Bilstein shocks thread

Alex2015sierra · August 20, 2018

Again, false. I've actually had the stock Ranchos and then Bilstein 5100's on this truck and done all the same things with it that I have with my "next level" setup so I've felt first hand the improvements at each stage. There was a significant improvement from one stage to the next. One worth every penny.

By your statement, it's clear you've never experienced just how good a vehicle can be with a really good set of shocks. Otherwise you'd know the real waste of money is spending $50K on a truck and then driving it around on cheap, crappy shocks its entire life.

All good points and a very nice truck. The whole point is that everyone likes what they like and can pay to get it if they want.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

huntr1117 · August 20, 2018

I just recently replaced my stock Ranchos with a set of 5100s. I have a couple thousand miles on them now between highway driving and the deer lease that has some pretty rough rocky roads/trails. Honestly, I couldn't believe how much of an improvement the ride is over stock. I know they are not top of the line, but they are all I need.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Jon A · August 20, 2018

3 hours ago, WVU said:

Did you stick with the stock UCA when running your icons in the front or did you replace with an aftermarket?

Yes, with the leveled setup I used Cognito UCA's. I now have a BDS 4" lift and went back to stock UCA's for that as the lift corrects the angles and allows all the travel needed.

jpmiami · August 22, 2018

Question, I have a 2015 2wd with the RC2.5. If i install the 5100 at highest setting and leave the top strut spacer provided with the RC kit will it stay the same hight? right now with 33" tires fender is at 39"

Thanks.

JamesAT18 · August 23, 2018

On 8/22/2018 at 10:53 AM, jpmiami said:

Question, I have a 2015 2wd with the RC2.5. If i install the 5100 at highest setting and leave the top strut spacer provided with the RC kit will it stay the same hight? right now with 33" tires fender is at 39"

Thanks.

That's not advised as your UCA U-joint will be screwed...

jpmiami · August 23, 2018

1 hour ago, JamesAT18 said:

That's not advised as your UCA U-joint will be screwed...

so it would seat higher than the 2.5 the RC kit gives me? my truck has 75k miles on that kit and rides well. Just want a firmer better handling ride.

Homeslice · August 25, 2018

Local shop wants $900 installed (includes alignment) for the 5100s on my stock height '16. Seems like a lot for labor. And a 103 pages is a lot of reading on this thread. I have access to a driveway and many tools, but I've never done suspension work on a vehicle. Is this something I should be apprehensive to do myself and if not, do I need to do anything to the rest of the vehicle to stay within bounds of factory warranty?

Sierra Dan · August 25, 2018

25 minutes ago, Homeslice said:

Local shop wants $900 installed (includes alignment) for the 5100s on my stock height '16. Seems like a lot for labor. And a 103 pages is a lot of reading on this thread. I have access to a driveway and many tools, but I've never done suspension work on a vehicle. Is this something I should be apprehensive to do myself and if not, do I need to do anything to the rest of the vehicle to stay within bounds of factory warranty?

$900 is highway robbery.

You can most definitely change the rears yourself in about 30 minutes.

The fronts are tricky with the spring. If you can get the coil strut assembly out, take it to a shop and have them swap the shock out. Then you can reinstall the strut assy. This will save you hundreds.

For $900 they should include the 4 shocks!

jgraves13 · August 25, 2018

$900 is highway robbery.
You can most definitely change the rears yourself in about 30 minutes.
The fronts are tricky with the spring. If you can get the coil strut assembly out, take it to a shop and have them swap the shock out. Then you can reinstall the strut assy. This will save you hundreds.
For $900 they should include the 4 shocks!

Find a different local shop. My local tire shop (big-o tires) wanted $95/side to do the fronts. $900 is insane.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Homeslice · August 25, 2018

6 minutes ago, Sierra Dan said:

$900 is highway robbery.

You can most definitely change the rears yourself in about 30 minutes.

The fronts are tricky with the spring. If you can get the coil strut assembly out, take it to a shop and have them swap the shock out. Then you can reinstall the strut assy. This will save you hundreds.

For $900 they should include the 4 shocks!

The $900 does include the 5100s themselves. Thanks for the info.

Racindave · August 25, 2018

39 minutes ago, Homeslice said:

Local shop wants $900 installed (includes alignment) for the 5100s on my stock height '16. Seems like a lot for labor. And a 103 pages is a lot of reading on this thread. I have access to a driveway and many tools, but I've never done suspension work on a vehicle. Is this something I should be apprehensive to do myself and if not, do I need to do anything to the rest of the vehicle to stay within bounds of factory warranty?

My shop quoted me $540 out the door. Parts and labor.

Sierra Dan · August 25, 2018

You can get the set of 4 for about $350

So they are still charging you $550 for labor.

Granted, an alignment is necessary and that is $100 on average.

Sierra Dan · August 25, 2018

A little something found on the leveling thread Homeslice......

On 8/19/2018 at 2:04 PM, TNAZ said:

If you are certain you only want 1.5 to 2 inches of lift, then you could go with the Bilstein 5100 struts which do not require any UCA change and actually work within the existing front suspension geometry better than any other solution I know of for staying as close to "stock" as possible and minimizing chances of voiding your factory warranties related to the suspension. Spacers and new UCAs are well know to GM and they are cracking down on them a bit as mentioned in one of their "KB" bulletins. The 5100 struts on your model truck will give from 1.5 to 2 inches of lift (they advertise "up to 1.85" inches). I got 1.5 inches with mine set on the highest level (they have different height adjustments). Others are getting 2 inches of lift but all are getting between 1.5 and 2 inches like you want. Further, the 5100s solve the problem of driving off-road and taking dips/speedbumps way better than the stock shocks. If you do the struts in the front, I would also do the rear 5100 shocks, which is what I did, and love them compared to stock. I did mine at 4WheelParts (total cost about $750 for everything installed and the final wheel alignment.