Adding Bilsteins 5100 and Leveling kit Right?

[ESierra]

Hi there. I've been reading upon forums and getting advice from people who have Sierras (2018).

 

I approved a quote that the shop locally is going to do. I have requested a 2" leveling kit to be added, and some people have recommend just adding bilstein 5100s and using them to raise the front of the truck to get close to level. Should I tell the shop to not do the leveling kit, and just add the bilsteins with the height adjusted to get close to level to the rear? Or should I have them both added? (Will that benefit?)

 

I am adding 285/55R/20 Falken Wildpeaks (AT3W) over the factory elevation rims and I'm excited for those. Just a little confused with my understanding about whats above.

Again, I've done mostly just research on this, I'm not a Truck/Car Mechanic, I prefer to hide by my desk in IT

 

 

[f8l vnm]

I know some aren’t going to like this but yes go with the 5100. Add some height and also plant your ride more. Get some for the back too 

[ESierra]

4 minutes ago, f8l vnm said:

I know some aren’t going to like this but yes go with the 5100. Add some height and also plant your ride more. Get some for the back too 

Do I need a leveling kit? Does that even help it? or just tell the shop to do the 5100s and lift them from the front

[Dirk13]

If you have 5100s that are capable of adding lift to level the truck, Why would you set the 5100s at stock height and then add a leveling kit? (Which is presumably some spacers that are meant to go on the stock strut)

[pepe48134]

I used the 5100's set at +2" to the front of my 2022. increased the tires size from 275-60/20 to 275-65/20. Tires are an inch taller at 34" vs stock 33" The combo raised the front 2.5" and the rear 0.5".  Truck is perfectly level. The Body style for the 2019-2022 makes it look a little front high sometimes so I'm adding 1" rear blocks this week to give it just a little rake.

No other leveling kit was added (i.e. spacers) I think the shocks are the way to go for leveling and there is no need tor spacers unless you want to go higher. The pic is how it currently sits with out the rear blocks.

[wurgs]

Just go with the 5100s in front and back, no need for additional leveling.

[ESierra]

Appreciate gents. That's what I thought as well, didn't make sense for me. @Dirk13 But I called up the shop, and stated that I wanted to remove the leveling kit, and just do the bilsteins, adjust the front to be as close to as level as possible with the rear.

 

The installation date is tomorrow. @pepe48134 your picture in another post inspired me to add them as well. I'm wrapping them are 285/55R/20 Falken WildPeaks AT3/W. It should look pretty spot on. I've already taken before photos as it sits.

[todd308]

Should you still do new UCA's with the shock based "lift" to avoid UCA failure like we see with many level kits when people don't replace the factory UCA's?   I'm guessing not since all it's doing is adding spring preload stiffening the ride to get the extra height as opposed to a spacer lift. 

[f8l vnm]

For me rule of thumb is the most you want to go is about 2.25 without starting to stress things out. Maybe even 2.5 but thats it. 

[pepe48134]

On 7/6/2022 at 3:55 PM, todd308 said:

Should you still do new UCA's with the shock based "lift" to avoid UCA failure like we see with many level kits when people don't replace the factory UCA's?   I'm guessing not since all it's doing is adding spring preload stiffening the ride to get the extra height as opposed to a spacer lift. 

It doesn't stiffen the ride at all the springs are liner rate. This is what the trail boss (2" factory Lift front and back) does and they use the same UCA's

[ESierra]

Just wanted to thank everyone! I went with the bilsteins and new tires. And it rides great and looks amazing. 

 

The extra lift in the front makes a huge difference. Thank god this actually feels like a truck now! 

Edited July 8, 2022 by ESierra

[Atomicgrl]

Looks good, but light level is quite low. Nice to see the look in good daytime lighting.

[todd308]

On 7/7/2022 at 5:20 PM, pepe48134 said:

It doesn't stiffen the ride at all the springs are liner rate. This is what the trail boss (2" factory Lift front and back) does and they use the same UCA's

I don't think that's quite how it works, a linear rate spring only means the spring rate increases evenly throughout it's travel, it doesn't mean that the spring has the same force throughout it's travel. So if you crank up the preload and raise the front end height it's going to stiffen the ride.   The plus side is usually the aftermarket shocks (fox, billstein) are so much better than Rancho's no one notices, especially if you get the strut with the fox/bilstein matched springs.  This is why strut spacers tend to maintain a factory ride better than height adjustable struts.  That said, there are some other significant cons to spacers if your vehicle actually leaves the pavement and overall I'd say the adjustable height struts are a better option, of course they are also significantly more expensive, especially if you don't reuse the factory coil springs. 

 

This site does a very good job of breaking down the pros/cons of spacers -vs- height adjustable struts. 

 

https://www.shocksurplus.com/pages/lifted-and-leveling-struts-vs-strut-spacers

 

 

[pepe48134]

21 hours ago, todd308 said:

I don't think that's quite how it works, a linear rate spring only means the spring rate increases evenly throughout it's travel, it doesn't mean that the spring has the same force throughout it's travel. So if you crank up the preload and raise the front end height it's going to stiffen the ride.   The plus side is usually the aftermarket shocks (fox, billstein) are so much better than Rancho's no one notices, especially if you get the strut with the fox/bilstein matched springs.  This is why strut spacers tend to maintain a factory ride better than height adjustable struts.  That said, there are some other significant cons to spacers if your vehicle actually leaves the pavement and overall I'd say the adjustable height struts are a better option, of course they are also significantly more expensive, especially if you don't reuse the factory coil springs. 

 

This site does a very good job of breaking down the pros/cons of spacers -vs- height adjustable struts. 

 

https://www.shocksurplus.com/pages/lifted-and-leveling-struts-vs-strut-spacers

 

 

your correct the spring doesn't have the same force throughout its travel,and in theory increasing the preload will make it stiffer. However the bilsteins are designed for the lift and the ride is actually better than stock. The linear rate springs make it easier to deal with the preload vs progressive springs. THe other big pluss is the stock suspension travel is maintained with the height adjustable shocks vs spacers.

 

 

[Carlos ONeil]

On 7/4/2022 at 8:13 PM, pepe48134 said:

I used the 5100's set at +2" to the front of my 2022. increased the tires size from 275-60/20 to 275-65/20. Tires are an inch taller at 34" vs stock 33" The combo raised the front 2.5" and the rear 0.5".  Truck is perfectly level. The Body style for the 2019-2022 makes it look a little front high sometimes so I'm adding 1" rear blocks this week to give it just a little rake.

No other leveling kit was added (i.e. spacers) I think the shocks are the way to go for leveling and there is no need tor spacers unless you want to go higher. The pic is how it currently sits with out the rear blocks.

Which part numbers did you use? I am looking to order some soon