Leveling kit=Shitty ride

moreiraricardo84 · November 12, 2015

Got my leveling kit and alignment installed today by 4wheelparts now it rides like shit. I still have the stock shocks. I need a softer ride should I go with pro comp 3000 or bilstein 5100?

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davester · November 12, 2015

I would suggest getting the Rancho RS9000XL's instead, as they are adjustable, so you can play with them a little. I've got them, and I found their adjustability useful to kill the front end bouncing when I had them set to their softest setting, and I don't expect to change their settings at all anymore. And I think they are having a 4 for 3 rebate thing going on right now [they do it semi-regularly]...

Other people have liked the Bilstein 5100's, but it winds up being a 'you like em or you don't and you throw them away' kind of thing.

moreiraricardo84 · November 12, 2015

Do I need an alignment after replacing the front shocks?

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smpldezine · November 12, 2015

Another vote for the Ranchos quiklift and their adjustability. I have ran bilstein 5100s in the past and loved them as well but the Ranchos get the edge for adjusting when needed.

MORSNO · November 12, 2015

Any leveling kit will make your truck ride rough due to pre-loading your torsion bars, shocks will not give you a soft ride. The best way to level your truck is with a lift kit and set it up at the lowest lift possible, this will retain the factory A-arm angles and torsion position and soft ride.

moreiraricardo84 · November 12, 2015

Too late for that. How do you adjust shocks?

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Formulabruce · November 12, 2015

Rancheros will allow the softest dampening of shock, and the adjustment is on the shock tube itself.

"Stance" other than stock will compromise ride, and cost more in Tires... Those two lessons only cost me about $10K over the years...

davester · November 12, 2015

Since you mentioned that you already did a level and then alignment, then just changing shocks does not alter your alignment [so you don't need to realign the truck after changing them].

The RS9000XL's have a small knob on each shock, with 9 distinct positions you can select.

BlackZ71Silverado · November 15, 2015

OP, what is the year and model of your truck?

moreiraricardo84 · November 15, 2015

2011 Sierra 2500

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Formulabruce · November 15, 2015

Just an aside, its never too late to remove a leveling kit and put it back to stock. E rated tires are not know for ride anyways, and there are many advantages of having the truck body lower, vs higher.

1. ride

2. fuel economy

3. Towing ability

4. Stopping power

5. Stability, less change of a roll over

6. turning radius speed

I have wasted 10K on stance and tires... time for others to continue the trend!!

MORSNO · November 15, 2015

Just an aside, its never too late to remove a leveling kit and put it back to stock. E rated tires are not know for ride anyways, and there are many advantages of having the truck body lower, vs higher.

1. ride

2. fuel economy

3. Towing ability

4. Stopping power

5. Stability, less change of a roll over

6. turning radius speed

I have wasted 10K on stance and tires... time for others to continue the trend!!

I can soooo relate to your post. I've spent thousands over the years on my past trucks that I've regretted. "Stance and tires" has cost me the most in wasted dollars and comfort. Getting older and wiser has really helped!

Big Whiskey · November 15, 2015

As stated, a leveling kit on a 2500HD is going to make the ride more firm, because it pre-loads the torsion bars. Your shocks are probably limiting the down travel...but if you go with longer shocks to increase travel...then your UCA's will be hitting the frame...and that will be even more harsh than your shocks bottoming out. If you insist on having the leveling kit....and can't bear the ride...then you have two options the way I see it. Option one is to crank the front end down a little bit. Option two is to buy new UCA's from a company like Cognito, along with longer shocks or shock extensions. The price of cool isn't cheap, haha!