need help with rear suspension

[901Tahoe]

i have a 02 tahoe 4x4 lt, i bought an rcx 6in lift off a wrecked silverado. My question is what can I use to lift the rear? Or could I pull coil springs off of something different that would lift the rear up? I dont really want to run coil spring spacers but I am on a budget. Whats my best alternative then buying the rear kit from rough country? Is there any cheaper places to get it from thats less than 400?

 

[Chizzychase]

There should be places to get just springs for the rear. Ebay might have some I do know a company called maxtrac suspension sells 2 inch lift spings and you can put spacers with them to get some extra length not sure on prices but it might be an alternative for you

 

[901Tahoe]

thanks ill look into that have you ever used them before

 

[06_2WD_Z71]

Here is some info on doing a rear lift that I posted in the "New to Tahoe" thread:

My stock z71 coils + 2.5" spacers was not enough lift in the back. It was about an inch shorter than what you see in my pics. Then I got Maxtrac 2" lift springs + spacers. However I am not happy with the springs. The curled part at the end is not tight like the stockers, so it hangs off the end of the spacer and I don't trust it. So now I ordered Tuff Country part #14965-30 upper spring mounts ($50 each at sdtrucksprings.com). They are very beefy, mount securely to the stock upper mount, and give 3" of lift in the rear. So I will try those with my z71 springs. Then if I need a small spacer under the spring I will do that.

Just a side note - I lost 3/4" of lift in the rear just by changing the stock z71 shocks to Bilsteins. The stock z71 shocks are very high pressure.

I have extended length Bilsteins in the back, stock shocks up front. IIRC, my Bilsteins are 27.16" extended length. You need the extended shocks or shock extenders when lifting the truck, or the shock will top out too soon and have a crappy ride.

After I lifted mine, the rear axle was offset to one side, so I got a Spohn adjustable track bar to address that. You can wait and see if you need that and do it later.

You will also need extended sway bar links.

 

[06_2WD_Z71]

Also, Skyjacker makes a 5" lift spring that Summit sells separately (not part of a full kit). It's a good spring, but was too much lift for me.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Just a side note - I lost 3/4" of lift in the rear just by changing the stock z71 shocks to Bilsteins. The stock z71 shocks are very high pressure.

Standard Shocks should not effect your ride height, no matter how high the pressure. Probably just settling from having the vehicle torn apart. Or weight/fuel level variance.

 

[06_2WD_Z71]

No offense taken because I am a skeptic too. But after I measured the difference I went back and checked the shocks. With the Bilsteins, I can compress them all the way down without much difficulty. With the stock Z71s I can barely get them to move even putting all my weight on them, and cannot come close to compressing them all the way down. Trust me, I was very surprised at that as well. And these are shocks with 160k on them. This was just changing out the shocks, springs were already on the truck. If someone has Z71 shocks and can compress them using body weight, I want to see it. I weight 230...I'm an old man at 50 but still pretty strong.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

No offense taken because I am a skeptic too. But after I measured the difference I went back and checked the shocks. With the Bilsteins, I can compress them all the way down without much difficulty. With the stock Z71s I can barely get them to move even putting all my weight on them, and cannot come close to compressing them all the way down. Trust me, I was very surprised at that as well. And these are shocks with 160k on them. This was just changing out the shocks, springs were already on the truck. If someone has Z71 shocks and can compress them using body weight, I want to see it. I weight 230...I'm an old man at 50 but still pretty strong.

Interesting. Bilsteins come in varying valving options, but they are all "high pressure" shocks. My stock shocks would fall under their own weight after 180k miles. They were useless.