Fixing PO's lift, Help with getting my truck where it should be (5100's etc..)

I bought my truck with a 2.5" Spacer on the front struts and I wanted to swap it out for 5100's. Installed the 5100's set to 2.5" with a 1/4" top plate spacer on both sides to account for my ARB sagging them down. I'm running 285's so clearance is definitely needed. The rear has a 1.25" block.

Fast forward to after the truck is pretty damn high. The front is higher than the rear marginally and looks kinda weird. Driver side hub to fender is around 23.00" and the pass side is right around 23.75".

I'm kind of at a loss right now as I thought it would settle a bit but after 50 miles and an alignment it looks like I'm going to have to pull it apart again.

Should I just take off one spacer to knock the pass side down? Should I take both off and deal with the lean? Do I put the 5100 down to 1.75?

** Also it seems when i'm coming off a bump i'm maxing out my down travel. It feels really rough, like bottoming out backwards. Lowering will help I assume.

 

I'd just buy some OME 885X coils and a driver side trim packer for $170 +/- and be done with the preloading. You're exceeding the capabilities with 5100s at 2.5 and a 1/4" spacer, and it has to ride horribly compared to a proper lift coil to provide lift instead of what you've got going on already.

 

So you think that the OME 885's plus a trim packer will get me level even with the arb at 2.5?

 

It's never a sure thing, always an estimation since every truck is different and you have the ARB bumper, but you're at about 3" right now, IIRC - the 1/4" spacer yields 1/2" of lift. Minus whatever sag you're getting from the bumper.

Assuming you're at 3" (for simple math), you'd like be at 2" - 2.25" with the 885X coil and bumper. Which would bring you about level with the rear end.

You could always try 884X coils, that's a safer bet IMO. But it may be a little less than what you're wanting.

Either will be a much better ride.

 

I think i'll order up the 885's and just hope that it works out. I like to have the extra spring rate for the bumper and maybe a winch eventually.

Just to make it clear. 885's set to 0 on the Bilsteins will be 2.5"? and at .85 they will be 3"?

 

Don't preload the 885s.

Consider your 5100s to be non-adjustable.

The lift is built into the coils, so there's no need to dick with your shock settings, leave them at 0 - they'll ride better and last longer. You see already that when you preload the fuck out of things and then add spacers that your truck makes odd noises and rides bad.

The goal is to avoid doing that again. No need to buy new parts to solve a problem and then try and do the same thing over again and expect a different result.

If you need more lift than the 885s provide, the 886 might be a better option. It's the same lift height (approx.) but a stronger coil rate to compensate for bumper/winch up front.

Figure 2.25", possibly a little more, possibly a little less.

I really suggest using @HeadStrong Off-Road, they have excellent customer service and the best price out of any of the vendors I've used.

 

From what I have read though people only get around 2" when set to 0 on the 5100... Which would cause major rubbing issues for me especially with the bumper.

 

No.

 

Some DCs get 2", but you aren't a DC. I'd expect 2.25" with an 885X, but it depends. If you plan on getting a winch later on, like I said before.. 886 is a stiffer coil with similar lift specs, or there is an 887 that isn't a stiffer coil rate and is a 3" +/- coil.