I'm sure some of you already knew this, but I think a few of you might have believed (or, in case I led you to believe) the "adjustable ride height" 5100's, will not "adjust your ride height", whatsoever. They can simply be used on a truck which has already been leveled, and can be adjusted for the full travel, within that new ride height.

I guess I'm a dum-bass, but I was thinking / hoping, that I could have way better shocks, and get a 2" level in the front at the same time. Doh.

So anyway, a 2" spacer kit it will be, for now. Then, when my stock shocks are wore out in 1 year, I'll get the 5100's.

I know they are great shocks.

Peace,
Fish

 

Just had the "adjustable" 5100's installed last week. The difference front to back from the ground to the center of the wheelwell on the fender was 2.5" before (roughly) and 0.5" after. I do not have any other leveling kit or suspension mods.

 

Wow ! Now I'm really confused ! First off, I have no reason to doubt you. Your experience is yours.
But then I had just got off of the phone (right before I made my original post) with a tech guy at Bilstein, who told me, "No. The 5100's will not increase your ride height.... But only, that they could be adjusted for full travel, at the "new ride height" after leveling / lifting.

Hmmmm...... Anybody else with 5100's ? What was your "ride height experience" ???

Fish

 

I want them to replace my factory shocks and I misunderstood how they worked also till a member here filled me in. The shocks do adjust the ride height, but the ride height has to be set at time of install. You can choose factory setting, 1" lift or 2" lift I believe. It has to do with how they are installed and how the spring seat sit on them. If you run a quick search you should be able to find some threads on this

 

Did you clarify that you were inquiring about the 5100 leveling shocks for an F-150?

They actually make two different leveling shocks.

0" or 2"

0" or 1" or 2"

 

I think whoever you spoke to at Bilstein was confused. The Bilstein 5100s will increase ride height. There are snap ring settigns on the body of the shock. Where you put the snap ring decides how much lift you will achieve. I've seen two versions of the shocks for a stock height F150. I had ones that had three settings. The lowest for 0" of lift, the next for 1" and the last one for 2". However others have said theirs only had two settings, 0" of lift and 2" of lift. I'm not too sure about that but regardless you'll have a shock that will allow for 0" and 2" of lift without a doubt. I hope this helps. I'm posting this from my bed after comming home from the hospital.

 

I think we need to distinguish, at this point, between 2wd and 4wd. My truck is a 2wd. Not sure about pbkings, or yours....

As I understand it, the 4wd F150 can be adjusted "before putting the shocks on" by way of the torsion bar settings (please correct me if I'm wrong here)

But yes, FoMoCo, I did specifically ask about the 5100 "adjustable height shocks"...... and even after he told me that "No. You cannot gain any lift with these", I went on to mention, "You guys realize that 'leveled' trucks are very popular, and I think you guys would sell a lot of extra shocks, if you made some kind of coil overs, or something, that could actually provide a couple of inches of lift". He agreed, but stated that they do not make such a product at this time ???

Why don't one of you guys call them, and see if you get the same tech guy, and / or the same answer....

Here's the number: 858-386-5900
But BTW, I am believing you guys, more than the tech guy.....

Thanks,
Fish

PS, Thank you Thumper. BTW, you said you just got home from the hospital, and you followed it with the little laughing smiley faces. I woulden't think that would be a very funny, or positive thing...... But now I don't feel so bad that you put the same smiley faces on your response to my post, about Ford screwing me :-)
Hope it's not too bad, and your out of bed, driving your F150 soon :-)

 

Well if that's the case than I don't see any problem buying the 4WD versions and not cranking them. The difference between the two is the length. The 4WDs sit 2" higher so you'd allow yourself to have full travel of the spring and you'd have your 2" of lift. Easy fix.

 

Bilstein makes leveling shock/strutss for 2wd & 4wd.......Part# for 2wd front is BE5-C300-HO and 4wd front is BE5-C298-HO. Both raise the front end 2" by raising the point at where the coil spring sits on the strut. This is adjusted by the different grooves in the strut via the snap ring. The 4wd, I am sure, if valved differently and probably sits higher than the 2wd. But both of them increase the ride height.

I know this for a fact cause I just installed a set (BE5-C300-HO) on my truck and beleive me they DO lift the truck.

I don't know who you are talking to at Bilstein, but they either don't know what they are talking about or they are getting confused.

****Now the rears DON'T raise the height any, they just allow for 1" more travel

 

Yup! Read where it says "Notes". You can even see three settings on the shock body. --->http://eshocks.com/bil_Ind.asp?VC=6Q6&SubChar=Q

 

Yeah your still good to go with this shock on a 2wd. I like this idea alot more than the leveling kit option. Kinda 2 birds 1 stone with better shocks and the lift

 

Howdy!

Mine is an FX4 (4x4), but it's pretty much exactly as JDeere described it. Basically, instead of the normal leveling kit that everyone gets for under $100 that goes on top of the spring essentially being a spacer, with the snap rings set on the 5100's, you effectively raise the spring up by 2 inches. I'm having my front end aligned at the moment, or else I'd run out and takes some picutes for you, but they did raise my front end.

I'm not quite sure about what policy is for link posting, but here's the link from Top Gun Customz (where I bought mine through) for 2x4 levling shocks.
http://store.topguncustomz.com/store...82&i=242065368

Hope this helps!

 

Topguncustomz is where I got mine also.................very nice to deal with!

 

Yea Fish...just to add another confirmation, you either got a bone head on the phone or you misinterpreted what he said. The 5100's for your truck have increased ride heigth options. Also, there are no torsion bars on '04 and up trucks. The torsion bar suspension was on the '97-'03 trucks.

 

it looks like the cost for my intial mods, just went back up :-) But for a better end result, I guess.

Hey Galaxy, believe me, I asked him a very clear way.... and then even rephrased it. He sounded like a nice enough guy, but I guess he didn't know about everything Bistein makes, or what it all does.....

I wasn't sure where I was going to get my 5100's.... So I will go check out Top Gun Customz now.....

Much thanks,
Fish