3.0 Duramax & Bilstein 5100's

DVR · May 19, 2021

Hi everyone.

Have a 2021 Silverado 1500 RST Dbl Cab with 3.0 Duramax on factory order. Have Bilstein 5100's to use when the truck arrives to replace the Rancho's. None of our area dealers have any truck inventory on hand to measure the Duramax ride height versus the V8's but was told the diesel sits about .5 inch lower. Has anyone installed the Bilstein's to level their 3.0 duramax truck? If so did you set the fronts at 2.0 or 2.5" ?? Also not sure if I should be ordering a 1" rear block kit or not. Our previous truck required higher blocks after a 2" top leveling kit was installed.

Any advice greatly appreciated!!

speedjunky78 · August 18, 2021

I have not, but I'm looking at the 6112's for the front and 5100's in the rear. The front end of my RST CCSB is just a little too squishy for me. Feels more like jumping on a pillow over bumps...like an old Cadillac kind of bobbing.

rbdjr · December 16, 2021

2021 RST,4x4, crew,3.0L, factory tires-275/60/R20, sits now approx 40" +- 1/4" ground to the edge of each wheel well. After a 2" Motofab upper strut spacer (approx 1.5-inch spacer), and then Installing a 1" rear leveling kit from Supreme Suspensions Pro-Billet rear lift kit 1" lift spacer and U bolts.

I'm ok with the front shocks currently 10,000 miles on the truck, but the rear suspension has not felt right from day one, around corners that road has any bumps on it truck skips /slide over bumps back end on corners? not sure if 5100 s ? would improve this handling condition, It does improve and feel fine when I put 250Lb s(bags of salt) in back of the truck all the way back by a tailgate with it closed Where is the best place to buy the 5100s? Has anyone else used these shocks to confirm the improved handling in the rear? Have been looking at the 5100? or 5125? Bilsteins, anyone else?

Edited December 16, 2021 by rbdjr

Ken Gannon · December 26, 2021

On 12/15/2021 at 5:39 PM, rbdjr said:

2021 RST,4x4, crew,3.0L, factory tires-275/60/R20, sits now approx 40" +- 1/4" ground to the edge of each wheel well. After a 2" Motofab upper strut spacer (approx 1.5-inch spacer), and then Installing a 1" rear leveling kit from Supreme Suspensions Pro-Billet rear lift kit 1" lift spacer and U bolts.

I'm ok with the front shocks currently 10,000 miles on the truck, but the rear suspension has not felt right from day one, around corners that road has any bumps on it truck skips /slide over bumps back end on corners? not sure if 5100 s ? would improve this handling condition, It does improve and feel fine when I put 250Lb s(bags of salt) in back of the truck all the way back by a tailgate with it closed Where is the best place to buy the 5100s? Has anyone else used these shocks to confirm the improved handling in the rear? Have been looking at the 5100? or 5125? Bilsteins, anyone else?

Plan on adding 5100's to the rear as well. Truck is nearly stock height (Slight lift in back caused by Roadmasters).

mdrum93 · November 29, 2022

Bilstein 5100's front and rear (trailboss part number)

Rough Country UCA for 3" lift

Motofab rear 2" block with U-bolts

+2.5" in the front

+2.0" in the rear

I know the pic shows otherwise, but I put the front strut circlips set to the middle position for .55" of lift. Wanted to maintain a touch of forward rake, and with the extra weight of the diesel it worked out perfect.

Edited November 29, 2022 by mdrum93

Mark Scannura · August 25, 2023

How has this worked out so far? I'm curious on the new UCAs. Since you only went up 2.5 on the front, do you think the new UCA was a requirement? We know the stock UCA can take a 2 inch lift no issue and I think that can be stretched to 2.5 and still be inside the original design margin. Was caster an issue for alignment with the new UCA?

Edited August 25, 2023 by Mark Scannura