The spacers add length to the coil shock, the Bilstein's do not. They preload the spring, http://www.bilsteinus.com/leveling/ARTICLE.pdf. Look at the link you will see what I'm talking about. The movement that you described in your first post cant be based on a geometry problem. I could be wrong but I have never heard off this.

 

I talked to one of the techs at Bilstein the other day.The Bilsteins will not change the geometry like the spacers.

 

Carefully re-read the article. It is merely a "sales pitch". They "prevent over-extension of the suspension" [when unsprung], and allow greater upward travel [when fully compressed]. It is not referring to static ride height! This would be an advantage while off-roading. However, I don't drive around town unsprung or fully compressed except for the speed bumps at the grocery store. But I do drive around at an increase of 2" over stock height.

To quote the article:
I agree that unsprung with the bill's the angles will be less than with spacers. However, we don't drive unsprung unless we're oscillating after hitting a bump, or a heavy load in the back such as a trailer. At STATIC ride height of 2" over stock the upper control arms are at such an angle that they allow the wheel to sway. Compounded by 6000 lbs of steel and extra leverage of taller tires, you can see why I feel uneasy on twisty roads. Coil overs or spacers do not relocate control arms.

If this is the way it's gonna be, that's fine, I can accept it. If I'm missing something, then I'm willing to try to correct it before ditching the lift and going back to stock. The point I'm defending is that $400 of shocks will not correct static ride control arm geometry unless I use the stock height setting. Though I agree that it would be a nice upgrade from factory shocks, at least I would have the option of running stock or 2" lifted.

BRB with video.

 

I guess I should rephrase my original post to "2 inch level, hate 'em or love 'em." Forget the issue of spacers or coil-overs, I'm unhappy with what happens when the stock suspension is lifted. If there are a million users that drive this way and are happy, then I can live with it. But in my mind, this is not the way it should be done.

Anyway, here's the vid.

The upper arm acts like an over extended knee, it does not keep the tire vertical, due to the angle, it allows side to side sway. I'm not putting too much effort into swaying this, now compound it by 6000 lbs.

 

Its stock suspension what do you expect? If you want to get better suspension upgrade your shocks...also I've had my 2.5 HBS leveling kit on mine and haven't had any problems with it. I am running 33's but i feel like leveling kits are just a temporary fix, at least for me until I can save up for a suspension kit.

 

i still say thats not right. i tried and cant do that to mine under weight. plus looking, my upper control arms arent at that much of an angle. and mine are 2.5" levels.

is that truck on the ground? it might be the type of level you have?

 

Agreed. I cant get my truck to do it either. You've got some bad upper control arm bushings or something, not too sure.

 

and i agree with your previous post on unsprung weight and static ride height. they would be the same with the bill's. they may fix droop and such, but static ride height is the same.

just some will have different angles depending on what method they lift. HBS for example use 1 3/4 " spacers and rotate the shock 180 degrees to get the additional height. not all do that. some just add the height from the spacer which puts extra stress on the uca. that might be what your looking at?

 

Something just came to my mind. Last summer when I was researching level kits, I remember people having camber problems and needed special shim kits to align into spec.

AutoSpring is insistent that you don't need camber adjustment or shims, only toe-in. Since I live 15 minutes from AutoSpring, and they made the kit, I had them install it. I thought that if they made the kit, they would know how it works. Again, they said only toe-in, so that is all they did.

Now I'm wondering if the upper camber kits will lower the mounting point of the upper arm enough to make things stable again? More $$$ and another alignment shop?

Does someone have a part # for the shims I'm talking about?

 

I wished I had gone ahead and done a full lift. I am having alignment issues now :/