Level kit vs bilstein adjustable shocks
#21
BOOMER-SOONER!!
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Iv'e been trying to understand this...How would compressing the factory coil, 2" on a Bilstein shock make for smoother ride rather than a 2" spacer with the coil at the factory setting.
I can understand more articulation for down travel with the Bilstein's.
I'm not putting down the Bilstein's as Iv'e used them in the past and thought they were a great shock.
Just trying to figure this out before tossing my 2" spacer's and buying Bilstein.
I can understand more articulation for down travel with the Bilstein's.
I'm not putting down the Bilstein's as Iv'e used them in the past and thought they were a great shock.
Just trying to figure this out before tossing my 2" spacer's and buying Bilstein.
...at least that is what my Rancho's did on my '05 F150 and i believe that the Bilstein's are set up the same way.
#23
Going Big Since 1980
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Disfunction Junction, AZ
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I have had the 5100s on my truck for about 6 months and about 20,000 miles...
At first they are stiffer and hit pretty hard over small low speed stuff (like crawling over a speedbumb) but work very well at the higher speed washouts and whoops. I have mine set on the highest setting and the truck was perfectly level.
I would not run a spacer on my rig personally unless it was a 100% street truck... altho lots of peeps run them with good luck.
This last weekend I was cruising around the sand dunes and after going through a set of whoops pretty fast the drivers side tire starting rubbing all out and stuffing the tire all the way into the wheel well. The passanger side never rubbed at all.... So one is now blown. See Pic.. It say about 3/4" higher when they were first installed.
I am now upgrading to aftermarket coilovers
So if you like to romp your truck (who doesnt?) then i think it is cheaper in the long run to go with the aftermarket coilovers that you can adjust from 0-3" of lift.... They are $1000-$1200 for a set up front.. Bilsteins ran $225 for the pair... and Ranchos are about $350.....I did not get my moneys worth out of the Bilsteins.
I have herd good things about the Rancho set up (quik lift), and you don't have to swap springs with that set up... they are a Beeeotch to swap! I had 4 spring compressors on mine at one time and I still thought they might fly apart! Very dangerous.....
So I say:
Street Truck-- Spacers
Light Off Road -- Bilsteins or Rancho shocks
Whoops n Jumps -- Aftermarket Coilovers
Hope this helps!
At first they are stiffer and hit pretty hard over small low speed stuff (like crawling over a speedbumb) but work very well at the higher speed washouts and whoops. I have mine set on the highest setting and the truck was perfectly level.
I would not run a spacer on my rig personally unless it was a 100% street truck... altho lots of peeps run them with good luck.
This last weekend I was cruising around the sand dunes and after going through a set of whoops pretty fast the drivers side tire starting rubbing all out and stuffing the tire all the way into the wheel well. The passanger side never rubbed at all.... So one is now blown. See Pic.. It say about 3/4" higher when they were first installed.
I am now upgrading to aftermarket coilovers
So if you like to romp your truck (who doesnt?) then i think it is cheaper in the long run to go with the aftermarket coilovers that you can adjust from 0-3" of lift.... They are $1000-$1200 for a set up front.. Bilsteins ran $225 for the pair... and Ranchos are about $350.....I did not get my moneys worth out of the Bilsteins.
I have herd good things about the Rancho set up (quik lift), and you don't have to swap springs with that set up... they are a Beeeotch to swap! I had 4 spring compressors on mine at one time and I still thought they might fly apart! Very dangerous.....
So I say:
Street Truck-- Spacers
Light Off Road -- Bilsteins or Rancho shocks
Whoops n Jumps -- Aftermarket Coilovers
Hope this helps!
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Discrete (08-05-2016)
#25
Good thread! Our new truck is due in another month or so, and this is a subject that I've been thinking about too.
I dug this up....https://www.f150forum.com/f38/bilste...-shocks-35351/
Then took a look at the link posted above. The PDF is pretty informative...although I usually take things like that with a grain of salt considering the company who sells the shocks is writing it. Even with that, the points in the PDF make a lot of sense. I also looked around the net for pricing....nothing specifically for 2011 F150s (at least that I could find) but it looks like pricing is in the $150 each range.
I dug this up....https://www.f150forum.com/f38/bilste...-shocks-35351/
Then took a look at the link posted above. The PDF is pretty informative...although I usually take things like that with a grain of salt considering the company who sells the shocks is writing it. Even with that, the points in the PDF make a lot of sense. I also looked around the net for pricing....nothing specifically for 2011 F150s (at least that I could find) but it looks like pricing is in the $150 each range.
CG
#26
Going Big Since 1980
Join Date: Feb 2011
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I am going with the Icon Coilovers... I have read they have more R&D in their products than anybody else: http://www.iconvehicledynamics.com/
King Shocks & Fox also make them, they cost more than the Icon set up.
Sway A Way & Camburg both make them for $1050 a set... butit will be a few months before they release the ones that fit 2009-2010 trucks (04-08 only right now)
The Icons are $1200 for the front or $1400 with back shocks too
King Shocks & Fox also make them, they cost more than the Icon set up.
Sway A Way & Camburg both make them for $1050 a set... butit will be a few months before they release the ones that fit 2009-2010 trucks (04-08 only right now)
The Icons are $1200 for the front or $1400 with back shocks too
#27
As for downward travel, I can understand the danger of extending the suspension travel by 2" without taking into account the rest of the suspension components' travel limitations. If the control arms over extend and put weird stress on tie rod ends, axles, etc., there's no telling what could happen. The thing about this is, it's going to happen with spacers or a leveling shock/coil-over, because both extend downward travel or droop. The only way I can see to absolutely protect the suspension components is to limit the downward travel (when the truck is airborne, for instance) by tethering it with some sort of cable system or steel rod. But, how often are we really going to fully extend the suspension of our trucks. And how many times would it take to cause damage?
That's my take and understanding of the situation, at least! Feel free to correct me if you know better!
Last edited by Discrete; 08-09-2016 at 04:02 AM.
#28
Senior Member
#29
On my 38th Ford