I put on a 2" AS leveling kit on my 2009 4x4 last year. I have posted my pictures and concerns about the extreme angle of the upper control arm earlier this year, but now have a new concern. After reading the Bilstein literature (thinking about swapping my leveling kit for a 5100 to have a little lower front end since I am going to tow a 4 ton trailer this summer), they claim an issue with leveling kits is that they prevent the strut-limiter from engaging properly resulting in suspension damage. Well, on my truck, the strut clearly no longer limits the suspension travel with the leveling kit installed. The photo below shows that my upper control arm can hit my spring (truck is jacked on the frame here).


And this photo shows the scar on the spring from the impacts it has had with my upper control arm. This is with a truck that is not driven off road.



I am removing my 1" stacked block next week and adding Firestone airsprings to level out the back, both unloaded and loaded. (Without the 1" stacked block, my front was 1/2" higher than my rear with the 2" kit.) What do you think about swapping out my 2" AS kit, which raised my front nearly 3", with Bilstein 5100's set to 1.5"?

 

I see that Daystar makes a 1" leveling kit. Do you know of anyone who has tried this? I have always felt that a 2" leveling kit puts the upper control arm at a bad angle.

 

The group is surprisingly quite about this. Thoughts anyone?

 

They must have done some serious changes because I have had 2.5" kit up front on my 2008 for 2 years now, with no impact on the springs

 

Does anyone have similar pictures with Bilstein 5100s?

 

I just put a 2.5" kit on mine and it doesn't look near that bad. Although, I don't jack it up and let the suspension drop like that.

 

I've had mine on my 2006 ext-cab for a couple years,haven't had that, or any other issue. mine is an offset steel model (can't remember the brand), which is 2.5". If i remember right, the reason I chose it was because they advertised something about the above problem.

 

i had a 3" on my 06 screw and didnt have that problem....hmmm nothing on my 10 though

 

Mine is the offset version from autosprings.

 

I'm quiet because I'm speachless (yes, me)

All I can say is - those poor balljoints....

It never ceases to amaze me why folks will compromise the ride quality, travel, reliability and safety of their stock suspension geometry for something as ethereal as a 'look'.


There are ways to do this correctly - and that ain't it.

MGD

 

Cause we can...

 

Roger that! I figgered there HAD to be SOME reason

I must be gettin' old - I no longer enjoy invoking the pucker factor


MGD

 

Don't just leave us hanging... I suggested the Bilstein 5100s - do you think that is the correct way? At what height would you set them?

 

Sure you do.....you just don't remember.......

 

Does anyone have Bilestein 5100s on an '09? What setting did you use? How do your UCA angles look compared to mine?