? FRONT LIFT TO MATE WITH Z71 SPRINGS

[CHI-TOWN]

OK - I am new to this TB stuff.
A few months ago I bought a super clean, stock, hardly driven (22K miles) 2008 TB 4wd LT with virgin hitch receiver - PERFECT !!

I just bought Z71 springs and shocks New on Ebay.

NOW WHICH IS THE BEST KIT TO BUY FOR THE FRONT TO GO ALONG WITH MY REAR Z71 SPRINGS/SHOCKS ?
I CAN GET THE 2" FRONT KIT FROM BDS FOR $196, WILL THAT WORK WELL WITH THE NEW REAR SPRINGS ?

[fishsticks]

OMG I DONT KNOW MAYBE YOU SHOULD SEARCH ?

IM NOT SURE BUT I THINK THIS HAS BEEN POSTED ABOUT BEFORE !

[DirtyBacon04]

Welcome of Offroadtb.com!!

[djthumper]

Seriously?!? This is your first post? No intro? Hi I am a noob and tell me how to build my Trailblazer like your stranger? Start at this link here and it should get you started in the right direction. Noob Help

[The Roadie]

Before you run off in a huff, let me explain a bit about the offroading culture here. We expect people are going to actually USE their lifted trucks on aggressive offroading trips. That implies a level of self-sufficiency and competence that you would intend to be safe on a tough trail and not a drag on a group. That implies (we believe) a owner competent and experienced in the use of Google and forum searches to find out what the community might have ALREADY posted in terms of forum "Announcements" (called Sticky threads in VBulletin forums).

Once the new member has shown a bit of initiative by reading about 8 years worth of experience with the platform, a few Build Threads to find out what we already have chosen to install, then they're ready to declare their intentions and ask for help if it's not already obvious.

One of my most important messages is that there is no single "best" product out there for anything unless and until you can articulate your mission. HOW do you intend to use the truck, what's your budget, and DIY experience level for the installation of suspension parts.

That's the culture. The collection of smilies we offer when you're posting is a bit of a hint as well. We're not kids here, well at least most of us, but we do expect noobs to come in with a healthy attitude to read a bunch before posting. It will serve you well to have a thick skin when the Jeepers harass and taunt you on the trails.

Added: For owners who have non-offroading intentions for lifting their truck, there is a very friendly community (of many of the same folks as here and hundreds of others) at gmtnation.com.

[Skindiggers]

Wow ...you scared him !
Hello bro.. and welcome !
Don't worry we are not eating newbies here , but this guys are veterans and they answered this questions many times , that's why they are telling you all this ! Just use the search button for all your questions and if you can not find there what you want than post your questions here !

[CHI-TOWN]

I was not scared off. I didn't want to bore people with my intro but if you want one here it is.
44year old Former Navy Petty Officer - Served in Iraq War (The first one)
Former US Navy SeaBee - Construction Electrician. Served 2 tours in Europe.
I own 2 lighting companies so I am a lighting engineer not a suspension guy at all. I have built and restored many motorcycles and I continue to ride but as far as 4x4 stuff I don't know much. Chicago is not the best place for finding knowledgable 4x4 mechanics. Most trucks here are for looks.
As far as offroad. My wife is from a ranch in Durango Mx and until now we always go there via plane or bus. It is extremely rural and beautiful. The ranch is at the east side of the Sierra Madre. No car can make it down those roads to the ranch. Everybody there has big trucks. The terrain is very demanding. Paved roads are few and far between. I would like to be able to load up the TB and drive down there from the 606zip this summer that is why I want to raise it and beef up the rear springs.

Not lazy to read old posts. I did read alot of posts for days prior to joining. Going back I could have worded my intent better.
I am specifically asking opinion of should I use the BDS which from what I believe does not add additional preload to the front spring or should I use something like the Truxx which adds more preload. Based on the fact I am only putting the Z71 springs/shocks on the rear with no additional spacers. If this setup is not correct I was hoping someone might tell me. Or maybe I don't know WTF I am asking. In that case sorry for wasting youz guyzes time

[Skindiggers]

In order to do that trip you will need more than just the Z71 springs and a lift kit ... you will also need longer rear shocks , bigger mud-terrain tires and wheel spacers to allow you to mount those tires without hitting the upper ball joint and maybe body lift , i don't know how hi you want to go and how big tires you want !
The best deal for all these you will find if you speak with MarkMc ( http://theliftmeister.com/public_html/t ... page4.html ) email :markmcmaster2003@gmail.com !
He will help you with everything you need !

