Bilstein shocks thread

Jdub289f · July 14, 2020

8 minutes ago, Granite7 said:

Added Bilstein 6112s on the highest notch today. Rear has 5100s and 2.25” blocks (1” of lift). It turned out exactly like I wanted it to be.

How’s the ride quality compared to stock?? I just got the 6112 kit too and just waiting on Kryptonite UCAs to come in. Coming off 5100s and stock UCAs so I’m sure I’ll be stoked

Granite7 · July 14, 2020

How’s the ride quality compared to stock?? I just got the 6112 kit too and just waiting on Kryptonite UCAs to come in. Coming off 5100s and stock UCAs so I’m sure I’ll be stoked

I only have about 30 miles on the 6112s today, but I’m very happy so far. The truck doesn’t pogo over bumps like it did on the ranchos. I hear the bumps on the freeway when the tires hit, but I don’t feel much. Just a single bump and no bounce. Less body roll on corners.

Red_5 · July 14, 2020

14 hours ago, Jdub289f said:

How’s the ride quality compared to stock?? I just got the 6112 kit too and just waiting on Kryptonite UCAs to come in. Coming off 5100s and stock UCAs so I’m sure I’ll be stoked

My 6112s seemed to get better with age. They seemed to need to break in some. I went from stock NHT suspension with 42k miles to the 6112s and 5160s and didn’t notice much initially but after a few hundred miles I noticed the improvement.

Jdub289f · July 14, 2020

Thanks for the feedback! I’m excited. Bummed they didn’t have them available before

DadBot9K · July 14, 2020

Anyone with a Denali care to lay their leveling set-up on me? Seeing a lot of posts for everything else, but I have a 2015 1500 Denali and don't want the extra stress of stock components the Rough Country leveling kit might cause. Bilsteins, at least in the front, sound ideal, but will that not affect the "MagneRide?" I suppose you could say i want a slight rake look, not completely level. I'll occasionally have a trailer with a motorcycle or two on it and/or a motorcycle in the bed. Thanks, and my apologies if there's a thread better suited for this question!

Sierra Jon · July 18, 2020

Anyone with a Denali care to lay their leveling set-up on me? Seeing a lot of posts for everything else, but I have a 2015 1500 Denali and don't want the extra stress of stock components the Rough Country leveling kit might cause. Bilsteins, at least in the front, sound ideal, but will that not affect the "MagneRide?" I suppose you could say i want a slight rake look, not completely level. I'll occasionally have a trailer with a motorcycle or two on it and/or a motorcycle in the bed. Thanks, and my apologies if there's a thread better suited for this question!

Bilsteins would remove the magneride because you'd be replacing the shocks required for the magneride system. Maybe I misunderstood the question.

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Granite7 · July 18, 2020

Checking in after I’ve put on more mileage on the 6112s at the highest notch. Less nose dive at hard stops. Less body roll in the turns. The body bounces around less over bumps. Definitely an improvement, but the suspension is still firm. I still feel a good jolt over some bumps.

I added the 6112s for a little extra ground clearance for driving logging roads. I didn’t expect my truck to ride like a Cadillac, and if it did, it wouldn’t be able to handle the BLM and Forest Service roads that I use on the weekends. This kit gave me the added ground clearance and kept the strength of the suspension so I can still use it like a truck.

4 year old z71 Rancho shocks with only 32k miles.

Jdub289f · July 18, 2020

2 hours ago, Granite7 said:

Checking in after I’ve put on more mileage on the 6112s at the highest notch. Less nose dive at hard stops. Less body roll in the turns. The body bounces around less over bumps. Definitely an improvement, but the suspension is still firm. I still feel a good jolt over some bumps.

I added the 6112s for a little extra ground clearance for driving logging roads. I didn’t expect my truck to ride like a Cadillac, and if it did, it wouldn’t be able to handle the BLM and Forest Service roads that I use on the weekends. This kit gave me the added ground clearance and kept the strength of the suspension so I can still use it like a truck.

4 year old z71 Rancho shocks with only 32k miles.

Good feedback! Are you going to get UCAs too? Im discovering it’s a major improvement for not hitting the droop stops really easily. Can’t wait to put mine on. Waiting on Kryptonites to come in. They make theirs with a slightly different angle so you don’t have to cut off the droop stops and overextended your cv axles like cognito tells you to. Also has a lifetime warranty. Once everything is all installed hopefully within the month I’ll report back on progress. I’m coming off of 5100s and stock UCAs.

