Any interest in 4wd front coilovers to replace tbars?

[Tahoewhat]

Heres a question in regards to the top mount, since it seems to be a hot topic lately.

What was used back in the day when the NBS was new?

For example: What did / do lifted 4x4 or 2x2 use? I see lots of baja trucks / 4x4 trucks w/ coil overs. What do they use for the top mount? Because whatever they use will surely work on ours tahoes.

 

[Atomic]

I believe most of them cut off the stock mount and welded on their own bracket.

 

[digitalfiend]

Are you going lowers only? If so what top mount are you going to run? Feelings and thoughts
Billy

Yes, I'm going lowers only. I talked to ridetech on the phone about their kit not needing reinforced uppers for their air ride suspension, then I saw that 04blackout used only the stock upper mounts. I'm now pretty comfortable that the upper shock mounts aren't necessary. I'm still going to be keeping a close eye on them once I'm done with the install just to be on the safe side.

 

[Tahoewhat]

To clarify your statement as well for others that may read this, blackout did not use atomics upper reinforcement mount. Still used the pro comp adapter.

But, It sounds like your going to go with ride tech shocks?

 

[digitalfiend]

To clarify your statement as well for others that may read this, blackout did not use atomics upper reinforcement mount. Still used the pro comp adapter.

You are correct about blackout not using the upper reinforcement mount.

But, It sounds like your going to go with ride tech shocks?

That's a negative Ghost Rider. I am going to go with coilover QA1's and only Atomic's lower mount. The reference to ridetech is that I called them and picked their brain about their airbag kit. For the uninitiated, their kit replaces the shocks *and* torsion bars with airbags. The kit uses the stock upper shock mounts without any kind of reinforcement and they've had no problems with it.

 

[Bomba02]

Yes, I'm going lowers only. I talked to ridetech on the phone about their kit not needing reinforced uppers for their air ride suspension, then I saw that 04blackout used only the stock upper mounts. I'm now pretty comfortable that the upper shock mounts aren't necessary. I'm still going to be keeping a close eye on them once I'm done with the install just to be on the safe side.

So are you going to run the pro comp adapter or the stud mount? Lets say I try/want to use stud mount order shock to those measurements if I had to go to pro comp adapter would that shock work or would I not be able to? If you follow that. I know it's somewhere in here how to measure for the shock, but I'm not that close yet to pulling the trigger on the rest of the parts. Also thinking of trying the 1300lbs springs.
Billy

 

[Chiggy]

What are some options for coil overs for a 2.5-3inch lift on a Z-71?
If you can give me some part numbers that will work I'll order everything today

 

[Atomic]

The easiest way to see what parts you need is to Jack up the front of the truck to where you want it, then measure from the lower shock bolt to the shock hoop. Once we have this we can identify parts. Without this it's just guessing.

 

[Chiggy]

The easiest way to see what parts you need is to Jack up the front of the truck to where you want it, then measure from the lower shock bolt to the shock hoop. Once we have this we can identify parts. Without this it's just guessing.

well just yesterday (wish I had seen this thread first) I put on 2.5inch leveling kit with keys and bilstein 5100 shocks for a lift at a local 4x4 performance shop. I'm sure that's got to skew the results. I'm currently living in an apartment with no access to a real jack or even a measuring tape lol. FML

Anyone out there with an 05 Z71 want to measure theirs?

 

[Atomic]

No it will still be fine, you just need to know how far the LCA is from the shock hoop to know what length stuff you need. If it sits at the height you want right now you can go and measure from that bolt to the shock hoop and we can figure out some parts.

 

[Chiggy]

No it will still be fine, you just need to know how far the LCA is from the shock hoop to know what length stuff you need. If it sits at the height you want right now you can go and measure from that bolt to the shock hoop and we can figure out some parts.

So I measure from the bottom of the shock at rest and the shock at full extension with the truck in the air?
I like my current height, somewhere between 2.5 and 3inches of lift but I don't like how wonky the ride has become with the torsion bars having that much load on them.

 

[Atomic]

No you measure from the bottom bolt of the shock to the top of the shock hoop at the ride height you want. Since its at a height you want you don't need to mess with the Jack, just measure it as it sits now.

