leveling kit, rough ride & still rubbing with 33s

[paintpollz]

All,

Looking to solve my rubbing issues and I wanted to bounce some ideas off of you all.

I recently added the pro-comp leveling kit & bilstein 5100s to the tahoe (2010 Z71). Ride is OK, still seems a bit rough to be honest. All of the bushings are OK and with the new 5100s the ride is definitely better. However, when I hit a little bump, I can still hear and feel it pretty good throughout the car.....Thoughts on things to check/adjust?

The tires are rubbing when I turn the wheel in either direction, very annoying. Tires are 275/70R-18 BFG A/Ts on the stock Z71 wheels. Stupid me, I told the guys to put the front 5100 shocks on the lowest setting. Has anyone had no rubbing with 275/70R-18s on the stock Z71 wheels with the front 5100 shocks on the highest setting? Possibly add 1/4" spacers, or new wheels with a little more backspacing?

Thanks.

 

[01Konvict]

What height setting are the shocks and how big of level kit?

You won't gain any backspace from new wheels. You will actually lose backspace. Take pics where it rubs.

 

[paintpollz]

What height setting are the shocks and how big of level kit?

You won't gain any backspace from new wheels. You will actually lose backspace. Take pics where it rubs.

Thanks.

The kit is 2.25" front, 1.5" rear. Attached are the pictures of where it is rubbing on the front drivers side. The 5100s are set on the lowest setting, I did this because I was afraid of the front having too high of a stance with both the leveling kit and the adjustable shocks. I understand I should probably crank them all the way up to see if that will help, however, before I bring it into the shop I wanted to see if anyone with a similar setup has had a setup like this that didn't rub. If it's a lost cause then I'd rather not spend the money to have someone mess with the shocks, and just deal with the rubbing.

SETUP BELOW:

• bilstein 5100s, front adjustable shocks at lowest setting
• 275/70R-18s BFG A/Ts on stock wheels
  
• PRO COMP EXP-63165K leveling kit, 2.25" front, 1.5" rear

 

[01Konvict]

You can fix that trim yourself. Trim the inner front fender brace back like so the liner fits like mine. The rear side do a small nor cal mod as detailed in the link. No rubbing anymore once done.

Norcal mod
http://www.duramaxforum.com/forum/n...4-nbs-hd-small-fender-mod-step-step-pics.html

 

[paintpollz]

You can fix that trim yourself. Trim the inner front fender brace back like so the liner fits like mine. The rear side do a small nor cal mod as detailed in the link. No rubbing anymore once done.

Norcal mod
http://www.duramaxforum.com/forum/n...4-nbs-hd-small-fender-mod-step-step-pics.html

Great stuff, thank you for posting this. Unfortunately on the passenger side front has rubbed all the way thru, may have to improv on that side.

To be quite honest and this sounds a little pathetic, but I'm not the guy to tackle this job right now. Do you know anyone in the CT/MA/NY area that is proficient in trimming on these vehicles?

 

[01Konvict]

Do you own a dremel or know a friend who has one? If so use the plastic cut off wheel on the front inner fender liner bracket then either use a L bracket retaining hole in liner or zip tie liner to bracket after cutting. The rear needs metal cut off wheel to make cut line then a hammer to bend it back away from tire. I'm not familiar with that area to cold for me haha. But I'm confident you can do it. I did mine in 10 minutes and no more rubbing the liner.

 

[paintpollz]

Do you own a dremel or know a friend who has one? If so use the plastic cut off wheel on the front inner fender liner bracket then either use a L bracket retaining hole in liner or zip tie liner to bracket after cutting. The rear needs metal cut off wheel to make cut line then a hammer to bend it back away from tire. I'm not familiar with that area to cold for me haha. But I'm confident you can do it. I did mine in 10 minutes and no more rubbing the liner.

Dammit I love your confidence! I do have a dremel. The rear part of the wheel well looks easy. But I'll be honest, the diagram for the front confuses the hell out of me.

 

[01Konvict]

Good now get on it. Also ditch the lower valance bumper corner pieces on that z71 bumper. Looks much taller without them on and better overall. Here is a pic of the trimmed bracket looking up from the ground. Another member on here posted these pics so thank them. You basically use Image 17 from the instructions pic I posted with the exception of cutting the corner where it mounts to the painted bumper corner. Cut in along beside the angled support shown with large bolt through it then cut straight line down bracket until end. Screw it into the trimmed bracket and fender liner is now pulled forward.

 

[TheAutumnWind]

Dammit I love your confidence! I do have a dremel. The rear part of the wheel well looks easy. But I'll be honest, the diagram for the front confuses the hell out of me.

You can do it!

 

[paintpollz]

You can do it!