Granite7 · July 18, 2020

Good feedback! Are you going to get UCAs too? Im discovering it’s a major improvement for not hitting the droop stops really easily. Can’t wait to put mine on. Waiting on Kryptonites to come in. They make theirs with a slightly different angle so you don’t have to cut off the droop stops and overextended your cv axles like cognito tells you to. Also has a lifetime warranty. Once everything is all installed hopefully within the month I’ll report back on progress. I’m coming off of 5100s and stock UCAs.

No reason for me to replace UCAs until they are worn out. My 2016 has the cast steel UCAs and I’m only lifted 1.85”.

But, I’ll look forward to your report on the Kryptonites in case I do need to make the change in a few years.

ThundahBeagle · July 21, 2020

Here's the big question...do the Z71's come with a larger block at the rear axle than the non Z71's? Reason I'm asking is that I've added 5100's all around with fronts on top setting and I want to know if I add an inch of block lift in the rear will I be over extending the new Bilstein 5100 rear shocks?

Here are some details that may be helpful...

2014 GMC Sierra Z71, Double cab. Great truck. I have a Leer 180 cap on it, and a diamond deck cross type toolbox (full of tools!) sitting lengthwise in the back...together thats gotta be about 400 lbs of weight. It was time to replace the Ranchos so I went Bilstein. Got them from a guy named Kolak at the Jeep forums. No offense to MTM (?) Whose been posting here, I have experience with Kolak so I went that way.

BEFORE adding the toolbox and Leer cap, I believe I measured the rear at about 39 inches and the front at about 35. Yep, 4 inches of downward rake to the front.

AFTER adding the full toolbox and Leer cap i measured 37 1/2 inches in the back.

After adding Bilstien 5100's all around with the fronts at top setting, I got almost exactly 2 inches of lift. I put a long level along the under side of the rocker panels and again, I'm just about perfectly level. Bubble is between the lines.

The ride is SO much better, but as others have noted, 35 mph around a potholed city street is still dodgy. I guess it always will be in a truck. Otherwise the truck is steady and sure.

So again, do the Z71's come with a larger block at the rear axle than the non Z71's?

Any solid info would be helpful.

Thanks in advance

Granite7 · July 21, 2020

So again, do the Z71's come with a larger block at the rear axle than the non Z71's?

Any solid info would be helpful.

Thanks in advance

No.

If you want to know for sure on your truck, measure your truck’s rear blocks. 1.25” thick from the factory. You can go to 2.25” thick blocks with the 5100s.

ThundahBeagle · July 21, 2020

2 minutes ago, Granite7 said:

No.

If you want to know for sure, measure your truck’s tear blocks. 1.25” thick from the factory. You can go to 2.25” thick blocks with the 5100s.

Ah. Well that's great. And fast. So, kind of like my prom date...

Seriously though, thanks for that info. I'm thinking of bringing the rear end up that extra inch with a block, so I can keep the Leer cap and the toolbox, but may also want to tow a small travel trailer (22ft+-) and would like to make sure my arse isnt dragging when I do all that.

Thanks again @Granite7

Granite7 · July 21, 2020

Ah. Well that's great. And fast. So, kind of like my prom date...

Seriously though, thanks for that info. I'm thinking of bringing the rear end up that extra inch with a block, so I can keep the Leer cap and the toolbox, but may also want to tow a small travel trailer (22ft+-) and would like to make sure my arse isnt dragging when I do all that.

Thanks again [mention=205292]Granite7[/mention]

Yes, that is along the lines of what I am thinking also. I’m still waiting on my 100XR to come in. We load the truck up on camping trips and I don’t want it to squat. I would also like to be hauling a 4-wheeler behind me in another year or two.

This is a typical load out. Once we have the topper, the bed will be full to the roofline. The bed was 100% full under the tonneau, plus that 120qt cooler, a case of water, and a 7-gallon water jug all on the hitch.

Sierra Jon · July 21, 2020

FWIW I ran helwig 987 heeler springs on my last K2 and it raised the rear up an inch and stiffened up the ride a little. Another option...

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Granite7 · July 23, 2020

I hauled 1200lbs of concrete tonight. All the bags were stacked to the rear of the rear axle, so this is almost the worst case scenario: 1450lbs out of my 1660lb max payload. I’m very happy with the minimal squat with my setup.
Front: Bilstein 6112 on the 4th notch 1.875”
Rear: Bilstein 5100 with 1” taller block (2.25”)