Lift Check list

[Wahugg]

Well I got the trailblazer back and she purrs nicely now, but today I blew the seal one on of the rear shocks, so I think its time for a full suspension overhaul.

Now I don't want a "full" lift" due to mpg's being important to me, but I wouldn't mind a small lift and a stiffer suspension.

Currently I have a bit of a rake going on with Tahoe Z71's in the rear which provides 1.5in of lift. To combat this and replace a small list due to worn struts up front, I have been thinking of throwing 86's or 87's in. From the lift chart, that is only a .97 or 1.14 inches of wheel lift, so I would need to throw a spacer up front. Would a half inch spacer help make up for the half inch needed to match the rear? Or would I need a thinner spacer due to strut lift vs wheel lift? If I follow the conversions chart on the spring lift rate I think I would need a .34 inch spacer (.5in desired wheel lift /1.47 value from conversion chart = .34 strut lift)

Then as far as shocks go, I am just going to throw Blistening HD's up front part# F4-BE5-A333-H0
As for the rear, I see two possible struts to use that are suitable for the Z71 springs. Those being part numbers F4-BE5-E375-H0 or F4-BE5-E380-H0. Is one stiffer then the other? Or is it just two part numbers for the same thing?

Would it be wise to flip my UCA's? I am only going to be getting 1.02 strut lift with a .34in spacer and 86 springs vs the 83 I have now.

So does everything look in order before I go out and drop $$ on this or any recommendations?

Thanks!

-Wallace

[navigator]

You have a lot of options but I don't think 86 or 87 springs are one of them.
You might be able to find a similar Moog item but the OEM aren't avail through parts sellers any longer.
I have an email out to Moog to get the spring rates so we can hopefully figure out a similar replacement. Who knows when they will get back to me.

As for the top spacer(if you can find springs), I think Donny and others have used cutting board material to make one. Depending on thickness you could stack 1-2 to fine tune the height depending on how much thread length you have remaining.

You might be able to get the 2" MarkMc front lift spacer from him which would be close to level.
I originally ran the Rough Country lift up front with Z71's in the rear and it leveled out pretty good. One advantage of the RC is it also replaces your OEM spring mount. You can also use longer bolts and use top spacers as well if you want to make changes in the future.

[Wahugg]

I know 87's and 88's are completely gone from online retailers. I might scoop up a pair of 87's used, but I am afraid they might have some sag. Can't you still buy 86's new online?

Would a spacer outside the strut be allowable? I know .34 isn't much, but I do not want to put my cv shafts at risk if my suspension is ever at full extension in an off camber situation.

-Wahugg

[Beamer]

I know 87's and 88's are completely gone from online retailers. I might scoop up a pair of 87's used, but I am afraid they might have some sag. Can't you still buy 86's new online?

Would a spacer outside the strut be allowable? I know .34 isn't much, but I do not want to put my cv shafts at risk if my suspension is ever at full extension in an off camber situation.

-Wahugg

I have almost 1" of UHMW on top of my front struts, RC spacer and stock 83's with no binding at full extension. I do have my front sway bar still connected, but with longer sway bar links from Mike Barton.

[Wahugg]

Thanks Beamer for confirming there will be no bind up.

That only leaves me with the question, what is the difference between the rear shock part numbers F4-BE5-E375-H0 or F4-BE5-E380-H0? They are both listed for z71 rear spring. Is one just an updated part number, or is there a different stiffness rate?

Thanks!

-Wahugg

[Cable810]

Will you be taking it offroad or a daily driver?

[Wahugg]

Both. I live on a farm that does present some 4x4 only areas such as a stream crossing, and the crossing of dikes. But during the school year it sees at least 60 miles a day, and a 600 mile road trip every month which destination is also a farm, but with less diverse hilly areas and much more of a softer landscape made of peat and sand.

The main reason for stiffer springs is to aid in towing trailers and equipment, as well as getting the stiff suspension my dads Z71 Silverado has, which is my opinion is far superior then any soft ride (such as a stock tb).

-Wahugg

[DirtyBacon04]

If you're going to have any lift in the back, you're going to need longer shocks for full articulation. RC, BDS, etc. I remember a thread of someone using the Z71 shocks with a lift and being very disappointed. But if your NOT putting lift in the rear, then i suspect standard bilstiens or Z71s would work.

[Wahugg]

If you're going to have any lift in the back, you're going to need longer shocks for full articulation. RC, BDS, etc. I remember a thread of someone using the Z71 shocks with a lift and being very disappointed. But if your NOT putting lift in the rear, then i suspect standard bilstiens or Z71s would work.

I know that I need longer shocks in the rear. My Current stock length shocks are topping out sometimes with my Current Z71 springs in the rear. I am not running a lift, just Z71 springs in the rear.

I am just trying to find out which rear shock to use.

