. Long story short... they could not remove the 2in level.

So we went ahead and installed the Bilstein 5100's at the STOCK adjustment - NOT extended 1.8in. ( since I already had a 2in level)

I had many people tell me even if we could have removed the 2in level and extended out the Bilstein 5100's to the 1.8 (as originally intended) the ride would have been about the same.

Obviously, the 2in level makes the ride harsher..... but so does the Bilstein 5100 at MAX adjustment. So it's hard to say which one would be worse.

So today, I got it all removed and got the Rancho 2in quick lift installed - struts are preloaded in new springs. It's much better....

Edited February 11, 2015 by GMC-AT

WendysOrBust · February 11, 2015

Yes... kinda confusing.. let me break it down...

I had the Bilstein 5100's with an additional 2" leveling kit. I had to keep my 2 in level installed ( I got last year) because the top threads on the springs were to cut. Long story short... they could not remove the 2in level.

So we went ahead and installed the Bilstein 5100's at the STOCK adjustment - NOT extended 1.8in. ( since I already had a 2in level)

I had many people tell me even if we could have removed the 2in level and extended out the Bilstein 5100's to the 1.8 (as originally intended) the ride would have been about the same.

Obviously, the 2in level makes the ride harsher..... but so does the Bilstein 5100 at MAX adjustment. So it's hard to say which one would be worse.

So today, I got it all removed and got the Rancho 2in quick lift installed - struts are preloaded in new springs. It's much better....

Just to get a clearer picture, I'm assuming the 2" you used was one of those puck-style spacers correct? If so did you install it between the spring and top-hat. Or between the top-hat and mount? The reason I ask is because if the level was installed between the top-hat and spring it would of increased the pre-load on the springs. The 5100's would of then further increased the pre-load if the spring perch to top-hat distance was shorter than stock. This would explain your harsh ride, and why the Rancho 2" lift feels so much better.

GMC-AT · February 11, 2015

Yes, Yes and Yes. an expensive lesson, but I'll never have any kind of spacer again.

Isriam · February 11, 2015

if you had done the simple bottom spacer, you wouldn't have this problem ;) i don't think the 5100's can be that much of a step up from the stock ride, unless we're talking about the AT package.

sugarjohnson · February 11, 2015

if you had done the simple bottom spacer, you wouldn't have this problem ;) i don't think the 5100's can be that much of a step up from the stock ride, unless we're talking about the AT package.

I disagree....I had them on my 2011 and they were great. Already have the rears on and they take out that harsh ride of the max tow. My truck is a loaded LTZ and I'm sure when my fronts goes on tomorrow it will be improved from my past experience. I also don't plan to max them out only 3rd setting as I tow an RV a lot. Thats where I noticed the biggest improvemnets. Less bounce in the front end while towing and les body roll side to side. To each his own, I'm sure GMC-AT was not happy with his but I suspect his other issues were more to blame then the 5100. Theses shocks have been put on ALOT of trucks over the years and still remain one of the most economical suspension improvements. Some of the other big names mentioned here are great if you offroad and way overkill for the everyday guy imo.

Skeeter McSkeet · February 11, 2015

Can you adjust the rancho quick lift once they have been installed? It looks like you can with the quick lift loaded, but I don't see those on their site for 2014+ models yet. I just wondered if the quick lift was the same way, as that seems pretty sweet!

-Skeet