Spacer vs Suspension vs Coil Overs vs Shocks vs Strut-- Help?

[brian2382]

I purchased a 2018 Silverado LTZ midnight edition and would like to raise it up slightly to fit some 33" wheels on it, and level it out. Currently my wheels are 265/65/18, and would like to upgrade to 285/70/17, which according to online calculators comes out to 32.71" diameter. From what I have been reading and watching, I need at least a 2" lift in the front to clear 33" wheels.  So this leaves me with either a 1" rear/2" front lift, or a 2" rear/3" front lift. (If I am incorrect already please fix me lol). 

 

My buddy just had a spacer added on his truck to raise it a little bit, and his all in cost for material and labor was less then $250. Pretty crazy! I am attracted to a good deal, but also know that normally the cheapest route most often isn't the best route. My research has yielded me lost and confused between Spacer vs Suspension vs Coil Overs vs Shocks vs Strut. 

 

My intended use for the truck is 95% daily driver, 4% carrying heavy shit in the bed, 1% light off-roading. I will not be attending the Baja races with this truck. I have the Rancho (shocks?) on it now from factory. I would want the ride quality to remain the same or be improved. I definitely don't want the ride quality to suffer. What are the difference between all these? When does it make sense to do each one? Which one would probably be best for me? Cost definitely comes into play, but I don't have a set budget until I understand them better. 

[dcarl]

I've had all three options and the coilovers ride the best.

I orginally started out with Bilstien 5100 and a Zone 2" kit with the shocks at stock setting. The ride was ok but always felt like I was hitting a limit on down travel.

Next I went with the Eibach Pro Truck lift and found it to be too stiff.

I recently installed the Halo Lifts Boss Coilovers. At first I went 3" (shock set at 2" and two spacers under for an additional inch) . I also installed Rough Country UCAs and had 1" BORA spacers.

I had vibration problems with the spacers so I took them off. The problem then was that the wheel would contact the UCA.

So I took out the two spacers under the strut and installed Cognito UCAs. The ride is really good.

My stock wheels & LT285/60R20 tires don't rub anything.

If you add up the money I've spent I could have gone with a lift kit....

The Boss Coilovers are worth the money...

Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk

[brian2382]

I am very new to the whole suspension thing, so if I understand you correctly your parts after the fact are; cognito upper control arms and Halo Lifts Boss Coilovers? 

 

Whats the purpose in replacing an upper control arm? 

[dcarl]

Yes, my setup is Cognito UCAs and Boss coilovers.

When you level a truck with spacers, you lose down travel because the stock UCAs ball joint is the limiter. By replacing UCAs you gain that down travel back.

You don't want to over extend the suspension with aftermarket UCAs because the shock becomes the limiter.

Based on your intended use, you shouldn't have to worry about that.

You can even get by without replacing the UCAs but your ride will be a little harsh in some circumstances.

I'm glad I did the upgrade because my truck rides about as good or better than stock.

The stock Ranchos are junk...

Sent from my SM-G975U1 using Tapatalk

[Racindave]

I’d go with a spacer and save the money. 33 inch shouldn’t be a problem. 

[Jacoby]

$50 2" spacer from Rough Country and call it a day.  For what you want, that's all you need

[amxguy1970]

^ This, your ride won't change (it isn't impacting spring rates or shock settings). Other options many of times will be a compromise in terms of ride, IE it will ride better in some instances and worse in others. For example I recently replaced my shocks (Ranchos) with Bilsteins and took off my level since I set the Bilsteins at the 3rd setting, my ride got stiffer in many areas but improved in larger bumps. It helped some with brake dive and turn rolling and overall in my opinion was better but some who already like the ride and don't want it stiffer might not like them. With what you listed, just put in a 2 front and 1 rear spacer level (the 3 inch front will really tax your front end) and a 33 inch tire and call it a day, your wallet will thank you and you will be very happy with the look and no change in ride unless you put on an E-rated tire.

 

Tyler

[ftwhite]

Disclosure: I didn't like the factory ride on my 2018 LTZ Z71. I also wanted leveled or slightly lifted look.

I went with coilovers to get the level because they seemed to provide the ride improvment I wanted, with the 2" leveling built in. I got Fox PS 2.0 for less than $900 all four corners.
I added 18x9" +1 offset wheels and 275/70 (33.2 x 10.8) tires. No rub at all. Also tried 295/70  (34.3 x 11.6) but too much rub at full lock. Could have lived with the rub, and might next time, but not now.

I like the much more controled ride/cornering and rebound quickness of the coilovers. Whole different feel in my opinion than stock. Might be "stiffer", but in my opinion this is better called "control" vs "bouncing/floating".

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[brian2382]

17 hours ago, ftwhite said:

Disclosure: I didn't like the factory ride on my 2018 LTZ Z71. I also wanted leveled or slightly lifted look.

I went with coilovers to get the level because they seemed to provide the ride improvment I wanted, with the 2" leveling built in. I got Fox PS 2.0 for less than $900 all four corners.
I added 18x9" +1 offset wheels and 275/70 (33.2 x 10.8) tires. No rub at all. Also tried 295/70  (34.3 x 11.6) but too much rub at full lock. Could have lived with the rub, and might next time, but not now.

