So many 2" options, leaning towards spacer, but?

[ero2]

Hey all!  I have a 2020 X31 Elevation and LOVE it.  I want to level out the front, and used a 2in spacer on my f150 prior to this truck with 0 issues, so am thinking that's the route I want to go.  I have read so much, I think I have analysis paralysis, and want to ensure that with simply the 2in spacer, dealer install (so I retain my warranty coverage), and an alignment I would be good, and do not have to worry about CVs, UCAs, etc.?  I have been very happy with the Rancho shocks (as opposed to the FX4 package on my 2016 F150), so just don't think I need to go for a full setup, but am open to opinions!

 

Thanks!

[BowtieSquatch]

I have 2.5" spacers coming in Tuesday 19 LT Silverado.  We will see how it looks.

Edited February 8, 2021 by BowtieSquatch

[Duramax3oh]

If you're going spacer route, get a top-mounted spacer and not the bottom-mounted spacer.

1. Make sure all 4 of your tires are aired up to same psi.
2. Measure from the ground to the top of your wheel well, front back left and right.
3. Review the difference between driver front/rear and passenger front/rear.
4. If wanting to be as near perfectly level, select an upper spacer in that size.

 

Each truck sits a little differently, so when a shop says 2" will get you level they're being lazy and just suggesting what most people use. For me 2" would have lifted the front too much and I'd be nose high with the truck completely empty.

 

Edited - you are correct, with two inch level up front you do not have to worry about the UCAs, CVs, etc.

Edited February 19, 2021 by Duramax3oh

[ero2]

On 2/8/2021 at 7:58 AM, Duramax3oh said:

If you're going spacer route, get a top-mounted spacer and not the bottom-mounted spacer.

1. Make sure all 4 of your tires are aired up to same psi.
2. Measure from the ground to the top of your wheel, front back left and right.
3. Review the difference between driver front/rear and passenger front/rear.
4. If wanting to be as near perfectly level, select an upper spacer in that size.

 

Each truck sits a little differently, so when a shop says 2" will get you level they're being lazy and just suggesting what most people use. For me 2" would have lifted the front much and I'd be nose high with the truck completely empty.

 

Edited - you are correct, with two inch level up front you do not have to worry about the UCAs, CVs, etc.

This helps immensely, thanks!  I don't mind the ride of the Ranchos at all, but I also have never ridden in a vehicle with the Bilsteins.  Trying to figure out how marginal the cost of the the Bilsteins would be between the 4, plus the install.  But, again, if I don't mind the ride, just go with the upper spacer and call it a day?  Thanks again!!

[Duramax3oh]

14 minutes ago, ero2 said:

This helps immensely, thanks!  I don't mind the ride of the Ranchos at all, but I also have never ridden in a vehicle with the Bilsteins.  Trying to figure out how marginal the cost of the the Bilsteins would be between the 4, plus the install.  But, again, if I don't mind the ride, just go with the upper spacer and call it a day?  Thanks again!!

Absolutely. I edited my post after seeing your reply.  *#2 measure to the top of the wheel WELL! not just the wheel lol*

 

Yes, I'd say if you don't have any problem with how your truck rides or handles as it is, just go with the spacer and call it a day!

[Dunn]

i wouldnt do a spacer....get a bilstein or eibach strut lift, just rides better and you dont lose downtravel on your suspension....plus they really arent that expensive and install labor will be pretty close to same.....if you keep the truck you will end up doing this anyway, most spacer kits get replaced with better kits dtl.......i just picked up 2021 elevation and ranchos valving is horrid to put it mildly......installing firmer,  planted yet still compliant  shocks are much nicer to drive on and also safer and more predictable

 

stock it rides like a cadillac with tons of body roll and no rebound dampening whatsoever.....hit a bump and it pogos for another 100yds long after the dip......you will save money in the end i believe by not doing this 2 or 3 times

 

you will want more eventually......almost everyone does

 

it is correct 2in is the benchmark of not needing to do anything to correct geometry....never a bad thing though to get more articulation in control arms and differential  once you start going past that.....

