Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys

bilstein HD strut extenders

Dumping ground for offroad Trailblazer or Envoy general discussion.

by soldier32mp » Mon Apr 29, 2013 4:47 pm

I've been looking to see if there's any info on strut extenders to help release some pressure off the strut from toping out ? I'm running Marks 3" and the moogs 81114 now I noticed on take off sometimes not all the time it'll top out I can feel the back drop alittle..I may have to compromise and get a smaller spacer..
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by navigator » Mon Apr 29, 2013 4:55 pm

I don't think there is a strut extender.
I expect it will be cheaper to swap out your springs and keep Mark's lift.
You might find the MOOG 81110 or 81112 will work better for you.
You might also add some weight (bumper etc) to the front to help.
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by soldier32mp » Mon Apr 29, 2013 6:15 pm

I just got a reply back from a Aussie co that can make them for our struts..I still might just swap out hovever I'm partial to Marks. I have my old BDS set up I guess I'll search our forums for in put on another set..thanks Chris! I'm trying to get josh up to par on his tb it's falling apart on him.
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by v7guy » Mon Apr 29, 2013 8:00 pm

the strut extender sounds interesting, look forward to seeing what you dig up, just keep an eye on those tripots!

As far as Josh goes, I've talked to him a good bit. The entire front end has been replaced less than a year ago if I remember right, nothing should be falling apart. It really really sounds like he just needs a shop to do a proper alignment and prove it with a printout showing the before and after.

His biggest problem is he keeps taking it to a shop and getting shitty work done while getting taken advantage of because he's not familiar with the truck and then on top of it he gets raped on the price.

p.s. try hitting submit just once next time lol
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by Blazintrails03 » Mon Apr 29, 2013 8:56 pm

navigator wrote:I don't think there is a strut extender.
I expect it will be cheaper to swap out your springs and keep Mark's lift.
You might find the MOOG 81110 or 81112 will work better for you.
You might also add some weight (bumper etc) to the front to help.


I have Bilsteins, marks old kit, and moog 81110 springs and I can feel it top out as I go over speed bumps. I feel it when I go over them like a normal person not jumping it but not creeping either. I'm hoping with a little time of spring sag and the weight of the hitch it will help
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by soldier32mp » Tue Apr 30, 2013 11:11 am

Well got some news on this they told me after reviewing that for our trucks it's a 50/50 hit or miss with the current set up meaning the springs could break in in time, obvious more weight or drop down on the stiffness of the spring they said the avg truck could get away with it but our set up is unique ..go figure well I'm going to just wait so far so good I checked this morning everything looks good and is torqued down..I thought my brushguard would help just alittle more which it is I'll look into the other moogs and see what suits me ..
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by soldier32mp » Tue Apr 30, 2013 11:20 am

As for josh I got him hooked up with the guys that have done all my stuff ..I told him he needs to come by the shop more they'll help him and on most stuff they'll bring it right in and look at it and do some stuff for no charge..I was surprised when he got new tires new tires but didn't get an alignment done at the shop I'll see him soon ..
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by The Roadie » Tue Apr 30, 2013 12:13 pm

Not at all sure what a strut extender is. If it lengthens the strut at full extension, that's a bad, bad tactic. With only 1/2" spacer on top of the typical strut, the inner CV joint is right at the edge of binding up at full extension. And without flipped UCAs, the upper ball joint shaft may break.

All legitimate lift kits for our platform involve changing the resting angle of the CV shaft, but the total amount of travel (up/down) is fixed by the shock. All lift does is trade more down travel for less up travel.

Since the shock doesn't have an internal bump stop for extension, the only way I know of to make it silent is to never totally unweight the suspension, or to add limiting straps to act as a bump stop.
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by Trail X » Tue Apr 30, 2013 12:46 pm

You don't need anything fancy. Just get 6 washers (or however many works for your particular setup) and add them below the lower shock bushing washer. Just be sure to test tire rotation at full droop for binding in the tripod joint.

I've been running with the below setup for two years now, and despite being only 5/8" or so it has really improved things a lot.

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by soldier32mp » Tue Apr 30, 2013 2:05 pm

Thanx man ...
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by soldier32mp » Wed May 01, 2013 1:34 pm

Well Mr Downing once again you have out done yourself! I put 5 on it and it works perfect even after taking acouple bumps and hitting the ol fishin trail no top out enough flex which is what I wanted .. :thumleft: new build thread and pics of ol red will be posted soon ...
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by djthumper » Wed May 01, 2013 2:30 pm

Good thing JD figured out what you were talking about for a strut extender...
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by bgwolfpack » Wed May 01, 2013 3:10 pm

djthumper wrote:Good thing JD figured out what you were talking about for a strut extender...

Could have been some interesting pics...
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by Trail X » Wed May 01, 2013 3:54 pm

soldier32mp wrote:Well Mr Downing once again you have out done yourself! I put 5 on it and it works perfect even after taking acouple bumps and hitting the ol fishin trail no top out enough flex which is what I wanted .. :thumleft: new build thread and pics of ol red will be posted soon ...


Glad it worked, I've been surprised that more people haven't done it. I attribute that simple modification as to why my shock bushings haven't been ruined yet.
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by djthumper » Wed May 01, 2013 4:57 pm

JamesDowning wrote:Glad it worked, I've been surprised that more people haven't done it. I attribute that simple modification as to why my shock bushings haven't been ruined yet.

You may be onto something for them guys JD.
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by soldier32mp » Wed May 01, 2013 6:19 pm

Sometimes guys we all think alil too much outta of the box and we miss trying just the simplist of things ...but that's why we have such a good support system on here with SMEs..too bad after all these years I'm still a cruiser on here :photo: I'm coming around on posting stuff ..
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by soldier32mp » Wed May 01, 2013 6:25 pm

I have found a way around putting washers for spaceing with the bilsteins 5100-5125 . After reading up on here I decided with the 5125s I pressed the old rubber ends off my HDs and pressed them into the 5125s which fit perfect and space perfect...please hold the applause
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by Trail X » Wed May 01, 2013 9:18 pm

I'm confused, Frank. Are you switching gears on us and talking about the rears now?

:need pics:
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