I am about to do the Bilstein 5100 replacement up front, and just wanted to know if there was anything else I should go ahead and tackle while I'm at it???

Also, I plan to run them at the 2nd highest setting...but obviously that means messing with the spring (either myself or taking it to a shop)...is there a Quick strut/readistrut that anyone would recommend instead?

 

I just did Rancho quick lifts, and this is what I replaced:

 

Replace absolutely everything you are willing/afford to. IF you intend to keep your truck for sometime. If you are going to pay for an alignment might as well change out every part that is prone to long term vulnerability. My truck drove great after moog ball joints ( upper/lower ), control arm bushings, sway bar endlinks. I replaced drivers side wheel bearing only due to cost, and a year later I had a loose tie rod end. So I replaced both outers and inners, and paid for another alignment when I could have prevented the problem in the first place with everything apart.

Very good! Even got fresh control arm bushings since you bought the whole units. Well done.

 

Yeah, I had just done inner and outer tie rods the week before, all Moog except the struts. I could have easily rebuilt the LCA's, but choose to replace them due to time constraints. What a difference a fresh front end makes! It's super tight now and doesn't feel 'lazy' anymore.

 

Do you guys recommend buying whole control arm units vs just the wear parts? Any design improvements on the current offerings other than being fresh and new? I went through the same thing on my old Stang and buying the whole unit got me new bushings and ball joints and a better designed lca.

Also, is going poly worth it?

 

Like an upgrade over stock one? I'm not sure if our trucks have upgraded OE style replacements. There is a uni-ball upper control arm upgrade for a better angle, but as far as lower I am not positive. Maybe for lowering there could be. Moog sells replacement OE lower arms but if nothing is wrong with your lower arms currently then a bushing replacement, and pressing in new ball joint is a much cheaper alternative.

 

Ok, thanks.

I can't remember exactly, but I want to say that I was able to use Cobra LCA's and they had better geometry or perhaps better bushings...it was like 10 years ago so it's fuzzy. If it's all the same I may just swap out the ball joints and bushings on the stockers. I assume there's a "how-to" floating around???

Oh, and thoughts on poly vs stock?

 

You could always do the LCA's (or ball joints and bushings) later. You'll need a front end service kit/press with the adapters.
The UCA's need to be changed as a unit with the struts removed to get at the bolts, so this is the ideal time to do that.
AFAIK, there are no poly bushings available, except for the sway bar.

 

Thanks again...and sorry for the gaps in responses.

Are there particular UCA's that you guys recommend? Moog?

Also, where are you guys buying these from? I have Prime if that matters...

 

Most definitely Moog. Amazon prime is my go to for just about everything anymore, but I still use Rock Auto too.

 

I went with replacing the wear items on my 04 I the Lca and it cost me the difference to get the ball joint pressed in due to the size of the Lca. The time I spent and money I would have been better off getting the replacement Lca.

 

Exactly...I have the press and adapters, but time was an issue for me. To get good quality ball joints and bushings, it was about $50 more for a complete LCA...Now I can rebuild the take-offs and have them ready for the next go around, or even sell them.