Bilstein and OME lift

Hey all, posting this just for anyone that has specific questions concerning bilstein 5100 and OME 2888 spring lift kit. I was super nervous before purchasing the kit and researched for months what the best option was, finally settled on this option and id be more than happy to answer any questions anyone might have since I know all of this can be somewhat overwhelming. Their is a few things I wish I would have know before installing this and if i can answer any of your concerns or clear up some confusion then don't hesitate to ask!

 

Nice lift

What did you wish you had known?

What did you put on the rear end?

What rims and tires are those?

Thanks

 

I noticed that Headstrong doesn't include diff drop or shims were they necessary? Also did you upgrade your UCAs with this lift? Are there any other extras you needed besides the lift kit to make it successful without vibration or taxing any OEM parts? Did you install this on your own or have it done at a shop? Thanks.

 

I did this install a couple months ago so I'll chime-in to vary the perspective:

Q1 (shims and diff drop): HS doesn't give you diff drops or shims in your kit because each truck is different. Mine personally didn't need it. They've got them on their website incase you have vibes and can definitively attribute them to a drivetrain misalignment.

Q2 (UCAs): I went with SPC UCAs. I wasn't sure if I'd need them (probably don't), but now that I put them on I'm glad I did just for peace of mind. The adjustability is great and it allowed me to get my tires really far forward without rubbing. I love being able to maintain them on my own.

Q3 (vibes): Chances are you'll blow your needle bearing lifting that high (as you'll see all over this forum). My truck has a pretty minor vibration in the steering wheel you can feel between 23 and 25 mph that I isolated to the needle bearing. Other than that there's 0 vibes. Unless it gets worse I don't plan on replacing the bearing. From what I understand it gets worse with time, so if it gets worse I'm ready to replace it.

Q4 (install): Did this myself in the front driveway over a weekend. If you have access to floor jacks, jack stands, impact gun, sockets, etc. I don't see why someone would pay a shop. I installed the struts without compressors using a method I found on youtube. Pretty much just watched youtube before undoing every bolt and it all turned out great. If you don't have access then by all means take it in.

Bonus: I think the 888's and 5100's are fantastic. I run 33's with this setup and am more than happy with the results. As I said above I have a minor vibe from the needle bearing between 23-25 mph, but otherwise I don't have any rubbing -- I don't do any "hardcore" off-roading, but at the same time I don't have any rubbing in reverse or forward at full lock hitting bumps. It also aligned great. Only thing I do extra is I re-torque everything (including rears) every couple weeks or after I've bombed down logging roads all weekend.

 

Thanks for answering all my questions. I have seen the needle bearing replacement issues as well, I think I will just be proactive and get the bushing. I am still on the fence about the UCAs but I will definitely look into SPC. This is something that will definitely happen next year sometime but I want to get things in place prior to doing it myself or going the lazy expensive route and having Desert Rat do it. Thanks again. Chris

 

Working on piecing together this exact setup. You need to post pics!

What tires did you go with?

Glad to hear you're enjoying it. From the pictures I have found, it looks great.