 

Edited February 19, 2021 by Dunn

[andrewb24]

I had 2" lower and swapped for 2.5" because i wanted a little more after 2" and the 2" was under strut and I wanted 2.5" upper strut based on what i have researched.

[SILVER SLED]

I started with a 1.5" lower mounted spacer and it pushed the shock into the cv boot, so Then went with a 1.5" upper spacer.  Now it sits at approx 39.25 at the top of wheel opening on all fours, but still seems to look a little low in the front.  I'm thinking I should have went with 2".  The ride has not changed.  After some internal turmoil I ordered a .5" lower spacer.  Hoping that little of spacer won't push shock into cv boot.  Why bother with a .5" spacer???  Not sure but I did.  

[ero2]

On 2/18/2021 at 7:46 PM, Duramax3oh said:

Absolutely. I edited my post after seeing your reply.  *#2 measure to the top of the wheel WELL! not just the wheel lol*

 

Yes, I'd say if you don't have any problem with how your truck rides or handles as it is, just go with the spacer and call it a day!

Well, the dealership says they do the rough country lower spacer, which from my understanding I don’t want, correct?  They also quoted 880 for the leveling kit, install, and alignment.  They said the older trucks weren’t as involved, but the 2020s are harder to install...I’d like to go to 4wp or a local mechanic but maintaining the warranty may be worth the premium?  But again, lower spacer?

 

I feel kind of silly paying for the x31 and replacing then replacing the ranchos with the bilsteins but I feel like I could probably do all 4 bilsteins installed and aligned for around that same price?

[Duramax3oh]

21 hours ago, ero2 said:

Well, the dealership says they do the rough country lower spacer, which from my understanding I don’t want, correct?  They also quoted 880 for the leveling kit, install, and alignment.  They said the older trucks weren’t as involved, but the 2020s are harder to install...I’d like to go to 4wp or a local mechanic but maintaining the warranty may be worth the premium?  But again, lower spacer?

 

I feel kind of silly paying for the x31 and replacing then replacing the ranchos with the bilsteins but I feel like I could probably do all 4 bilsteins installed and aligned for around that same price?

Certainly can’t tell you what to do and my thoughts may be far from perfect... but I can tell you my opinion:

 

1. I have read of and seen pictures of too many problems with the lower mounted spacer causing issues for me to feel comfortable installing that. For me personally it was off the table even if the dealership says “we’ll fix the issues for free every time it happens”. Should you decide to do the lower mounted spacer I would 100% get it done at the dealership and have in writing they will fix any issue that it causes. I would not get one installed anywhere else. 
 

2. I used to be very cautious concerning doing anything that remotely might effect the warranty. As time went on I realized by doing things the right way, the warranty concern shouldn’t be an issue. Any problem will have to be directly caused by X and proved by GM that X caused it. And many/most items should have their own warranty. Personally I am not concerned about very simple things like a top spacer 2” or less or Bilstein shocks. It’s pretty straightforward. But, I would be careful if more and more things are further added together changing the geometry of suspension parts and stress points. 
 

3. $880 is just way too much for me to pay for a “cheap” spacer to lift the front of my truck for aesthetics and no performance improvement. For me it would be similar to getting a $15 McDonald’s burger when an alternative would be spending $15-20 at a great high quality burger joint in town. I believe the lift spacer itself is what $60 maybe? I would suspect you can get the Bilstein 5100 front shocks installed with alignment done for that same price or cheaper at any competent shop. If it’s more, it shouldn’t be that much more IMO. 
 

I can’t remember the exact amount I paid but call it roughly $600-650, maybe $700 is what I paid my local shop in Houston to (1) install front Bilstein 6112’s, (2) rear Bilstein 5160’s, (3) 2” rear lift block, (4) rear bump stop extension, (5) balancing and alignment on the new tires I purchased from them. The balance/alignment/etc costs were maybe $25 a tire, so 100 for that? The actual parts install should be about 550. Say take away labor for the rear components and I’m betting you’re right in that cost point the dealership is charging you for a spacer. 
 

 

My 2 cents. Hope others will chime in with their thoughts because this forum gave me a ton of information as I was choosing to do. Best of luck!

