Marks 3" kit with z71's

[nvrs]

Am I supposed to be using the tall spacer in the rear when running z71 springs? The avalanche bilstiens are almost topped out. I read in another thread that there are some skyjacker 8030's or f4be56249h5/33-185569's will be a longer shock to make up the difference. I was initially after getting the truck to be leveled out but now it seems that its still raked. Should i just take the puck out or maybe get a 1" puck?

[TBYODA]

What you use depends on your mission. There's no rule you have to use the Z71, most do because they give more lift and don't sag because they are progressive spring with the back loaded. Yes you are right using the 2" spring and Z71 together you will need a longer shock so not to top out. You could try with out the 2" spacer you may get what you want and not topout. It's pretty easy to swap them in and out if you disconnect the rear sway bar end links. Just deside if you are going reinstall the rear sway bar or not and don't following my forced trail sway bar delete. I was going to delete it anyway just the trail was not ideal but it worked out. Check this for details if you are wondering. viewtopic.php?f=57&t=5264

[nvrs]

I basically want the truck to sit level. I will be towing a 8x16 enclosed trailer a few times a year across the western states. here is how it sits now

[nvrs]

So I heard back from Mark on this... Basically I need to run a 1" spacer or a longer shock. His spacer can be cut down 1" with a sawzall or I can to use the stock length shock I can drill holes 1" further up on the mount. I will order a set of 1" spacers and the longer shock instead.

[nvrs]

The lift is done with the 2" spacer and z71's. I think I'm going to leave the 2" spacer as there is no gear in the back yet and I am thinking that it will settle out.

[Trail X]

Looks good Lonny, that's how they SHOULD have come from the factory.

[nvrs]

Picked it up today... Still need to put the longer rear shocks on but it came out ok...

[nvrs]

Sending back the longer 33-185569 shocks for Bilstein 33-185552's since they match what most people are running.

Specs on the 33-185552;

Extended Length (in): 25.930 in.
Collapsed Length (in): 15.910 in.

[nvrs]

Looks like I may take the 2" block out completely... Seems like it just sits way too high in the back.

[nvrs]

I will get the measurement from the back shortly.

[Trail X]

Looks good to me Lonny, no need to remove that block.

[nvrs]

I'm just not sure... while driving, I seem to be looking at the ground. Here is the back measurement pic. 8-5/16" in the rear and 6" in the front. I may change to a 1" block or no block.

[ErikSS]

I feel that for those of us who tow, having a little rake is a good thing. That way the truck sits level while towing.
How many miles did you have on the lifted truck when you took those pics? Often the springs "settle" in and your height changes a little. I've seen it take a couple hundred miles.

[nvrs]

There is about 20 miles since the lift... I will be towing quite a lot with it. I have a week or so to drive it until the tranny cooler kit gets here so I will re-measure before I take it back in to put on the rear shocks(still running the stock length since the billsteins were too long or to short) and cooler.

[TBYODA]

I have Z71 and 2" spacer also and measure 8" from top of tire to fender. Up front 6.5" I've had my lift on since March and the Z71 were used so I am sure they have settled.

[salvo2002]

@nvrs: what tires are you running? I just installed Marks new 3" cast lift with the 2" rear and Z71s as well. I am running the 33-185552's (255/70) in the rear and I am concerned about them topping out as well. I am about to go measure the compressed length right now and see how much travel I have left before it tops out.

[nvrs]

265/70-16... I ended up not messing with the rear since i will be towing with the truck and EricSS makes a good point... I did end up running a universal billstein shock in the rear and did the 1/2" bolt mod to make it all work... the tahoe shocks are too short so i will send those back to amazon(if they will still take them). The truck drives nice and smooth now but does wander a little(most lifted vehicles I have owned wandered so I figured it was normal). I will be updating my build page as soon as I get a chance.

[salvo2002]

So I measured eye to eye as best I could and am sitting compressed at 23.25" on the driver side and 23.5" on the passenger side, which only leaves 2.68" and 2.43" respectively of travel left....

Should I get the 33-104652s that have 28.01" extended and 17.00" collapsed? Or get some limiting straps?

Also, what would be causing the 1/4" difference between the two?

[salvo2002]

265/70-16... I ended up not messing with the rear since i will be towing with the truck and EricSS makes a good point... I did end up running a universal billstein shock in the rear and did the 1/2" bolt mod to make it all work... the tahoe shocks are too short so i will send those back to amazon(if they will still take them). The truck drives nice and smooth now but does wander a little(most lifted vehicles I have owned wandered so I figured it was normal). I will be updating my build page as soon as I get a chance.

I used the 1/2" bolt mod as well. Did you use washers? if so what did you torque the bolts to? I found that I could just keep cranking on the bolt since I was just compressing the bushing....so I ended up just tightening it down before the bushing started to compress.

I'll be creating a build thread here shortly....

[nvrs]

I didn't do any of the work myself, I had a friend who owns a shop do the work for me. I used washers for now until I get my own lathe, then I will make new spacers to the correct length. I'm not sure how much they cranked down on the bolts, but I did give them nylocks. For shocks I went with the Bilstein 33-185552 25.93 in./15.91 in. Extended/Collapsed.