My Z71 seems lower than it should

[Dustin Jackson]

Quick update for everyone, after posting in the lowered forum I was able to identify that my Z71 has lowering springs and shocks in the rear.
I have ordered a new suspension including:
Moog 82144 front springs
Moog 81069 rear springs with moog k160072 spring insulators
Bilstein 5100 shocks for the front and rear

This thing should ride amazingly after these parts are installed. Chevy dealer quoted me $1200 for the install, Big-O tires quoted $600-800 for the install. Would like to do it myself but I don't think I can.

 

[Big Mama]

Why not? You can do it. There are many threads here and videos on YT to show you. The most important thing is being safe around springs. The rear is quite simple.

 

[OR VietVet]

Yes, like Steven said, you can do it if you have enough tools and know how. Watch some you tube videos and if can have a tech savvy friend help you. Pizza and beer are good payments for help.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@Big Mama @PNW VietVet I have been tossing around the idea of doing it myself If I can find a place to do the work that has flat concrete. What tools would I need? I have wrenches and sockets but I would need: breaker bar, torque wrench, coil spring compressor, jack and jack stands... anything I'm missing? 1/2 impact drill?

 

[Big Mama]

You’ve got about everything. Start with the rear. It’s very straightforward and doesn’t require a spring compressor so it’s relatively safe. If you don’t feel comfortable up front, which was me at first, you’ve still saved a few hundred bucks doing the rear and it may give you the confidence to do the front.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

You’ve got about everything. Start with the rear. It’s very straightforward and doesn’t require a spring compressor so it’s relatively safe. If you don’t feel comfortable up front, which was me at first, you’ve still saved a few hundred bucks doing the rear and it may give you the confidence to do the front.

@Big Mama I installed the rear this weekend. Spent about $300 on tools and it was cake, I had to use a $40 spring compressor from Harbor Freight to get the rear springs in but that was the biggest problem that came up. After installing the spring I just jacked the rear axle back up to release tension on the spring compressor and they just fell out so I didn't have to crank them out. Good investment on tools, I look forward to doing the front next weekend once I make sure I have the right tools to undo the top of the struts.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Here it is with the rear springs and shocks in.

 

[Big Mama]

Awesome, looks better already and helps with the confidence going forward. This may have been asked. Are you sure they didn’t use drop spindles up front? @iamdub is there any easy way to identify drop spindles if you don’t have both?

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Awesome, looks better already and helps with the confidence going forward. This may have been asked. Are you sure they didn’t use drop spindles up front? @iamdub is there any easy way to identify drop spindles if you don’t have both?

@Big Mama I took it to the dealership and they seem confident that the front spindle is stock, after taking the lowering kit out I believe that it was the Ground Force 91207 rear lowering kit which only has springs and shocks so if that was all that it had the front should be stock. I will be replacing everything in the front besides the spindle so if that is still factory I should be golden. I am planning on doing the front this weekend.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@Big Mama @iamdub Here are some pictures I took of the front, hopefully they are clear enough.