5100's, spacer, or 3rd gen suspension: Pro's vs Con's?

Now that I've gotten new tires on the truck I want to level it out. I've read quite a bit about the different ways to lift it. What's some pro's and con's of each way?

I've looked locally and have had no luck finding 3rd gen parts to swap with.

The original suspension only has 90,000 miles on it, so it isn't exactly worn out but I'm sure new would be great.

I don't want to lift the back end as much as I want to bring the front up 2 inches to level it.

It's a 2 wheel drive if that matters...

I like the idea of just throwing in spacers and being done with with on the cheap.

I like the idea of adjustablility of 5100's.

I like the idea of stock ride and newer parts with a 3rd gen swap... but don't want to spend a fortune on shipping and end up paying new prices for used parts.

 

I agree. if you just want to level it. put the 1" spacer in the front should get 1.5-2 inches from it and be done. some guys will say no, but as little as you drive I think youll be fine. you can always put 5100s later if you wish. 1" spacer should be cheap and you could do it yourself in the driveway in about an hour.

 

You are totally in luck because I have had all three on my truck. I currently have 5100s on all 4 corners with eibach coils and dakars in the rear. About a little more than 3 inches of lift. Rides amazing both on and offroad. The con with this setup is that it was more expensive. Before this I had a combo of a 3rd gen’s shocks and a toytec coil spacer and rear AAL. This setup was super cheap since I was still in highschool at the time. The draw back is the ride wasnt as smooth as it is now. My little brother now runs it on his truck. IMO I would go the 5100s route.

 

I just installed 5100s on all four corners and the front has the icon leveling kit which gave me 2 inches of lift in the front. The ride is silky smooth with the front 5100 struts set at stock hight w/ spacers. I only have a slight vibration when driving 70-75 because i think one of my front tires needs to be rebalanced.

 

Thanks guys. It sounds like you really can't go wrong with whatever you do to one of these things. Right now it rides fine, I spent 5 hours in it yesterday and it was a pleasure to drive the entire time. Are the 5100's noticeably smoother than stock? Does a spacer make stock feel any different, I can see it putting more pressure on the suspension and making it feel stiffer?

Now to another question; how hard is it to install these things. Do you have to drop the lower control arm for the spacer install? Any special tools needed like a spring compressor? I'm assuming no matter what you do an alignment is in order afterwards.

 

I feel like the 5100s are smoother than stock, considerably. It depends what kind of spacer you do, if you're compressing the spring anymore than what it was from the factory, you're going to get a stiffer ride. If the spacer is just on top of the strut, you won't really feel the difference and it will most likely keep the stock ride. It wasn't that hard to install these, but my buddy owns a shop and lets me throw my truck on any of the lifts when i want to. You do not have to touch the lower control arm when you put the spacer in, I was able to snake it around the cv shaft, tie rod, and the sway bar when I unbolted the sway bar and just let it hang. It helps to have to people and to turn the wheel to get more space when you're working on either side. Turn the wheel the opposite way when you switch from passenger to drivers side or vise versa. If you're just doing a spacer, then you don't need a spring compressor because the spacer just bolts on top of the strut. If you're replacing struts, like id did when i installed the spacer, you need spring compressors. Yes, an alignment is recommended. I drove a couple hundred miles before the alignment to see if anything was going to settle and it didn't.