 

[digitalfiend]

So are you going to run the pro comp adapter or the stud mount? Lets say I try/want to use stud mount order shock to those measurements if I had to go to pro comp adapter would that shock work or would I not be able to? If you follow that.

I think you're asking if you can use shocks sized for for stud top mount with the procomp adapter...if I'm understanding that right then I have two answers to that question: "it depends" and "I wouldn't".

The easy out is to say "It depends" "on your specific setup". If you're at the right height then it may not make a difference.

In the suspension setup that I'm running on my Tahoe, "I wouldn't". To be more specific, my front stock shock ride height is 13 1/8" (13.125). If I swap them with coliover QA1's and use atomic's lower shocks the shock ride height is reduced by 1.75" due to the dimensions of his lower shock adapter (it's not a bad thing, just a statement of fact ). For my setup it would not be good to also use the procomp adapter due to 1) the dimensions of the QA1 shocks I plan on using and 2) my ride height. I plan on going with the ds303's which have a recommended ride height betweem 10 3/4" and 11 1/4". If you subtract 1.75" from 13.125" then my ride height should be 11.375"...which is within the ds303's range of ride height. If you were to also run the procomp adapters then you would need to account for their height too (1.5"):

13.125" - 1.75" - 1.5" = 9.875"

If you look at the specifications of the shocks on QA1's site then you'll see that the ds303 has a compressed length of 9.5". That's only 0.25" of travel before the shock bottoms out...which should equate to about 1" of travel at your wheel. 1" of wheel travel before the shock bottoms out is not something that I am comfortable with.

 

[Atomic]

Good explanation! Sorry I missed that question.

 

[Tahoewhat]

Since i saw in another thread & you guys did respond on the contrary to my comment. ha ha...

I'll go ahead and post this here again in case others missed it. (if its alright by atomic of course)

POST #156
So guys on the group buy:

1. digitalfiend
2. bomba02
3.
4.
5.

Is this right?

 

[digitalfiend]

I got my lowers today. These things are built to last. If the need arises I'll use them to flog people until I get my QA1's ordered. You sir, Mr. Atomic, have greatly pleased Mr. StormTrooper:

 

[Atomic]

Haha told you they were beefy!

 

[Tahoewhat]

Must have Storm Trooper. That is awesome.

The uppers are just as nice.

 

[ThatDudeOrion]

I think you're asking if you can use shocks sized for for stud top mount with the procomp adapter...if I'm understanding that right then I have two answers to that question: "it depends" and "I wouldn't".

The easy out is to say "It depends" "on your specific setup". If you're at the right height then it may not make a difference.

In the suspension setup that I'm running on my Tahoe, "I wouldn't". To be more specific, my front stock shock ride height is 13 1/8" (13.125). If I swap them with coliover QA1's and use atomic's lower shocks the shock ride height is reduced by 1.75" due to the dimensions of his lower shock adapter (it's not a bad thing, just a statement of fact ). For my setup it would not be good to also use the procomp adapter due to 1) the dimensions of the QA1 shocks I plan on using and 2) my ride height. I plan on going with the ds303's which have a recommended ride height betweem 10 3/4" and 11 1/4". If you subtract 1.75" from 13.125" then my ride height should be 11.375"...which is within the ds303's range of ride height. If you were to also run the procomp adapters then you would need to account for their height too (1.5"):

13.125" - 1.75" - 1.5" = 9.875"

If you look at the specifications of the shocks on QA1's site then you'll see that the ds303 has a compressed length of 9.5". That's only 0.25" of travel before the shock bottoms out...which should equate to about 1" of travel at your wheel. 1" of wheel travel before the shock bottoms out is not something that I am comfortable with.

So for the stud tops, I think we should be subtracting the expected compressed thickness of the bushing/washer combo between the shock and the upper mount, is that correct? so maybe .5-.75?

 

[Bomba02]

I got my lowers today. These things are built to last. If the need arises I'll use them to flog people until I get my QA1's ordered. You sir, Mr. Atomic, have greatly pleased Mr. StormTrooper:

Got my brackets as well, car ****!! Very nice piece can't wait to get them installed.
Digitalfiend what is your wheel center to fender height? Do you have a tire gap your trying to achieve aka the look of it I guess if you follow that. Just curious.
Thanks billy.