This website tells me that two DIFFERENT BDS HD shocks will work with the rear Z71 Springs with two different part numbers. I am just trying to figure out the difference between F4-BE5-E375-H0 and F4-BE5-E380-H0. Both are told to work with the Z71 rear springs, but I am just trying to figure out which one is superior to the other or stiffer.

viewtopic.php?p=19428#p19428

-Wahugg

[DirtyBacon04]

One is gas charged and one is hydraulic. Gas is better.

[Wahugg]

One is gas charged and one is hydraulic. Gas is better.

Thank you sir! I can put the order in now to get this project out of the way.


Thanks again!

-Wahugg

Edit:

On shockwarehouse, it says both are high pressure gas, but I am going to go out on a limb and say that the F4-BE5-E380-H0 is the gas charged one?

[Trail X]

This website tells me that two DIFFERENT BDS HD shocks will work with the rear Z71 Springs with two different part numbers. I am just trying to figure out the difference between F4-BE5-E375-H0 and F4-BE5-E380-H0.

Those are not BDS shock part numbers, those are Bilstein shock part numbers.

Bacon's information does not apply directly to them, only to the BDS numbers.

As for the Bilstein #s, this is all we currently know:

REAR: Tahoe/Yukon 4x4 Replacement: F4-BE5-E375-H0
REAR: Avalance/Suburban/Tahoe/Yukon Replacement: F4-BE5-E380-H0

I do believe both are gas charged. I have only seen gas charged shocks from Bilstein.

If you really want to get one of those, Bilstein does have a good technical support and may be able to answer your question.

[Cable810]

Use coupon Shock55 for 5% off at Shockwarehouse!!

[Wahugg]

James, Thanks for clearing that up. Somehow in my mind I though BDS and Bilstein's were the same thing. And you make it seem that Bilsteins are inferior to BDS which after some browsing around seems to be the general consensus. But the big problem I see is that if I do put on BDS shocks with only Z71 rear springs, is that they would be bottoming out the BDS shocks all the time. If BDS shocks will indeed work with only Z71 rear springs, then I am more then willing to shell out a little more for a better product, but do you think they will work with out bottoming out all the time?

Cable810, thanks for the code!

-Wahugg

Edit:
I found the difference between the two rear shocks
F4-BE5-E375-H0 is for years 2007-2011
F4-BE5-E380-H0 is for years 2000-2006

Basically its just an updated part number, just the like the Z71 springs had an updated part number. Really there is no difference, if I had to choose one I would choose the newer one just in case they revised out any previous weakness's or flaws from the past ones. ( and it matches the year run of my Z71 springs 07+)

[navigator]

I run the Skyjacker N8030 in the rear with my Z71 springs and my RC 3/4" spacer with no issues so far. With my swaybar connected I had to really pry to get them both in the rear so I'm not worried about them falling out either.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I would choose bilstiens over bds and their bs warranty.

Bds has failed a few members recently in the product and warranty dept. Ask Roadie.

[Trail X]

James, Thanks for clearing that up. Somehow in my mind I though BDS and Bilstein's were the same thing. And you make it seem that Bilsteins are inferior to BDS which after some browsing around seems to be the general consensus. But the big problem I see is that if I do put on BDS shocks with only Z71 rear springs, is that they would be bottoming out the BDS shocks all the time. If BDS shocks will indeed work with only Z71 rear springs, then I am more then willing to shell out a little more for a better product, but do you think they will work with out bottoming out all the time?

BDS is the same company that makes lifts. Bilstein is strictly a shock manufacturer.

Bilstein is probably one of the best shock manufacturers. So their shocks are not inferior to BDS.

However, the listed BDS shocks for the TB are made for a 2" lift in the rear (shock length = ~26" eye to eye extended length).

BDS does have two types, hydraulic white bodies and gas charged fox racing shocks.

The hydraulic white bodies are quite cheap and are essentially considered wear items, like bushings. They may wear out faster, but are priced very low. These are why Kyle keeps bringing up the BDS guarantee every chance he can (plus he has some sort of vendetta against them). I believe BDS did price-assist replacements for shocks that wore prematurely. Mine have been pretty good for two years now.

The gas charged fox shocks are probably of near equivalent quality to Bilsteins.

The concern is that a 26" extended-length shock needs to be paired with a lift block, otherwise the springs may get loose enough upon full extension for the spring to pop out of place. Since Z71 springs are the same height as the stock springs, I would not suggest using BDS (or any other 26" shocks) with only springs and no lift block.

If you have ONLY Z71 shocks in the rear, just use the Bilstein HD shocks made for a stock TB.

[fishsticks]

If you would like a properly sized Bilstein shock, the 10" travel 5125s are nearly the same dimensions as the the BDS 55619.

They are also gas charged, unlike the BDS white bodies.

http://www.davezoffroadperformance.com/ ... hocks.html


I run the 5150 (reservoir) 12" Bilsteins on the front of my Yota and they're a nice shock. I'll be replacing my BDS rear shocks with Bilsteins soon on the TB.

[HARDTRAILZ]

edit...not worth it.