Bilstein 7100's on the front?

[ccarley]

Right now, I'm setup with an '89 Suburban, 4" Explorer Pro-Comp spring lift, with 56" springs in the rear, and 35" BFG A/T's. Oh yeah, I've got the ORD swaybar disconnects on the front too. Shocks are currently Bilstein 5100's.

My Sub came with the "quad shock" option from the factory, but the Bilsteins in the front mount to the low position, which doesn't seem to work that well... The front is harsh, compared to the rear, on larger hits. I'm guessing that with the shock angled back like it is, the valving is just a bit on the harsh side, and I recall there wasn't much droop with the length of these shocks (which Bilstein spec'd for this application).

I'm considering a set of 7100's for the front, mounted to the upper position (which is more vertical than the position I'm using now). Has anyone used these with a 4" lift? Any idea on length & valving for a supple ride off road? I did try searching... but there wasn't a whole lot of info.

Thanks in advance,
Clay

 

[tRustyK5]

You're probably never going to achieve a supple ride with Pro-Comp springs no matter what shocks you run.

Rene

 

[ccarley]

Would there be a better option for a set of 4" front springs then?

Right now, the ride is pretty good honestly until the bumps & holes start getting big... I.E. the street ride is awesome, even through rough concrete freeway. The ride gets a bit tough (damping seems too tight) when I hit larger speed bumps, holes off-road, and compression hits larger than say 1.5" to 2".

Thanks,
Clay

 

[EIB8400]

Just let more air out of the tires when you are offroad.

 

[bot0611]

So whats the problem here....does it sag or is it hard up front??

I am fan of bilstein i run the on my truck ive ran 7100 up front with soft ride springs as well used 275/78 and it rode pretty good. single shock though i never liked dual shock set ups.

 

[ccarley]

So whats the problem here....does it sag or is it hard up front??

I am fan of bilstein i run the on my truck ive ran 7100 up front with soft ride springs as well used 275/78 and it rode pretty good. single shock though i never liked dual shock set ups.

The issue I have right now is that it's "hard" up front on bigger hits. Smaller hits are soaked up just fine, but the bigger hits hit really hard. If it's sagging, it doesn't sag much:

Now, it had the Pro-Comp springs in the front when I got it, with blocks in the rear, but I've since replaced the rear springs/blocks with Pro-Comp full springs.

I don't mind airing down more off road, but I'd like to get the suspension a bit more on the supple side. Are Skyjacker springs pretty supple? I figure that I want to replace my front shocks anyway, so I can have some longer ones mounted in the straight-er position (I.E. SuperDuty shocks). If I can upgrade to something a bit more on the soft side at the same time, I'm all for it. Should I just stick with 5100's then?

I saw an article a while ago in Four Wheeler about the new 5170's... and after inquiring, they are not spec'd for the SuperDuty yet

Thanks,
Clay

 

[bot0611]

I run skyjacker soft ride i thins CS106 or something like that. 4 leafs in them at the moment, are you running dual shocks right now??? when i had the doul shock set up it felt rough up front, a beddy of mine has pro comp leafs on the front of his jeep and they were hard/stiff stiff with some ranchos then he replaced the with some fox shocks and man did it made a diference. si id guess get some 5150's or even some 7100's and you will be very amazed on the improved them, i know first had but then again every car is diferent.

 

[tRustyK5]

I have Superlift 4" springs up front on my 90 K5. I'm pretty sure they're Superlift, yellow bushings. Stiff, and I'd say almost as stiff as my old Rancho's i had on my 81 Jimmy. I have 5150's mounted vertically up front like this:

It's still a jarring ride up front, combined with the short K5 wheelbase and not so flexy 52's in the rear it's like riding a bucking horse sometimes. I know I can get rid of the bucking ride by adding some longer softer rear springs, but that isn't going to change the ride the front springs have and how they can be bad over medium bumps.

Rene

 

[bot0611]

I have Superlift 4" springs up front on my 90 K5. I'm pretty sure they're Superlift, yellow bushings. Stiff, and I'd say almost as stiff as my old Rancho's i had on my 81 Jimmy. I have 5150's mounted vertically up front like this:

It's still a jarring ride up front, combined with the short K5 wheelbase and not so flexy 52's in the rear it's like riding a bucking horse sometimes. I know I can get rid of the bucking ride by adding some longer softer rear springs, but that isn't going to change the ride the front springs have and how they can be bad over medium bumps.

Rene

Dont know if its true or not but ive heard several times that superlift are hard leafs

 

[tRustyK5]

http://coloradok5.com/springratetable.shtml

Looking at the table I have the Superlift HD springs... 6 leaf and a very unforgiving spring rate.

As you can see, the Pro-Comps aren't far off at well over 500 lbs per inch though. I got my springs used for cheap, if I get fed up with them I'll go with some Tuff Country HD's I think.

Rene

 

[ccarley]

Awesome info, thanks!

I am currently running single shocks in the front, but the "quad" mounts are there, and I'd like to use the taller mount, which is more vertical than the lower, laid back mount:

So now I'm considering some new leafs for the front, as well as new shocks. I'm not sure, with the weight of the Suburban, that I want to go with the super plush EZ ride springs, but perhaps the HD's...

Thanks for the info,
Clay

 

[bot0611]

How much are you looking to spend?? i mean you can call Alcan and have custom prings done i think around $400 for the fronts.

Did you get thoose shocks specially for the truck?? from the catalog, i personally never go with catalog numbers in theese type of things, i guess a custom valving will be what you need if you dont mind spending a bit less than $400 for shocks.

WHat size tires you running? i mean bigger tires make the ride harder as well to a certain point.

 

[Duntz00]

I would by either a BDS or Tuff country leaf springs if I was going with a off the shelf lift, I had the 6in BDS springs on my truck at one time and they rode really good compared to the Rough Country 4in springs that where on it before.

 

[K85 Octane]

FYI: It's been said before, but TC HD leafs are the same as EZ Rides. The HD's come with that bottom mighty mouse leaf. Just remove and you have EZs. So if you're not sure which you want, go HD and possibly remove the little one later. This is info from TC directly.

Also, start out with the shock you want. Cheaper than going springs right off the bat. Go take the truck somewhere where you can flex it. Remove the front shocks when you do this. Check the compressed and extended heights from axle to upper dual shock mount. Order them that way. As for valving, I haven't a clue, not knowledgeable enough. But if you call bilstein direct, they could proll help you out with that.

 

[ccarley]

Thanks everybody,

This is good info! I am leaning towards purchasing the Tuff Country HD springs now first, and then working with the shocks later on.

I'm very surprised that the Explorer Pro-Comp springs are so stiff; I had read before (must have been their propaganda) that they were supposed to give a nice smooth ride. I guess they were wrong!

Thanks everyone!
Clay