Bilstein 5100 questions??

I have a 2012 DCSB with the Firestone airbags in the rear. The airbags raise the back about 1 inch because I keep 10 to 12 PSI in on a regular basis. The truck rides so much better with the bags and now I never run them empty or low. I want to get the 5100's adj for the front and set them at .85 just to level it a little. My headlights face the ground.

My questions are...

Do I have to change the shocks in the rear and has anyone else done this? I have no complaints for them in combination with the airbags...

I only use the truck on longs road trips, for towing my quad 425 miles round trip and I only use it on light dirt trails to take my ATV to the trail. So basically no offroading at all.

Does anyone have experience with going 10 years 100,000 miles on these shocks (longevity)?

Will I have any problems getting the truck aligned at that setting?

And if so has there being any problems with the c/v joints or anything else?

At the .85 setting does it make the ride much rougher than stock? I have to have it wife friendly if you know what I mean...

Thanks for anyones input...

 

You won't have any problems with alignment at .85". Usually around 2.5" is when alignment can get harder to correct.

Looks like you have a sport. Those springs will ride fine at .85".

 

+1

 

I don't care what shock it is but 10 years and 100k on them they will be well worn out. You'll be fine with shocks you have in the rear now unless you just wanted to change them due to wear but being a newer truck they are probably still good. .85 may stiffen the ride a little, no real experience on the 2nd gens bit by the nature of how it lifts the front it will inherently stiffen slightly. Any good alignment shop will get it well within spec.

 

You probably won't even notice a difference in height at .85". I've got them at 1.75 and that wasn't even level on mine, but mine has the off road package. I added a 1/4" space to get it level. I needed the ECGS bushing because of the diff "rumble strip" noise. You may need that at even .85" (best to do it at the same time as the lift to avoid taking it all apart twice). My truck needed adjustable upper arms to get the alignment right, but at .85" you should be ok without them. Oh, and at 1.75" the ride is great, those shocks are valved for the increase in spring pressure. I'd imagine it would be softer than stock at .85"

 

There's something wrong if you had to get upper control arms to be in spec at 1.75

 

Mines at 2.25" and had 4 alignments before the uca's. Ran out camber adjustment. Too much positive on the drivers side. Nothing wrong with the truck. Just picky, had to make sure the alignment was right and not just "close enough". Just sharing my experience like he asked.

 

Thanks... I have to think about it and figure out what I want to do.