Spacer Or Not To Spacer

08SierraCC · August 2, 2011

Ok so i just got my bilstein 5100s in. Im currently running a super lift 2" leveling kit... its the top of the strut spacer type.. I like my truck at the ride height it sits now.. I dont know if i want to remover the spacer and use the highest ride height on 5100s.. or set the strut at stock height and use the spacer.. Im worried about losing that .25 or so in ride height.. i just barely clear my tires now.. i dont want to rubb... bilstein states approx avearge increase of 1.77" increase.. what do you guys think?

Matt_ · August 2, 2011

Leave it as it is. There's no benefit to removing the spacer.... and the higher the setting on the 5100s, the stiffer the ride will be. So unless the ride is too "soft" for you now, there's really no point in changing it up.

08SierraCC · August 2, 2011

Thanks Matt.. I agree, I was just looking for alittle positive re-enforcement. Im gonna put them in first thing in the morning .. Ill see if I rememeber to take enough pictures to do a Install write up for you guys..

SouthCo · August 2, 2011

yeah keep us posted. I am thinking of removing my rc 2" level kit for bilstein 5100's. What size tires are you running?

08SierraCC · August 2, 2011

Currently I'm running 275/60/20 (33s).. I'm waiting on my wheel to show up 20x9 devino wheels +12offset.. After my zeon ltz wear out or I get impatient I'm going with a 305/55/20 .. I'm gonna throw 1.5" body lift with som trimming to fit them

08SierraCC · August 4, 2011

ok so I installed the bilstein 5100. The install was pretty straight forward. My cheapo $25 spring compressor worked just fine. I didnt get pictures of the install.. This florida heat about killed me ( heat index was 109). I tried to finish the install as fast as possible and just totally forgot to get pics.. Anyway the truck rides great.. There is a noticeably improvement in ride quality. It was well worth it... I set the shock to factory ride height and put my 2" leveling spacer back in.. However after i was done i noticed my truck sits about .5" taller then it did before the new shocks.. I wasnt expecting that but it rides great and Im rolling about 2.5" over factory ride height

Spurshot · August 5, 2011

Check your balljoints regularly.

08SierraCC · August 8, 2011

I'm not to worried about ball joints.. I'm sure they will last but even if they don't, ball joints are cheap enough and easy enough to replace.. Small price to pay for looking good...lol

SouthCo · August 8, 2011

Cool. So the bilsteins maybe give .5" more height than they state? Wondering if no spacer and top setting would yield enough to get rid of 2" spacer and still have same lift (or a little more)?

howitzer922 · August 8, 2011

I recently ordered the bilstein 5100's for the front and rear of my 2008 Chevy Crew. They actually arrived today just have to pick them up at the post office.

I was looking to achieve the leveled look and I considered every option, but what it came down to with myself was with 70000 k on my truck and the soft uncontrolled ride of the factory shocks, the bilsteins made more cense for myself.

Anyway when I first started doing the research on the bilsteins i had a lot of questions and really couldn't find any info, so I started emailing the guys at Bilstein .

One thing i inquired about was running a spring spacer on top of the blistein ride height adjustable shock cause I would really like to get a full 2"'s of lift in the front. Their reply was that the combo would put a lot more load on the front end. Not sure if they meant with the shocks maxed out but i just wanted to pass this info along to anyone that might be like myself looking at doing the some thing.

I'm really pumped to get my shocks installed and get me some 33"s on her. If this is true about the extra .5" im going to be a happy man. Ill post some before and after pics when i get her done.

SouthCo · August 8, 2011

I recently ordered the bilstein 5100's for the front and rear of my 2008 Chevy Crew. They actually arrived today just have to pick them up at the post office.
I was looking to achieve the leveled look and I considered every option, but what it came down to with myself was with 70000 k on my truck and the soft uncontrolled ride of the factory shocks, the bilsteins made more cense for myself.

Anyway when I first started doing the research on the bilsteins i had a lot of questions and really couldn't find any info, so I started emailing the guys at Bilstein .

One thing i inquired about was running a spring spacer on top of the blistein ride height adjustable shock cause I would really like to get a full 2"'s of lift in the front. Their reply was that the combo would put a lot more load on the front end. Not sure if they meant with the shocks maxed out but i just wanted to pass this info along to anyone that might be like myself looking at doing the some thing.

I'm really pumped to get my shocks installed and get me some 33"s on her. If this is true about the extra .5" im going to be a happy man. Ill post some before and after pics when i get her done.

Cool.

08SierraCC · August 9, 2011

From my research I found that ,yes. Yes you can run a spacer on top of the bilstein 5100. It was actually on some literature about the 5100 from bilstein that my local off road shop had. As long as you set them to the stock ride height. In fact you get a better overall ride quality this way. When you set the 5100s to anything over stock ride height, you move the bottom retention c-clip up. This in turn moves the bottom spring flange up further compressing the spring .. So the Higher you set them the more you compress the spring, thus cuasing a stiffer, harsher ride.

Follow up on my 5100 install : It looked to be a tad bit higher (approx.5") no measurements to support that .. Now on to the ride..... It rides great .. It absorbs small imperfections in the road nice and smoothly , however it dampens and rebounds with much more control when you do hit larger bumps. It seems to even corner a little flatter and doesn't nose dive as much during hard braking... I will take it off road to check out how she handles there

jarettg · September 15, 2011

how do you think this would work with an RC 2" level kit? i wonder if i keep the kit on and set the shock to "stock" it will have that extra .5" that your getting?

jimbrown1 · September 16, 2011

how do you think this would work with an RC 2" level kit? i wonder if i keep the kit on and set the shock to "stock" it will have that extra .5" that your getting?

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