Getting Bilstein 5100's for front. Is upgrading rear shocks even worth it?

[Captain Insaino]

Nice!!!..Are those 265/65s

Yes, I went with Continental all terrains because I wanted something dead quiet and smooth riding that didn’t have a MPG penalty. Not the best off road tire, but I got what I was after.

 

[Captain Insaino]

275/65 r18s here.
On the first picture the 5100s are set to the highest position (4 out of 4), the tops of the front and the rear wheel wells are at 38 inches. The highway handling was slightly off compared to the stock.
On the second picture the 5100s are set to the 2 out of 4 position, the front sits at 36.5 inches. I would chose this configuration if you are regularly driving over 65.
P.S. The rear is stock and has the max tow air ride shocks.

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I did notice it was a tad bit more sloppy at speed. Didn’t seem bad, but I haven’t tried any emergency maneuvers. I wonder how sketchy it would be? I’m sitting a tad higher in front, but just figured I would go up an inch when I did the rears. Maybe I will drop the front a notch

**Update: The more I drive the truck, the more I like the shocks. The slight bit of extra lateral sway in my mind is probably only limited to about the first half inch of travel in the shock.Then they bite down. Doesn’t feel sketchy at all. I’m going to keep the full 2 inch lift.**

 

[sspearsau]

For those that have installed, did the 5100s get rid of the boat rock now having the stiffer suspension? I’m still on the edge of doing it, as I’ve struggled to get a good idea of what to expect. I’m less concerned with the fact that it levels or can raise the front. I just want a better right.

I’ve got the 5100s on my truck and love them.

 

[Captain Insaino]

For those that have installed, did the 5100s get rid of the boat rock now having the stiffer suspension? I’m still on the edge of doing it, as I’ve struggled to get a good idea of what to expect. I’m less concerned with the fact that it levels or can raise the front. I just want a better right.

I’ve got the 5100s on my truck and love them.

mine still has the rock. I suspect most of it is from the rear. I hope raising the front didn’t add to it. It’s not so much a stiffer ride. I guess the best way to describe it is that instead of pogo sticking over an event, it is sort of like falling into it. it’s much more forgiving with the smaller stuff. Maybe less rebound on the bigger stuff.

 

[Captain Insaino]

On a sidenote with the leveling and trimming down of the air dam, I got what I was after for improving the clearance. Seems like maybe the transfer case is now the low point which now has a skid plate. I will see what the mpg penalty is soon.

**Update** Our high tech gas mileage guess o meter is exactly the same “best” of 23.1 mpg and an average of 18.5mpg before and after the trim, lift and hooks on two identical trips. Hard to believe...

 

[GreyStone]

Yes, I went with Continental all terrains because I wanted something dead quiet and smooth riding that didn’t have a MPG penalty. Not the best off road tire, but I got what I was after.

Nothin wrong with Conti's - they'll get the job done. Hey what do they call the color of your truck?

 

[Captain Insaino]

Nothin wrong with Conti's - they'll get the job done. Hey what do they call the color of your truck?

Tungsten Metallic

 

[Captain Insaino]

The alignment wasn’t off too bad at all. The correction wouldn’t be noticeable in driving. But it was just enough where it would eventually start wearing the outsides of the tires.

 

[GreyStone]

s

 

[sd172]

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**Update: The more I drive the truck, the more I like the shocks. The slight bit of extra lateral sway in my mind is probably only limited to about the first half inch of travel in the shock.Then they bite down. Doesn’t feel sketchy at all. I’m going to keep the full 2 inch lift.**

It was getting a little sketchy for me driving at the 80 mph speed limit with a strong head wind. But I also have the shortest PPV air dam, maybe that was making my combination less drivable.