so I did what everyone always says is a bad idea because I don't think it is. I had just the lower rc leveling kit but it wasn't enough. i figured getting the 3.5" lift is a waist since I could use new shocks and struts anyway. Rc lower spacer gave me just shy of 2" of lift. I put the 5100's on the 3rd clip since I was afraid that on the 4th clip it may be a little to much lift and the diff drop I'd need could cause the cv to hit the lower spacer/bolt. Now it sits a tad over 1 1/3 inch higher even tho it says it only adds 1.18" on the 3rd setting. Fender night up front is now 39 1/3. I can always swap the lower out for a 2.5" upper down the road and add more of a diff drop. For now I plan to use some washers to drop the diff a little till I figure out how much I have to work with before the cv will be to close to the strut bolt for my liking. i have 1/2-3/4 space before the uppers hit the stops. Over the next week I will be doing rc upper control arms, new lower control arms, acdelco inner and outters and I'm sure all of them will go years before I see any play. ill be adding a 1.5 or 2" spacer to the rear along with new shocks. Shocks struts control arms are/were all still oe with 167k on em.
I wanted 20x10 or 20x12 with 305/55 or 33x12.5 I'm still struggling with making up my mind so i put on 2" spacers with my stock wheels and almost bald 275/60r20 Goodyear rs-a. I did this to see how it looks and how it goes clearance wise. They rubbed with the lower strut level so I did a half as NorCal mod. Pulled the bumper supports and hammered in some on the metal on the cab side. I'll be doing the proper trimming if I need to depending on what I end up running size wise. I also trimmed the front air dam. I pulled the running boards to and it's a night and day difference in how tall it looks without them. As far as I know it still has stock wheel bearings in it to so I'm curious how long it will be till they growl or I feel play. I'm kinda leaning towards just getting a set of 275/60 fallen at3w since I can get them for 165 each. I need tires bad and this way I don't have to rush and settle on wheel/tore combo I might not be real happy with. And I can use these as winter wheels since The north east winters are ruff on nice wheels.
Feel free to ask questions or for pics. I spent a lot of hrs at work looking for info pics or anything on a setup like I'm running with spacers and 5100 along with 2" wheel spacers on leveled trucks. All I found was people saying its bad bla bla bla, but in all honesty I'm impressed with how well it came out. Ride feels about the same, but I'm sure after I do the the control arms and align it it will ride better than when I got it. I think everyone saying its a bad idea/will destroy front end parts and ride like shot is just repeating someone else's inaccurate guess on what might happen.
The pics of the suspension with bilstines are my 2007 Tahoe, the truck with all stock is my dads 2008 1500 with just a rc lower strut spacers. The angles arnt much worse with the extra lift from the struts.
I had to size down the pics to get them to upload
Bone stock with the same 275/60r20 the front fender height was 36" then 37.9" and now it's 39.3"
I wanted 20x10 or 20x12 with 305/55 or 33x12.5 I'm still struggling with making up my mind so i put on 2" spacers with my stock wheels and almost bald 275/60r20 Goodyear rs-a. I did this to see how it looks and how it goes clearance wise. They rubbed with the lower strut level so I did a half as NorCal mod. Pulled the bumper supports and hammered in some on the metal on the cab side. I'll be doing the proper trimming if I need to depending on what I end up running size wise. I also trimmed the front air dam. I pulled the running boards to and it's a night and day difference in how tall it looks without them. As far as I know it still has stock wheel bearings in it to so I'm curious how long it will be till they growl or I feel play. I'm kinda leaning towards just getting a set of 275/60 fallen at3w since I can get them for 165 each. I need tires bad and this way I don't have to rush and settle on wheel/tore combo I might not be real happy with. And I can use these as winter wheels since The north east winters are ruff on nice wheels.
Feel free to ask questions or for pics. I spent a lot of hrs at work looking for info pics or anything on a setup like I'm running with spacers and 5100 along with 2" wheel spacers on leveled trucks. All I found was people saying its bad bla bla bla, but in all honesty I'm impressed with how well it came out. Ride feels about the same, but I'm sure after I do the the control arms and align it it will ride better than when I got it. I think everyone saying its a bad idea/will destroy front end parts and ride like shot is just repeating someone else's inaccurate guess on what might happen.
The pics of the suspension with bilstines are my 2007 Tahoe, the truck with all stock is my dads 2008 1500 with just a rc lower strut spacers. The angles arnt much worse with the extra lift from the struts.
I had to size down the pics to get them to upload
Bone stock with the same 275/60r20 the front fender height was 36" then 37.9" and now it's 39.3"
