[rpfronty]

I previously had stock shocks up front AND the PRG 3 inch spacers.....

A week ago i installed the BILSTEIN 5125 height adjustable shocks but set them on zero height and still used the spacers up front.

The problem now is that there was an increase in height of about 3/4 to an inch and there is almost no space between PRG UCA stopper and the coil bucket. My question is why was there an increase in height ? Is it the shocks higher rebound "pushing" up on the coils ?

I did this set up because i thought that ride might be compromised if i set the coil perch adjustment to its full height .

The ride is fine, firm but not jarring.... down travel dercreased though...

 

[mustard23]

why?

 

[rpfronty]

did a quick check,

space between UCA stopper and coil bucket is about 3/4 of an inch to almost an inch...

maybe in a few weeks will it settle more ?

if not ill probably grind down the spacers...

 

[mustard23]

TAKE THE SPACERS OFF.. and adjust the bills up...

 

[rpfronty]

that will be my next course of action.

quick question, will adjusting the bilstein perches up compress the spring or add predload ?

 

[mustard23]

not sure how they work.

 

[rogzballz]

I thought those shocks only can increase in height, not lower your truck.
I would take out the leveling kit and only use the shocks.

http://www.bilsteinus.com/leveling/downloads/5100LevShks_flyer.pdf

 

[bimmernut318]

that will be my next course of action.

quick question, will adjusting the bilstein perches up compress the spring or add predload ?

yes

 

[rpfronty]

so the higher i go with perch the stiffer the ride ?

 

[bimmernut318]

yes, that is the theory. I am sitting one below the the top now and the ride is actually still not bad, when I get some decent weather I was going to take it to the top and see how bad or not it gets

 

[rpfronty]

yes, that is the theory. I am sitting one below the the top now and the ride is actually still not bad, when I get some decent weather I was going to take it to the top and see how bad or not it gets

thanks bimmernut318,

how many inches did you actually gain now that you are on the second to the last line ? i am on two inch AALs in the rear and would want a level truck....

 

[bimmernut318]

thanks bimmernut318,

how many inches did you actually gain now that you are on the second to the last line ? i am on two inch AALs in the rear and would want a level truck....

Right at around 1.5" with the shocks.

 

[rpfronty]

thanks again.

i just finished doing the switch... i removed the spacers and set the spring perch one line below the topmost .

the truck sits almost level ( very very small rake ) and the ride is not bad at all !

i will drive around for a week with this set up and decide if i will move it up to the last notch... this might lift the front up a little bit more than the rears...


thanks to all those who replied, this mod is definitely a good one ...

 

[mustard23]

moral of the story is don't stack lifts.

 

[bimmernut318]

thanks again.

i just finished doing the switch... i removed the spacers and set the spring perch one line below the topmost .

the truck sits almost level ( very very small rake ) and the ride is not bad at all !

i will drive around for a week with this set up and decide if i will move it up to the last notch... this might lift the front up a little bit more than the rears...


thanks to all those who replied, this mod is definitely a good one ...

Good to hear you got it done!

I was surprised that the ride wasnt that bad, reading posts and talking to Greg at PRG really made me thing that it was going to be too harsh, going up to the top notch may not be as bad as I thought cause the ride didnt change that much where it is.

 

[Mandangalo]

moral of the story is don't stack lifts.

yes, can be a dangerous practice

 

[00 FRONTIER]

This is good information as I was a little scarred to go with the Bilsteins vs a spacer kit as I heard it rode terrible. I am very interested to see how it rides adjusted to the top notch. Tacoma owners do it all the time with good results and its basically the same style setup.

OP, are you installing the springs on the struts yourself or having a shop do it? Just curious how much load the spring is under. I have a set of spring compressors, but heard the Frontier can be dangerously loaded.

You could always leave it at 1.5 and have a custom 1" or smaller spacer made.

Or, be a real ginea pig and set the Bills at 1" lift height and throw on some Old Man Emu 1.5" lift coils...

 

[bimmernut318]

This is good information as I was a little scarred to go with the Bilsteins vs a spacer kit as I heard it rode terrible. I am very interested to see how it rides adjusted to the top notch. Tacoma owners do it all the time with good results and its basically the same style setup.

OP, are you installing the springs on the struts yourself or having a shop do it? Just curious how much load the spring is under. I have a set of spring compressors, but heard the Frontier can be dangerously loaded.

You could always leave it at 1.5 and have a custom 1" or smaller spacer made.

Or, be a real ginea pig and set the Bills at 1" lift height and throw on some Old Man Emu 1.5" lift coils...

Springs aren't that bad no more preload than anything else I have ever worked on.

 

[rpfronty]

yes bimmernut, i was really surprised by the way it rode. its way way better than setting it to zero lift + 3inch spacer. BUT i still prefer the previous stance with the front slightly higher so i will try the topmost notch when i have the time... i am not sure though if i will achieve this with just the bils.

i drive a 4x4 diesel crew cab, 285/75/16, 2"AAls and 5125s rear, PRG UCA.

 

[00 FRONTIER]

Springs aren't that bad no more preload than anything else I have ever worked on.

Good to know. Only SUV I've done was a 00 Pathfinder, installed the OME kit. Other than that I have done a lot of lowering springs in Honda's and Acura's.