Looking to upgrade suspension - RECOMMENDATIONS?

[tyrich88]

I am about to put on a 2" level kit on my 2014 silverado LT 4x4 CC
I went on a camping trip to the mountains recently and realized how truly terrible the stock 4x4 suspension is offroad through chatter and bumps.
So now I'm looking to upgrade my suspension
I would like to have decent offroad performance, just for things like camping and driving down fire roads and hunting, nothing crazy.

So HERE is the reason for this post...
I know NOTHING about truck suspension
I race mountain bikes, so I know about bike suspension... but those brands don't really make suspension for trucks, except fox...

So if you have an recommendations they would be much appreciated and if I could get the Level out of the shocks too tat would be great because I wouldn't have to use spacers!

Thanks for your help in advance!

BTW here is the truck it will be going on.

[fondupot]

I added Bilstein 5100 leveling shocks to my truck. I think it rides 10x better than the factory Rancho's. You can level up to 1.8" i believe up front. There are 4 settings on the shock. Stock height, 1/2" lift, 1.25" lift, and 1.8" lift. I have mine set at the 1.25" and while it's still raked slightly, it looks a lot better.

 

Our trucks use a coil over shock double wishbone front suspension. Meaning there are two control arms that pivot along with the frame with ball joints allow articulation at the steering knuckle. The coil-over shock mounts to the bottom control arm and to the frame at the coil perch to absorb the bumps. A coil-over is a shock and a spring combined in one unit.

 

The rear suspension is a simple leaf spring setup with offset shocks. One shock on either side of the axle. I added the Bilstein 5100 rear shocks as well to my rig, but I did not add any more lift out back. There are multiple lengths of shocks you can use depending on if you add lift. And the way you get lift out back is either by adding new leaf springs, or installing a taller block. The block goes in between the axle and the leaf to provide ride height. One downfall of adding a taller block is you will get more axle wrap, which is not good, but still a lot of people go that route.

 

Also read through these threads:

 

General Leveling kit thread:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/153363-2014-leveling-kits/

 

Bilstein 5100 specific thread:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/167508-bilstein-5100-adj-shocks-front-and-rear/?hl=bilstein+5100

[tyrich88]

Thanks for the help!

I will take a look at those. I drove on some grated fire roads in colorado recently though and the washboard sections were driving me nuts. truck wouldn't stay planted at all. It was awful .
Are fox worth the money for average offroad driving? I know they are known for quality in mountain biking and figure it translates into all their disciplines but idk for sure.

[Dezrado]

I would do a chase kit from bajakits, its an upper aarm and coilover kit, keeps stock width, the major difference comes from good shocks. Im doing a midtravel kit from bajakits but it add 2.5" of width per side and gives it 11" of travel on the 4x4 l. Its pricey at over 5k for what im doing just in the front but thats the prerunner kit, the chase kit might run you $2k i think

I had fox on my raptor and they were awsome, fox king are good brands, people seem to stay away from icon

[Spurshot]

Thanks for the help!

I will take a look at those. I drove on some grated fire roads in colorado recently though and the washboard sections were driving me nuts. truck wouldn't stay planted at all. It was awful .

Are fox worth the money for average offroad driving? I know they are known for quality in mountain biking and figure it translates into all their disciplines but idk for sure.

 

You won't be sorry for buying Fox or King shocks. I

[tyrich88]

You won't be sorry for buying Fox or King shocks. I

Velocyraptor recommended a package for King Shocks... Does anyone have a recommendation for fox?

And do I need the control arms too? Or just the shocks/coil overs?

How do they ride on the road?

[Robert.jean1]

I'll give a +1 for Fox Shox. I have the Fox shocks on my truck and granted I'm at a 6" lift but I swear it rides as good if not better than it did stock.

[Dezrado]

Have you looked into camburg? I think they work with fox a little more often

[Spurshot]

Generally, a good off-road shock will be softer riding than a street shock. The job of an off-road shock is to keep the tires in contact with the surface which is very rough. A stiff shock like the stock off-road Ranchos will be very stiff compared to a Fox or King. If you really want the ability to control things, get either the Fox or King with the external adjustable damping.

[Jlm02a3094]

I just put Fox's on mine last week. All four corners. Tremendous improvement. I'm very happy with it.

 

Josh

[TJay74]

My plan for 2016 once we get into the new house is to change out the shocks to Bilstiens and then replace rotors/pads with something more performance oriented and paint the calipers red for aesthetics.

[HondaHawkGT]

You'll want to upgrade the upper control arms if you plan on offroading with a leveled truck. I can personally recommend the Cognito UCA's.

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/175842-tuff-country-uca/?p=1664339

[Colt54qg]

I just put Fox's on mine last week. All four corners. Tremendous improvement. I'm very happy with it.

 

Josh

What did you get and from where?

[sailor9908]

For the front get some Fox Factory 2.5 Coil Overs with Reservoir and Fox Factory 2.5 Reservoirs in the rear, they are a little pricey but you won't regret it. Ready Lift even makes control arms if you want them.