Edited February 25, 2021 by Duramax3oh

[Trey Smith]

On 2/25/2021 at 1:35 PM, Duramax3oh said:

I can’t remember the exact amount I paid but call it roughly $600-650, maybe $700 is what I paid my local shop in Houston to (1) install front Bilstein 6112’s, (2) rear Bilstein 5160’s, (3) 2” rear lift block, (4) rear bump stop extension, (5) balancing and alignment on the new tires I purchased from them. The balance/alignment/etc costs were maybe $25 a tire, so 100 for that? The actual parts install should be about 550. Say take away labor for the rear components and I’m betting you’re right in that cost point the dealership is charging you for a spacer. 

@Duramax3oh I'm curious how much front & rear lift you got with this setup? How much front rake do you have? I'm looking for level or slight rake at most. Not driving a Duramax, but I figure it would still be similar.

 

I'm also driving a 2021 SLT 1500 with a 5.3L V8, so I'd assume the lift you got would be similar. The challenge is that Bilstein apparently has not confirmed that all their products will work on the 2021 due to some change in the struts or shocks.

[Duramax3oh]

1 hour ago, Trey Smith said:

@Duramax3oh I'm curious how much front & rear lift you got with this setup? How much front rake do you have? I'm looking for level or slight rake at most. Not driving a Duramax, but I figure it would still be similar.

 

I'm also driving a 2021 SLT 1500 with a 5.3L V8, so I'd assume the lift you got would be similar. The challenge is that Bilstein apparently has not confirmed that all their products will work on the 2021 due to some change in the struts or shocks.

I used the top setting and got right at 2” front lift which is the advertised lift for the 3.0 engine. Rear was exactly 2” too. Went with 27/65r20 tires which add 1/2” so a total of 2.5” all around. This keeps the same factory rake that my truck had which is slightly under 1.5” - I like the look and do a bit of towing so wanted to keep that. 

[ms6040]

On 3/24/2021 at 10:47 PM, Trey Smith said:

@Duramax3oh I'm curious how much front & rear lift you got with this setup? How much front rake do you have? I'm looking for level or slight rake at most. Not driving a Duramax, but I figure it would still be similar.

 

I'm also driving a 2021 SLT 1500 with a 5.3L V8, so I'd assume the lift you got would be similar. The challenge is that Bilstein apparently has not confirmed that all their products will work on the 2021 due to some change in the struts or shocks.

I was unaware that Bilstein has not confirmed that the 5100's will work or not with the 2021's? I was about to order some 5100's for my 2021 RST Z71. Is there are part number or link that will for sure work with the 2021? This is what I was looking at:

 

https://www.bilsteinlifts.com/shop/chevy-gmc/silverado-1500/2019/bilstein-b8-5100-0-2-5-front-lift-shocks-for-2019-2020-chevrolet-silverado-1500-2wd-4wd/

 

[Trey Smith]

6 minutes ago, ms6040 said:

I was unaware that Bilstein has not confirmed that the 5100's will work or not with the 2021's? I was about to order some 5100's for my 2021 RST Z71. Is there are part number or link that will for sure work with the 2021? This is what I was looking at:

 

https://www.bilsteinlifts.com/shop/chevy-gmc/silverado-1500/2019/bilstein-b8-5100-0-2-5-front-lift-shocks-for-2019-2020-chevrolet-silverado-1500-2wd-4wd/

 

Sorry, I could be confused. See the question I posed on this page...it's for the Superlift 3" with Bilstein rear shocks. They did not know. But I called Superlift and confirmed this kit works with 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. I looked at the Rancho 3" lift and they are the ones that also told me it didn't work for 2021...since then I've decided that Bilstein is the way to go. The kit you linked above looks like it would work on a 2021. FYI you probably know this, but bilsteinlifts.com has nothing to do with the Bilstein company...just a parts store that sells Bilsteins. Although they are probably knowledgeable. 

 

https://www.bilsteinlifts.com/shop/chevy-gmc/silverado-1500/2019/superlift-3-lift-kit-for-2019-2020-gmc-sierra-1500-4wd-2wd-w-bilstein-shocks/