I currently have a 2.5" AutoSpring leveling kit. I am in need of new shocks. I can get a set of 5100's for the same price as the HD Bilstein shocks. My questions are is there any difference between these two other than one acts as a leveling kit? And would I get more lift out of my AS being that it is 2.5" and the Blistein is only 2". And would I need an allignment? Thanks everyone, Brent

 

they both will do the same but you will get .5 inch higher up front with the leveling kit. Only difference is going to be the shocks and how the ride will be after putting them on. Should make the ride better with bilsteins if thats what your really looking for. Yes you will need an alignment after installing the new shocks.

 

Ok, thanks. I didn't know if it really had .5 more than the shocks or not. I think i'm just going to get the Heavy Duty shocks just because my truck sits level now and I don't want to lose any lift in the front.

 

What i've decided to do is just keep my AS for the extra .5 of lift to keep it level and just put the 5100's at stock height. Because I like the look of the 5100's more i'm just gonna get them over the HD. Thanks

 

Bad idea.
The Bilstein 5100s (and possibly even HDs but I don't know) are longer than factory shocks. They do in fact allow a little more down-travel in the front suspension than stock. If you run the 2.5" spacers which already stress the angles up front, and the 5100s you are going to get even more down travel causing more stress.

 

So if I put them at stock height they are going to put more stress than my stock ones? Also if I just take off my spacer and pu them at the 2 inch lift would I need an allignment?

 

The best bet is to run the bilsteins alone at 2" in my opinion, but it's your truck. Yes you will need an alignment.
Sell your spacer to make up the cost of the alignment.


My $.02

 

Ok. I didn't know you had to get allignments after new shocks? But how much would I get out of the spacer? I just like the height it has now. I don't want the front to go down... But will it be that noticible you think? I plan on getting a 6" inch fabtech within the next 6 months or so if that would help with the desicion. Thanks

 

If you're getting a fabtech lift, you might as well wait on shocks...? Or pick up used shocks with less mileage.
You shouldn't need an alignment just with shocks, I meant if you pulled the spacer and run the bilstein leveling shocks instead. Any time you mess with height you are affecting the alignment.

 

If you plan to put a 6" Fabtech on soon I would wait on shocks.

As a side note...... does the Bilstein 5100's make the ride a bit stiffer when used on the 2" setting? It only makes sense that it would since all you're doing is increasing the spring preload. I've talked with a couple people about this but would like to have some other opinions as well.

 

Im pretty sure you're just adjusting the seat of the shock.... so I don't think its adjusting anything that has to do with the actual shock absorption inside the shock

 

if it were me, I would take the level kit off and put the 5100s on at the 2" setting and sell the level kit to pay for another alignment. Depending on which lift you decide to go with you can still use the 5100s at the adjusted setting, or just adjust them to stock setting... this would only work if the lift you bought came with spacers instead of new coilovers

 

mispost

 

I don't feel it made the ride more stiff because of the spring seat position. The shock itself is more firm.

 

The reason I want to put the 5100's on stock setting and keep my AS 2.5" kit on is because I want to keep the extra .5" to keep it level. If I put them on stock setting I don't see why I would have to get an alignment. Which is where i'm trying to get someone to prove me wrong. lol Just taking off the AS and replacing with the Bilsteins is losing me lift and at the same time guaranteeing that i will have to get an alignment. I'm pretty sure i'm going to go with one with spacers instead of new coilovers not really just to save on cost, but because I really don't need new coilovers. I like the Rough Country and Fabtech. Just not sure. But back to the question. Will stock setting Bilstein 5100's and a 2.5" spacer work without an alignment? Thanks, Brent