I like the much more controled ride/cornering and rebound quickness of the coilovers. Whole different feel in my opinion than stock. Might be "stiffer", but in my opinion this is better called "control" vs "bouncing/floating".

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
 

Is that $900 for parts and labor? or $900 just for the parts? I kind of prefer the floating aspect, it makes the ride feel more luxurious as you feel less little bumps. And being as its an LTZ that gets 95% drive time, I almost prefer the luxurious ride. 

[VdellaV]

In my experience nothing rides better than coilovers

 

My current set up in the front is a pair of Fox 2.0s set to stock ride height (Because i have 3" lift spindles)

 

Rides like a charm, i need to change my rear bilsteins for Foxes

 

If you put strut spacers (leveling kits) the truck will bounce like crap

 

If you put Bilsteins, they ride good on the highway but are unconfortable on roudy terrain.

 

[brian2382]

12 hours ago, VdellaV said:

In my experience nothing rides better than coilovers

 

My current set up in the front is a pair of Fox 2.0s set to stock ride height (Because i have 3" lift spindles)

 

Rides like a charm, i need to change my rear bilsteins for Foxes

 

If you put strut spacers (leveling kits) the truck will bounce like crap

 

If you put Bilsteins, they ride good on the highway but are unconfortable on roudy terrain.

 

So coming from stock, would switching to Fox 2.0 shock absorbers raise the height of my truck? Or do I need things in addition to the shocks to raise the height of my truck?

[brian2382]

On 7/1/2019 at 6:15 PM, ftwhite said:

Disclosure: I didn't like the factory ride on my 2018 LTZ Z71. I also wanted leveled or slightly lifted look.

I went with coilovers to get the level because they seemed to provide the ride improvment I wanted, with the 2" leveling built in. I got Fox PS 2.0 for less than $900 all four corners.
I added 18x9" +1 offset wheels and 275/70 (33.2 x 10.8) tires. No rub at all. Also tried 295/70  (34.3 x 11.6) but too much rub at full lock. Could have lived with the rub, and might next time, but not now.

I like the much more controled ride/cornering and rebound quickness of the coilovers. Whole different feel in my opinion than stock. Might be "stiffer", but in my opinion this is better called "control" vs "bouncing/floating".

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
 

When you say stiffer, do you mean you can feel every bump more? Since I do 95% daily driving, I would like it to be luxurious, and when I hear bouncing/floating that sounds a bit more luxurious. 

 

If the Fox PS 2.0 was $900 for parts, what did it cost to have it installed? 

[VdellaV]

3 hours ago, brian2382 said:

So coming from stock, would switching to Fox 2.0 shock absorbers raise the height of my truck? Or do I need things in addition to the shocks to raise the height of my truck?

From the box, they come raised for a truck lift of like 2.5" but you can adjust them to any height you want.

 

Keep in mind that the ammount of lift you adjust on the coilover will directly make the ride of the truck crappier, if you want it to ride well, leave the front ride height as stock

 

If you want the truck to drive even nicer, you can remove the rear overload springs, i did it and the rear is very comfortable now, but ifyou carry more than 500lbs in the bed the truck will rake. You can help this by putting 2-3" lift blocks after removing the overload spring.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, brian2382 said:

When you say stiffer, do you mean you can feel every bump more? Since I do 95% daily driving, I would like it to be luxurious, and when I hear bouncing/floating that sounds a bit more luxurious. 

 

If the Fox PS 2.0 was $900 for parts, what did it cost to have it installed? 

 

The trucks stock come with very soft front shocks, that makes the truck feel "stiff" because the suspension vibrates a lot and youre bouncing all over the road

 

I also use my truck as a daily and im very happy with it. Fox Coilovers at stock ride height are the nicest it has been, and i have tried Bilsteins and leveling kits before, so if you buy the coilovers you will save yourself a lot of daily headaches

[amxguy1970]

16 hours ago, VdellaV said:

If you put strut spacers (leveling kits) the truck will bounce like crap

 

You mean bounce like stock... Only adding preload spacers, which most aren't, changes the ride characteristics. The only negative ride impact of a spacer lift that isn't a preload is over large undulations you can feel the suspension bottom out as it extends the shock and limits the travel. Other than that they ride like stock unless heavy E-rated tires are added. 

 

Tyler

[VdellaV]

9 minutes ago, amxguy1970 said:

You mean bounce like stock... Only adding preload spacers, which most aren't, changes the ride characteristics. The only negative ride impact of a spacer lift that isn't a preload is over large undulations you can feel the suspension bottom out as it extends the shock and limits the travel. Other than that they ride like stock unless heavy E-rated tires are added. 

Putting spacers on stock shocks makes it worse. Changing the ride geometry to a couple of inches higher, makes the suspension hit the droop stops.

 

To remedy this, people get UCAs to correct the Ball Joint angle and chop the droop stops so the suspension can extend a bit further down, but to me thats just hacking