Now that I am dizzy from reading 1,000 posts about people fighting between the best options for leveling my '07, I've come up with an idea. I know that the Bilstein 5100's are height adjustable and that the Ranch 9000's are ride adjustable, but it seems like the highest setting on the Bilsteins might be necessary to level out the truck. Most people seem to think that the highest setting on them really make the ride stiff. It also seems like the Rancho's height addition, even with the quickLift option, varies widely. I drive mostly on the road, but I do like to hunt when the season rolls around and I LOVE to mess around up in the mountains during wintertime. So ride comfort is what my wife REALLY cares about, whereas I don't care quite as much. So my thought is this: Go with the Bilstein 5100's, but at the lowest setting and use the AS spacer I have. Would that give me the level I want, with the ride comfort my wife wants, and the control that I need off-road? I've read a couple stories of some guys in here having control issues off-road with the Bilsten's. Not sure if that's a one-off or the consensus.

Thanks all!!!

 

I don't see anything wrong with doing that. Bilsteins can be "stiff" but I think of it more as "tight" and "rigid." I love how Bilsteins feel.

 

Height in level? AS 2.5"

Updated struts and height level? Bilsteins @ stock height with AS 2.5

Comfortable ride & 2" level? Rancho Quiklift.

Firm ride & 2" level? Bilstein.

 

I think you'd have more issues offroad with the spacer due to the better chance of the upper arm hitting the coil, versus having the bilstein set at the 2" setting.

 

I had the AS 2" level and instantly started to have front end problems. I took it off after about 2 months and put the 5100s on. I absolutely love them. I think the ride is much better than the stock shocks. I have it set on the highest setting (which I actually think is about 1 3/4 level). I wouldn't waste your money on the AS, go for just the 5100s!!

 

^What kind of problems?

Zero issues with the 2" AS here, just for the record.

 

Within 2 weeks I had to replace the drivers side lower ball joint. Shortly after I had to do the passenger side lower ball joint. It may have been completely random because mileage wise I was in that range they probably would need to be replaced anyways but I couldn't help but think it was the level. My truck rides much better with the 5100s though so I'm glad I made the switch!!

 

If you were in the range, the level just helped bring the problems to your attention. Your 5100's will out the ball joints at pretty much the same angle as the level did, so pretty much same amount of increased wear.

 

I've had 5100's on my truck set at the 2" along with a 2" spacer for quite some time now with zero issues.

 

Yeah, angle and stress-wise, either would've done that to you. So no fault of the level in my opinion.

Now THAT should be causing issues. How did you even get the coilovers back in the truck with 4" of lift? Your BJs and CVs have gotta hate you lol.

That's on top of a lift too, huh.

 

Hey all, thanks for the ideas. Has anyone actually experienced issues off-roading with the spacers? I haven't seen them yet, as far as how they are installed, so I am curious to know if they could potentially cause issues when off-roading. I am ordering the Bilsteins today, though. I'll probably try them both and see what I see. Then I can re-evaluate them in a month or 2. While I don't mind a stiffer ride, my wife has a brain condition, so I need to keep it as soft for her as I can. I'm glad she's still willing to go 4x4'in with me, though. So I need to make sure that the ride won't be that much worse on her.

Thanks again!!

 

Do you find that ride much stiffer than stock? Have you tried that at all with the Bilsteins on the lowest setting?

 

I only thing I replaced was the UCA's. I got a set of uniball UCA's. Everything else is still in great shape except for sway bar end links that need replacing (stock on 90k miles). I'm using the stock springs over the 5100's. I don't have coilovers. Had to use a spring compressor to get it in place. The CV angles are not that steep. I've had zero issues with them.

 

Huh, that's still pretty surprising that your CV angles aren't hellish, but more power to ya if they aren't!

 

The 5100s are good shocks. At first they are very stiff, but in a few thousand miles they break in. My truck used to rattle like a school bus if I went over the slightest bump on the road before I installed the 5100s. Now it rides like a Cadillac and doesn't make any noises at all no matter how bad the road is. I would definitely buy them again. I went with the stock ride height.