New Suspension & New Tires Installed 03 Limited

[Neumonic]

Finished up everything last weekend, wanted to drive the new setup for a week before posting.
Project: Suspension and tire upgrade
I finally got around to removing my factory XREAS system (208k miles) I went with Bilstein 5100's up front combined with new Moog V8 factory replacement springs. I was advised to go with Bilstein HD shocks for the rear as I still have the leveling air system in place back there. Thank you Ark Swamp Rider for all your help and everyone else on here that posted how-to threads and videos, made the removal and instal process relatively easy.
Tire wise, I went with the Cooper Discoverer AT3's in 255/75 17
I like the ride and handling of the entire combo but wish I would have gone with the 1.75 setting up front, more on that later.
Complications: the front cams on both lower A-arms were frozen, no matter what I did I was only able to get the arms to swing down for strut and spring removal/replacement but wasn't able to effectively move them for alignment purposes. Rear shock top nuts were not coming off (think of the age and mileage) so I used a sawsall to cut the nuts off just above the top bushing washer which proved to be a huge time saver in the end (new shocks had their own hardware)
All in all I would not consider this project difficult for the individual that has performed average repair work to any automobile, do the research and you shouldn't have to much trouble or surprises.
Finishing Touches to come:
I am going to order new cam bolts for both front/lower A-Arms and will replace both front and back bushings while I'm at it so I can align it to a tighter tolerance. I haven't decided if I am going to get the cam kits from the dealer or from Rockauto or wheelers off-road?
In addition to the rebuilding of the lower A-Arms I am going to go up another setting on the 5100's, might as well as I have to Align it again anyway. I am at the first notch up from the factory height and will go up one more which I believe is the 1.75 setting vs the .85 setting I am currently at.
Tires and suspension gave a 2" total lift up front at current setting and tires alone gave an inch lift in the rear, all measurement are from floor to fender at the center of the wheel.

 

[yotamandan]

Cool story bro... Lol post up some pix!

 

[Neumonic]

Not a good pic, runner is dirty and we have about 6" of snow outside at the moment.

 

[Neumonic]

 

[Neumonic]

 

[Neumonic]

 

[fiore]

My moog 81088's will be here tomorrow. Currently have a 1" thick (2" yield) daystar spacer up front with 255 75 17 duratracs. Hopefully I'll remove my xreas soon and add some 5100s all around and throw a 1.5" spacer on the back. You like the 81088s? Can't beat the price

 

[JSeligman2828]

View attachment 147787

I'm pretty much going to do the same setup as you Neumonic. I have a limited as well and am on the fence on whether or not to strip the RAS from it. Are you happy you kept it in? I do more offroad/on trail driving than towing or pulling. I don't foresee my self with a trailer for quite some time.

I've been trying to figure out, with the bilstein 5100 swap are wheel spacers or is a leveling kit required or can I just purchase 2 shocks/2 struts and 2 coils and be done with it?

Thanks for your help!

 

[dchild]

I've been trying to figure out, with the bilstein 5100 swap are wheel spacers or is a leveling kit required or can I just purchase 2 shocks/2 struts and 2 coils and be done with it?

Having done the 5100/Moog swap, I can confirm that the 5100s will work fine without wheel spacers (I have stock wheels/tires) or a leveling kit. You don't even need new coils, the 5100s can provide 0" to almost 3" of lift on their own.

 

[JSeligman2828]

Having done the 5100/Moog swap, I can confirm that the 5100s will work fine without wheel spacers (I have stock wheels/tires) or a leveling kit. You don't even need new coils, the 5100s can provide 0" to almost 3" of lift on their own.

Thanks DChild,

My current coils have around 113k miles on them. I heard the same sentiment from others that coils don't lose their "spring" but I feel like i'm bouncing all over the place. Is that 100% the xreas or does it have to do with my coils at all? I figured for 20-50 bucks for brand new ones i would just throw them in.

Thanks!

 

[dchild]

My current coils have around 113k miles on them. I heard the same sentiment from others that coils don't lose their "spring" but I feel like i'm bouncing all over the place. Is that 100% the xreas or does it have to do with my coils at all? I figured for 20-50 bucks for brand new ones i would just throw them in.

The bouncing is mostly the struts. I confess I don't understand why people say springs wear out; but like you, I figured for ~$50 why take the chance. I'd think that a 5100 lift could help with worn-out springs because they preload the coils, making the ride a bit stiffer (this is another reason I went with the longer Moog springs, so I didn't need as much preload to get the lift I wanted). The struts are what really control the bouncing though - springs are supposed to bounce and the shock absorbers limit the bouncing.

For that reason you might consider replacing the rear struts as well. (If you have xreas, I think you may have to change all 4 at once.) I read somewhere that 5100s are too long to use with RAS and stock-length struts are preferred.

 

[JSeligman2828]

The bouncing is mostly the struts. I confess I don't understand why people say springs wear out; but like you, I figured for ~$50 why take the chance. I'd think that a 5100 lift could help with worn-out springs because they preload the coils, making the ride a bit stiffer (this is another reason I went with the longer Moog springs, so I didn't need as much preload to get the lift I wanted). The struts are what really control the bouncing though - springs are supposed to bounce and the shock absorbers limit the bouncing.

For that reason you might consider replacing the rear struts as well. (If you have xreas, I think you may have to change all 4 at once.) I read somewhere that 5100s are too long to use with RAS and stock-length struts are preferred.

Thanks,

I'm definitely replacing all 4 with new shocks/struts. It's either 5100 adjustable in the front and stock length in the rear. I get so bogged down with all the choices i sometimes lose sight. I'm still trying to decide whether to scrap the RAS or not. I know that it only has about 10k miles on it because the owner before me had it replaced when a shop messed it up on a lift.

Decisions decisions..

 

[Wavesport]

I am blown away by how little rust and corrosion are present on your 12 year old truck!

 

[Neumonic]

I have rust on the back hatch to the right of my license plate of all places?