Question about Bilstein 5100 install

[Benningtonr]

I just order the struts, and they will be here Tomorrow, Installation is planned for the weekend. Besides the struts, and a spring compressor, is there anything else I need to install them, i plan on using the 2.1 setting, the rest of the suspension is stock.

I am referring to any other parts, not tools, i don't want to have the truck apart on a holiday weekend and then find out I need ??????

Thank you

 

[shadowhawk]

Nope, just the tools to take it apart and the spring compressors.

 

[Benningtonr]

Sweet, thank you

 

[Benningtonr]

One more question, setting these at 2.1 with all other components being stock, will my upper ball joints pop out or have unnecessary strain on them?

I do not travel off road, just snow and some sand.

 

[JB1]

What year is your truck and how many miles are on it?

 

[Benningtonr]

It is a 2016, just clicked over 24k. I have had it since new, so i also know the history. it has been babied.

 

[shadowhawk]

You should be fine.

 

[Benningtonr]

I just order a set of mevotech's, better safe than sorry, they are not heavy duty, but from what i have read better than stock.

 

[shadowhawk]

Then wait till you have them too. Align after they are both installed

 

[Benningtonr]

Roger that, thanks for the assist

 

[shadowhawk]

While you wait for parts, put some rust buster stuff on the top center nuts on the existing shocks. The rest should be easier to break loose.

 

[Benningtonr]

great idea

 

[shadowhawk]

That part to me the list; that and compressing the Springs enough to put them back together

 

[Benningtonr]

I had read where someone used a ratchet strap on the upper and lower control arms to help get them together

 

[Benningtonr]

I just called the shop next door to my work, getting an install estimate for the UCA's and struts.

910.00 reasonable, or bat sh@t crazy?

 

[JB1]

I just order a set of mevotech's, better safe than sorry, they are not heavy duty, but from what i have read better than stock.

Good idea, its cheap insurance. The OEM arms are thin stamped steel, the mevotechs are a forged arm so they are stronger than stock. Plan on giving them a good paint job before install because they do arrive bare.

I just called the shop next door to my work, getting an install estimate for the UCA's and struts.

910.00 reasonable, or bat sh@t crazy?

do they charge $300/hr?

 

[Benningtonr]

Good call on the paint,

for the arms they said 2.4 hrs per side
Not sure what the hours were for the Struts, but i thought that sounded a little high

 

[shadowhawk]

That's crazy high. You could take the parts (springs and shocks) top a place that can assemble them, then you just have to install them. It's not hard, just can take some elbow grease

 

[JB1]

To remove the strut you have to disconnect the BJ from the knuckle anyway, only additional work is removing the two bolts at the frame which may take an extra 30 min tops to remove and install new. This is why people go ahead and replace at the same time they install struts, its just not that much more work

 

[Benningtonr]

Plan on giving them a good paint job before install because they do arrive bare.

Do you think Powder coating would hurt the ball joint?