Ok, So last week I picked up a 07 1500 4x4 ThunderRoad. Obviously it has a rediculious rake and the front needs to be lifted so I ordered a 2" leveling kit from HellBent Steel. As I keep reading post after post I notice that some people have problems with their shocks topping out or over extending. I know you can get longer shocks just not sure which ones to get. I like the Bilsteins, but once again upon further reading I see that they offer a leveling strut. Does that mean that you dont need the spacer? Do the guys that have used these have less problems? Sorry to beat a dead horse but I must have read 100 posts and just not got the answers I wanted.

Thanks in advance.

 

yea the bilstein 5100 is a leveling strut that gives most people about 2in. I have heard one person say they didnt like them and a hundred that did. Its a great mod and if mine was 4x4 I would have done that instead of the leveling spacers

you dont need spacers btw

 

Me and my buddy just put some 5100 in my 08 quad and I love them! I was hearing a mild clunking noise when going over bumps and could not figure out where it was conning from and finally narrowed it down to the front shocks. So I wanted it level anyway and read a bunch of bad stuff about the spacers so decided to knock two birds out with one stone and got the Bilsteins and everything is GREAT! No more noise and the truck handles wonderful and the stance is TUFF looking now. My old shocks were shot and I only have 29k miles on the truck and have read that they are garbage from the factory so decided on these. I got them at Topguncustomz for $331 for all four. If you are in a hurry to get them don't go with them because it took 2 weeks to receive them but it ended up worth the wait and I am very happy. Putting them in took a few hours because had a problem getting the nut off the old shock to remove the spring form one of them and had to cut it off. I put them to the full lift and the truck sits level now. It also was difficult with the cheep spring compressors to get it down far enough to put the nut on and it started bending the spring compressor rods but got it down just far enough. If you are looking into getting them it is a must! You will not be disapointed!

 

so your saying you can buy these shocks (the bilstein 5100) and it acts as a leveling shock?

if this kills two birds with one stone, how come most people dont recommend this when trying to level truck? this by far sounds like a better deal...4 new shocks and they give you a level look..sounds too good to be true

 

Most is because of cost. You can level your truck with spacers for under $100 and some people can get away without replacing their shock. Others have problems with over extending their shocks. When I do it I only want to have to take it apart one time.

Here is the difference you were asking about
http://www.bilsteinus.com/fileadmin/...WebArticle.pdf

 

well the bilstiens only lift the front of the 06 and up rams. They wont work on the front of older years. And they only help 4x4s

If you have an 06 up 4x4 its the best way to level out though

 

No.... the Bilsteins don't lift the front....they are just shocks(struts) that are 2" longer to go along with a 2" spacer lift (they reuse your original springs with the spacers and the Bilstein shocks). I just had it done to my '07 1500 4x4 Thunder Road this past weekend at OK4wd in NJ. it took them 3.5hrs and everything is perfect. I'm going to do the rear shocks myself soon.

 

Damn! I have an 03 4x4. I'm disappointed. Now its back to turning the bars and buying shocks. Should I feel that using spacers from hellbent is a cheap way? I feel like that's a bad route to take.

 

BTW did that 3.5 hrs cost you a lot in labor? I really want to do my own, but no tools except basics. It seems to easy.

 

X2K yes the bilsteins do lift your truck,there are 4 slots in the shock to select what height you want,i recently did my 06 and i love them.I set mine at the max and just yesterday added blocks to the rear because my front was heigher.The truck rides better than new.Imo send your leveling kit back and get the bilsteins there worth the $