Regret level/lift?
- Thread starter Peter M
- Start date
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I have a 2015 Suburban 4x2 with now 80,000 miles. at 55,000 miles I installed Bilstein 1500 Shocks front and rear.
The front are adjustable and gave me just about 1.75" of lift, making it almost level, which is perfect because the rear of the long suburban needs to be, in my opinion at least 1/4" higher to look leveled.
I also changed from 18" stock wheels and tires to 22" 285/45r22 Bridgstone all terrain tires. They are a very very mild all terrain tire and keep an OEM like ride.
My experience after now a fair bit of miles, is that the ride quality is either exactly the same or better than my stock shocks were.
I probably drop 1mpg at least but Its due to:
PPV front air dam (shorter valance like on the cop Tahoe)
larger and much heavier wheels and tires
and the front level.
I am extremely pleased. By now, there is little doubt than my stock shocks would have been pretty "tired" so the bilstein were good and are def. still really up to my liking.
I would do it again in a heart beat.
when you look for feedback, make sure to understand what kind of lift people got, spacers on stock shocks, longer/better quality shocks, more aggressive/stiffer tires, etc...
The front are adjustable and gave me just about 1.75" of lift, making it almost level, which is perfect because the rear of the long suburban needs to be, in my opinion at least 1/4" higher to look leveled.
I also changed from 18" stock wheels and tires to 22" 285/45r22 Bridgstone all terrain tires. They are a very very mild all terrain tire and keep an OEM like ride.
My experience after now a fair bit of miles, is that the ride quality is either exactly the same or better than my stock shocks were.
I probably drop 1mpg at least but Its due to:
PPV front air dam (shorter valance like on the cop Tahoe)
larger and much heavier wheels and tires
and the front level.
I am extremely pleased. By now, there is little doubt than my stock shocks would have been pretty "tired" so the bilstein were good and are def. still really up to my liking.
I would do it again in a heart beat.
when you look for feedback, make sure to understand what kind of lift people got, spacers on stock shocks, longer/better quality shocks, more aggressive/stiffer tires, etc...
Kpwweb
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I also used the Bilstein 5100 to level and have no regrets. I had lowered my verhicle at first--and after awhile I regretted that. I kept hitting my head on the rear tailgate. Further, some of the roads around here are pretty rough, so I would run out of suspension travel and "bottom out" on the front.
With it "leveled", the tahoe sits a smidge taller, but has a really good stance with the front at 1.2". I would go the levelled with Bilsteins route all over again.
With it "leveled", the tahoe sits a smidge taller, but has a really good stance with the front at 1.2". I would go the levelled with Bilsteins route all over again.
thats funny, I also first lowered the rear of my suburban and kept hitting my head and ended up hating it.
Adam10532
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I have a 2016 Yukon Denali XL 4wd 2016 with a 6 inch Fabtech lift I regret going up to the 6-inch I wish it kept it 4 inch lift I started with ,the ride quality was much better
I can care less about gas mileage the ride quality really sucks on a 6in at least in my opinion on my setup
I installed the adjustable Bilstein 5100s (and 5100 rears) about a month ago on my 2013 Suburban with 114k on it. The ride is as good or better than stock. I put the front all the way up...I think one notch lower would probably look better and I may just put 1" pucks in the rear eventually. I would do it again.
pt1965
Member
bilstein 5100 on front ,replaced orig rough country w spacer, looks the same but rides better!
olyelr
Full Access Member
No regrets here. Started out with a suspension max 1.5” spacer setup, but have now changed it up to Fox coilovers instead.
Brian H
TYF Newbie
6 inch Rough Country on 35" BFGs. After doing this I would not do anything smaller. If you're going to lift it, then actually get some clearance and go at least 6. Just a little trim behind front wheels. This is my wife's ride and she loves it. Fun to drive. If you care about mileage, being practical etc, then just keep it stock.
5strmtrp
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I’m roughly 2 months into a 2014 Tahoe SSV. The back of the truck sat to high in my opinion and wanted a level ride, been there with lift kits etc on my previous trucks. I purchased the 2” drop Bell tech kit that included bump stops and shock brackets from Tony here on the site.
The ride is great like the leveled stance the truck now has. Going thru turns at speed is now a breeze.
Lifting the truck or dropping the front wasn’t in consideration as I do tow an enclosed 14’ Boy Scout trailer for my sons Troop. I also occasionally go off road up on my property or down “firetrails” for the Scouts.
Paul
5trmtpr
The ride is great like the leveled stance the truck now has. Going thru turns at speed is now a breeze.
Lifting the truck or dropping the front wasn’t in consideration as I do tow an enclosed 14’ Boy Scout trailer for my sons Troop. I also occasionally go off road up on my property or down “firetrails” for the Scouts.
Paul
5trmtpr
olyelr
Full Access Member
Well come on now, wheres the pics lol?
Akinshake
Member
I dropped it 2.5 in the back to level it. Love the look and ride at first. Got it from Tony also. Rides rough now but because of the MagnaRide going out. About to pull trigger on fox coil overs and lift the back to stock plus an 1” spacer. Still finishing up my research but the fox coil overs seem to be the consensus.
cireallin
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I don't regret my leveling kits one bit on the last 2 vehicles I did it on. I am now adding the shock extension kits from SuspensionMAXX on both Yukon and Tahoe to prevent unnecessary load on shock travel distance. Outside of that, I love the stance, cost and size of tire that a leveling kit provides.
As previously mentioned I did the 1.5" on our Escalade, which led me to doing a 1.5 in our new Denali.
This looked okay but after doing more research and looking at even more pictures, I ended up raising the front another 1/2", so now it's at 2" over stock. It looks great and we could not be happier! Other then the fact of doing it twice.......LOL
I would highly recommend the Suspension Maxx adjustable front level lift and then doing 2".
This looked okay but after doing more research and looking at even more pictures, I ended up raising the front another 1/2", so now it's at 2" over stock. It looks great and we could not be happier! Other then the fact of doing it twice.......LOL
I would highly recommend the Suspension Maxx adjustable front level lift and then doing 2".
cireallin
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+1 on SuspensionMaxx. I went with 2.5"/1" on both a Tahoe and Yukon. No regrets on either setup.
Blackout7c
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6" rough country lift, 35s on 22s, 2" spacers on the rear wheels to even them out with the front. I like a stiffer ride so I can feel the road better and that's what I ended up with, but it's not rough or uncomfortable by any means. The fuel economy suffered from larger radius and heavier wheel/tire, also from more ground clearance, but I would absolutely do it again. I like the added clearance and the stance, but will probably do 35 on 20 at some point just for tire cost (I do like the look of the 22s though). If you tow you'll need to get a substantial drop hitch, the standard ones will still leave your trailer pretty tilted