01Konvict & TheAutumnWind- thanks for the pics and encouragement. I will take this one on and post pictures next week.

Cheers

 

[al2fast]

Use your saws all, that's what I used. For the metal part of the fender closest to the passenger compartment I used a 5" grinder. You can see from the pic that was the first side I experimented with so I had a bolt and a nut. The passenger side I just used a self tapping screw into the plastic. Worse part of the job is the water and crap that falls in your face when you hack that plastic.

Have your heat gun handy too, I used my heat gun and my hammer to heat the crap out of the liner and the hammer top to push it and reform it a little bit.

 

[Matt_]

Use your saws all, that's what I used. For the metal part of the fender closest to the passenger compartment I used a 5" grinder. You can see from the pic that was the first side I experimented with so I had a bolt and a nut. The passenger side I just used a self tapping screw into the plastic. Worse part of the job is the water and crap that falls in your face when you hack that plastic.

Have your heat gun handy too, I used my heat gun and my hammer to heat the crap out of the liner and the hammer top to push it and reform it a little bit.

Have any pictures of yours done?

I'm going to do these mods then measure for tire clearance before ordering anything. I'm hoping to squeeze in some 285/65/18s but will go with 275/65 if I have to. Cranked my stock keys 1" and that's all its going for now.

 

[paintpollz]

All - I did not get around to doing this. I'm closing on my house in 9 days and I have no time to get under the car.

I'm moving to the Fort Worth, TX area, and I'm assuming based on the amount of lift trucks that I've seen down there that there are a couple of shops in the area that could perform this work. Can anyone recommend a shop?

Thanks.

 

[NGAneer]

This solved my rubbing...

I'm only on a 2.5" TGC and I've got way more width than you. About 20 whacks with a good sized hammer and your problems are solved. Another notch or two on the Bilsteins wouldn't hurt either.

 

[paintpollz]

This solved my rubbing...

I'm only on a 2.5" TGC and I've got way more width than you. About 20 whacks with a good sized hammer and your problems are solved. Another notch or two on the Bilsteins wouldn't hurt either.

got it. good idea with the bilsteins. How many setting are there?

Thanks.

 

[MichaelSE]

01Konvict & TheAutumnWind- thanks for the pics and encouragement. I will take this one on and post pictures next week.

Cheers

Can you post a side shot or a few pics of your Tahoe with the 275/70r18s? I've been interested in this tire size for a while. Thanks!

 

[NGAneer]

got it. good idea with the bilsteins. How many setting are there?

Thanks.

I don't know for sure as I don't have them. From pics, it looks like 4 notches in the shock body and they state that the adjustment level is 0-1.7" of lift. I'm assuming that means 1.7" / 3 settings = 0.567" lift with each notch (on average).

My 2.5" TGC gave me a little more than that, probably less than 2.75 though. IMO start with 1 notch on the 5100s if you're worried about angles, lean, etc.

 

[paintpollz]

Jeez, the ride in this truck is garbage. I wish I knew it was going to be this harsh. I'm willing to drop $$$ in order to fix it. Could it be the 27/70/28 BFK A/Ts that are causing it to be this rough? Are the 5100s a stiffer shock than stock? Leveling kit?

The suspension shop that installed the wheels, leveling kit, and shocks didn't find any issues with the other suspension components. At this point, I'm willing to tear it all out and put a complete kit in there with new tires if it comes down to that, but I don't want to keep throwing $$$ until I actually know what I'm doing.

 

[YukonandtheHOE]

Jeez, the ride in this truck is garbage. I wish I knew it was going to be this harsh. I'm willing to drop $$$ in order to fix it. Could it be the 27/70/28 BFK A/Ts that are causing it to be this rough? Are the 5100s a stiffer shock than stock? Leveling kit?

The suspension shop that installed the wheels, leveling kit, and shocks didn't find any issues with the other suspension components. At this point, I'm willing to tear it all out and put a complete kit in there with new tires if it comes down to that, but I don't want to keep throwing $$$ until I actually know what I'm doing.

Your rim and tire combo doesn't help, i have pretty much the same lift wheel idea but I swapped between 26"s and 24"s, IMO 24"s ride like 10ply's and 26"s were like solid rubber wheels.. it doesn't help that the roads where i live are Rough as hell tho

 

[paintpollz]

Your rim and tire combo doesn't help, i have pretty much the same lift wheel idea but I swapped between 26"s and 24"s, IMO 24"s ride like 10ply's and 26"s were like solid rubber wheels.. it doesn't help that the roads where i live are Rough as hell tho

Can you elaborate a little more? What do you mean by 24" and 24"? My tires are actually 275/70R/18s, I had it incorrect in my previous post. Would a different size wheel make a difference with this tire?

The roads are rough here too...I live in DFW and there is constant road work.