G65 manual level control and springs

so i installed my new bilsteins a few weeks ago. afterwards i learned my truck has the G65 package. this is the rear shock with the internal coil spring that levels the rear when towing/hauling after a few miles. these springs also supposedly handle some of the pay load. although its smoother, i have noticed that the rear sinks further before rebounding than before. and i did notice that no matter how hard i push, i cannot compress the stock rear shocks when pushing against the ground but i could the bilsteins before i installed them. since i would like to have this feature i looked into those replacements thay are $300+ a piece. fukc that!!

so what spring would i need to install in the rear to gain back the factory payload and rear travel ("sink" that i referred to)? i have noticed some guys putting in air bags and keeping them preloaded. whats the point to it? how would it affect ride quality?

I installed the airlift helper bags in the rear to reduce the sag when towing. Solved my problem and when not fully inflated the ride quality is the same. The only thing I don't like is when fully inflated it does increase the height by an inch or so in the rear. I am debating on a lowering kit and will install the bags when lowered to avoid my towing issue.

The bags prevent the springs from fully compressing so heavy loads do not lower the vehicle as much. I think the other option is to get a higher spring rate which will make the ride much stiffer.

the 'bags' are more correctly referred to as an Air Spring. They add a progressive spring rate to the existing one, and may be the easiest way to increase teh spring rate without any detrimental effects to ride quality when towing. Plus they are user adjustable.

Alternately you can find a spring from a regular suspension (non z55 non zw7/g65) which would then be stiffer and a correct match to your billies.
This would possibly increase ride harshness however.


Side note, I pulled a 14' trailer the other night and after about 5 minutes of driving (3-4 lights/stop signs) it really settled out and rode smoother than it ever did before.
Smoof like Buttah.

eagle, when you pulled the trailer that was with the G65 shocks?

yes sir. reminded me of how pickup are just a little choppy till you throw 400 lbs in the bed, then they ride a lot better.

Bilstein has a set of coil springs to convert the Nivomat (Self leveling) shock setup to regular shocks. They will restore the height and load capacity.

Their part # is 199021

Please report back on the new ride characteristics when your done with the package. I want to know if the ride gets harsher / mushier than the stock setup as I don't think I am gonna pay $700 to replace mine, either.

Ed

I'm currently in the process of waiting on the Bilstein springs after having the same problem with soft stock rear springs. I found the springs cheap on shockwarehouse.com. they had to order them from Bilstein so hopefully I have them in the next week. Their part # is 199021 and they are fairly cheap like $80 shipped.

no one seems to have them in stock, but the Bilstein shocks work 100x better than stock even with the soft springs. My tires are too wide to ride that low and rub the inner lining if i hit a bump just right so hopefully I get them soon.

how hard is it to replace the rear springs btw?

hey let us know how they work out. do you have the G65 suspension? i dont want to increase the ride harshness much but i may not have a choice to get the proper spring rate back. i researched the billstein springs but no where does it say if you retain the factory payload/tongue weight with them. anyone know? maybe i will just call billstein.

I bought my shocks at tirerack.com and it
said to retain factory height and load
capacity to use the Bilstein springs. I have
the premium susp g65? The stock shocks
are spring loaded and heavy as hell! It's not the elect suspension
or base suspension. I'll report back. I think
it will ride a Lil stiffer than stock, but
not be harsh. Just what I want.

i have the same suspension. let me know what you think about them. i also found bilstein part number 199020. i still cant find out whats the difference between it and what you ordered.