while your under there it would be good to throw the stockers away.. .I have some bilstein 5100's that are going to be going in when I get new tires and put in my leveling kit at the same time.

 

I am going to get new shocks for the front and put some air bags on the rear, but will the stocker ones work for now?

 

for the back they should. . .however the front might have too much travel for the shock and rip the piston out.

 

Where can I get a set of these? What are some other shocks worth looking at?

 

I installed the Lorenz 5100 Bilstein Suspension. I tell you what a difference to stock and my 2" coil spacer level kit. The ride on and offroad is not rough and absorbs bumps. It is the same suspension as Carli Starter Suspension and KORE Recon Suspension. Better handling also going offroad. The suspension includes: (2) 2" front coils, (2) steering linkage, (2) rear mini leaf pack and front and rear Bilstein Shocks. You still tow OEM recommendation.

 

Do you think there will be any MPG loss with just a leveling spacer and the stock tires and rims? If so how much?

 

Not really w/ stock tires & wheels. Normally people put a level kit on for bigger tires. The stock tires will look small on the truck in the front end. I went 285's and no loss in mileage. If you put on 35" tires you will lose 1-2 mpg on city driving, but reverse on highway driving because it lowers your rpm's at higher speed and you gain.

 

i have the hell bent steel leveling kit no probs the nuts that came with the kit were pretty cheesy so i bought some grade 8 nuts and some large ( wide not thick) as big as i could get in that size and that would fit properly on the spring perch. i have stock shocks no problems no leaks and i have jumped my truck on several occasions and its all fine! theres a set of train tracks on my way home from work that i have been known to get a good foot or two of air!!! she takes it like its a pebble in the middle of the road.

 

I went to install my hellbent kit and I got the shocks out and the coil springs out, but I couldnt get the coil spring and spacer in on the passenger side. The driver side went in fine. Anyone else have this problem. I will probably go rent a coil spring compressor in the morning unless anyone knows any tricks. Any ideas?

 

Thats what I had to do. Using the spring compressors is about the only way to get it back in. If I remember correctly though, I did have to do some prying to get the passenger side back in.