[CHI-TOWN]

Thanks for reply -

You said longer rear shocks. I ordered the Tahoe Z71 shocks. I thought those will have longer travel than my stock TB shocks ?

[Trail X]

Hey Paul. Welcome to the forum, glad you made it past the hazing.

My recommendation is to read through the build threads and see if someone's vehicle is set up like you want yours to be. No shame in copying, as there are only so many combinations out there.

Now, preload... that's a well misunderstood term. There really isn't any such thing, unless you're talking about the amount the spring is compressed upon assembly into the strut. There is no real 'preload' when the spring has weight on it.

Z71 shocks are not great, but they do get you about 1/2" more travel. It was misunderstood early on that they were much longer, but they are not. If you want more travel, BDS shocks are the way to go.

[Skindiggers]

Tahoe Z71 shocks are longer and exactly what you need .. I thought you ordered just Z71 springs without shocks .

[CHI-TOWN]

Thanks

I think my concern is that I do mostly hwy driving and I love the ride on my stock suspension. But I will sacrifice some comfort for the ability to drive to Durango, Mx 1-2 a year. I don't need a huge lift.

I also added a Steelcraft Bull bar and I just got my Warn lights that I will install this weekend. Lighting is another huge deal with driving in the ranches of Mexico at night. Hitting a cow or mule in the middle of the road in the dark is not good

My father in law drives keeps a 1999 2wd F150 P/U at the ranch and it is Ok but when it rains it kind sucks on those roads.

[Skindiggers]

I have a 3" lift kit from Mark and 265/65/17 tires , i can mount also bigger tires like 32" or 33" with this kit but mine are brand new i don't want to buy new ones right now ..
When you mount the kit your suspension will be a little stiffer but not much , the god part with the lift is that you will not have as much body roll like you have now and you will have better brakes due to the stiffness of the suspension , you will also be able to take off your front sway bar without having as much roll as you have now and this will alow your fron wheel to travel more which will help you a lot when off-roading !
So in my opinion , based on what you told me , you should take the 3" lift from Mark , the wheel spacers and some 32" mud tires than cut the resonator off and you are ready...
This is the cheapest and easiest way to do it !

[Trail X]

When you mount the kit your suspension will be a little stiffer but not much , the god part with the lift is that you will not have as much body roll

Gotta clear this up. Lifting the truck does not make your suspension stiffer. This is a myth. The only way to make a stiffer ride, is to change springs or shocks. Lifting does not make anything stiffer.

Less body roll is correct, but it is not due to stiffer suspension. It is due to change of the virtual roll axis point of the front IFS suspension geometry when it is lifted. The opposite is true with a lowered IFS vehicle... more body roll.

[Skindiggers]

I agree..
But due to the lift the front suspension will have less down travel and more up travel .. now, with the sway bar mounted the up travel is limited and the down travel is short so when you will hit a hole in the ground your shocks will reach the max open position very soon and this you will feel it as a stiffness . Going up the sway bar will stop your travel and you will fell that again as a stiffness .. putting all this together the feeling in the truck will be a little stiffer , but taking off the sway bar will give you some up travel and you will feel the truck much better ( softer ) but still not like original due to the short down travel of the front wheels !
Correct me if i'm wrong...

[Trail X]

Stiffness might not be the best word then, but I understand where you are coming from.

A better word may be harshness? But yes, I agree that it drives smoother without the front swaybar.

[Skindiggers]

I'm not an English speaking person so you are right i didn't used the right word to explain it correctly ..but thank God we understood each other!
Now if we could find some better axles that can stand bigger angles and with longer front struts we could have an even better and smoother drive !

bro..

[navigator]

I'm not an English speaking person ....

bro..

your English is better than my Greek!
I do know a little Greek, he goes to my church, his name is Johnny!

[Skindiggers]

LoL...


i think we booth know the same little Greek .. as i'm from Transylvania-Romania , i only live here , i don't speak very well Greek !

[HARDTRAILZ]

Tahoe Z71 shocks are longer and exactly what you need .. I thought you ordered just Z71 springs without shocks .

Seriously???? Those shocks are trash.