The front is stock ride height. Would like to use Bilstein HD's. Will they play nice with the rear lowered 2". If not, what would be a good alternative? Truck is a reg cab stepside half ton GMC. TIA.

 

I ran a 2.8" set of lowering springs on my Z71 Avalanche for about 3 years with the stock Bilsteins. It rode rough and the shocks started leaking. I know it's not exactly the same - coils versus leafs - but for optimum performance I would recommend you add shock extender brackets. That's what I did on the Avalanche and it returned the ride to near-stock. I'm using stiffer shocks now so that's why the ride is slightly stiffer than the OEM Bilsteins.

 

If your bumpstops are stock the shock will not care how much the truck is lowered. Once you cut the bumpstop/notch the frame you could bottom the shock before hitting the stop, the shock will be less than thrilled about that. It is nice to retain stock length shocks so the truck will have stock droop.

 

i like the doetsch techs myself. I'm running them on my 4/6. My brother actually has a set ofthem for sale if you're interested. He pulled them to put airshocks on his truck so he could tow a boat.

 

I've got a 2" rear drop and installed the Bilstein HD's about 4 months ago. Truck rides good and it has never bottomed out in the rear. I haven't really hauled anything heavy yet but I'm confident I won't have issues when the time comes.

 

I have the Bilstien HD with my 2" drop. I love it! I towed a Caddy CTS from New York to GA with the normal heavy @$$ UHaul trailer and didn't have a problem. I would recommend this set up.

 

Get the Bilsteins for an SS Silverado application. They have the 2 inch block removed from the factory, and the shocks are shorter to accomodate for it. Also, move your rear bump-stops from the u-shaped bracket to the frame itself(remove the u-shaped brackets). The brackets just bolt into place, will take you all of 10 minutes.

 

I didn't even think of that. Looks like something worth looking into.

 

Yeah, your Suburban has a 5-link with coils in the rear, so can't really compare it to a truck suspension with leaves. Apples & oranges.....

 

Yeah I thought about that while I was looking it up on the internet. It's a completely different suspension to begin with and then with the addition that I'm carrying a lot more weight back there on a regular basis. My babygirl got junk in her trunk lol