Zone 4 inch lift plus their UCAs plus bilstein 6112s

[FLYxxBOY]

Have a question I cannot find a solid answer to after hours on the googalizer and here. I currently have the bilstein 6112 leveling kit (set to max, but I would change it with the lift) plus zones d2301 upper control arms. I'm looking to add zones 4 inch lift (plus the 3 inch springs in the rear) I've read about plenty of people doing the zone lift and bilstein level (usually the 5100s set to 1.4, with zones 3 inch rear spring option) but cant really find anything about people having the lift, bilsteins, and zone ucas. On zones website it states that their ucas are for 2 to 3 inches of lift (for the coilovers) and will work with their 4 and 6 inch lift kits. Would the zone ucas not work with the bilsteins set to 1.4 (or whatever the 6112 equivalent setting is I haven't looked it up)? I.E. would they need to be set to a minimum of 2 inches then? If so I'm wondering if the truck might sit nose high since it will basically be a 6/3 lift now. Hopefully this makes sense and thanks to any input

 

[JB1]

I have the BDS 6” w/o the preload spacer just the 5” top spacer. I also have 6112’s set to zero lift and I have 3” rear coils with Fox rear shocks, my OEM UCA sits flat. If you keep the Zone UCA it would probably push the knuckle outward at the top and they would adjust the lowers outward during alignment making your front wheels stick out further (zone UCA is longer).

if you go with the 4” I would set your Bils at the second notch which on 6112’s each notch is .47” lift. If you get the 6” kit don’t use the preload spacer and set them at 0.0” lift

 

[JB1]

I used to have the same lift with 5" rear coils, 6112's maxed and the Zone UCA, but removed it when I went lower to basically 5/3 now.

 

[FLYxxBOY]

Ok thanks for the help guys, and JB1 what did you remove?

 

[DJ Maresco]

JB1, what tires are you running?.

 

[JB1]

Ok thanks for the help guys, and JB1 what did you remove?

The 4” kits have a 4” top spacer to “make up the space” provided by the longer knuckles and drop brackets. The 6” kit uses a 5” top spacer combined with an approx 3/4” thick preload spacer that requires the strut to be disassembled and inserted just above the coil and top mount. This is how Zone and BDS get 6” on the basic kit. So if you have a lift kit and Bilstein front struts you discard the preload spacer and just adjust the preload on your Bilsteins to your desired setting. When I had 5” rear coils I had my Bilsteins set at max, when I switched to 3” coils I adjusted the Bilsteins down to zero.

The 5/3 setup should leave you with a measured rake of about 1/2 to 3/4 depending on your stock measurements.

Here’s a pic showing the preload spacer from the Zone instructions.

 

[JB1]

JB1, what tires are you running?.

The tires are Nitto Ridge Grappler in size 325/60R20 and the wheels are Fuel 20x10 -18mm. These are a Load E tire whereas the 35’s are Load F. These are taller and wider than 35’s yet they weigh less due to the Load difference.

 

[JB1]

I saved this pic of a members truck because the Zone UCA’s actually ended up at a strange angle (fox didn’t give him much lift), you definitely don’t want this imo

Zone 4”, Fox 2.0 and Zone UCA

 

[FLYxxBOY]

Ok I gotya. So did you have zone upper control arms with bilsteins set at 0 then or what ucas do you have (they looked like zones in your pic). Yeah definitely dont want them looking like that guys that's why I was wondering if the bilsteins needed to be atleast on the 2 inch setting when using zone ucas

 

[JB1]

I searched and found his threads but the pic I have is missing, maybe start a conversation

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/2017-qc-sport-build.103644/

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/install-was-today.104276/

Ok I gotya. So did you have zone upper control arms with bilsteins set at 0 then or what ucas do you have (they looked like zones in your pic). Yeah definitely dont want them looking like that guys that's why I was wondering if the bilsteins needed to be atleast on the 2 inch setting when using zone ucas

I removed my Zone UCAs and went back to the OEM UCA, they only had a few hundred miles on them when I had my lift installed. If you look closely you can see 3 tack welds on the BJ top/UCA, I had a friend do that because I hear some owners BJ’s work loose. Not sure if it was needed but it gives me peace of mind.

 

[FLYxxBOY]

Ok thanks alot, I think if I do the 4 inch over the body lift I'll just sell the zone ones and get OEM style again, dont want to risk being nose high or those weird balljoint angles

 

[Solid State]

I used to have the same lift with 5" rear coils, 6112's maxed and the Zone UCA, but removed it when I went lower to basically 5/3 now.

View attachment 196829

Been meaning to ask you for a while now. Why didn't you keep your Zone UCA's when you put your truck down?

 

[JB1]

Been meaning to ask you for a while now. Why didn't you keep your Zone UCA's when you put your truck down?

I hated to get rid of them. They would have bolted up, but the added length would have given me a wider front track width than I wanted. They really aren’t meant for stock trucks or in our case lifted trucks that the knuckles correct for the lift/drop brackets.

here’s a comparison pic

 

[joeygster]

I have the BDS 6” w/o the preload spacer just the 5” top spacer. I also have 6112’s set to zero lift and I have 3” rear coils with Fox rear shocks, my OEM UCA sits flat. If you keep the Zone UCA it would probably push the knuckle outward at the top and they would adjust the lowers outward during alignment making your front wheels stick out further (zone UCA is longer).

if you go with the 4” I would set your Bils at the second notch which on 6112’s each notch is .47” lift. If you get the 6” kit don’t use the preload spacer and set them at 0.0” lift


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Gotta say man, that is one sweet rig.

 

[Solid State]

Gotcha. Thanks

 

[FLYxxBOY]

I hated to get rid of them. They would have bolted up, but the added length would have given me a wider front track width than I wanted. They really aren’t meant for stock trucks or in our case lifted trucks that the knuckles correct for the lift/drop brackets.

here’s a comparison pic

View attachment 197242

That was my debate going into the lift. I decided to do the 4 inch lift with 3 inch springs in the rear. I'm keeping my zone ucas and setting the bilsteins at 2 inches (from what I've read the zone ucas will be just fine since the bills will be at 2 inches, correct me if I'm wrong). Most say 2 will be nose high and that you need 1.4 with that setup to be level (and at 1.4 the zone ucas will potentially be an issue), but there are a few that say theirs came out perfect at 2. I'm gonna see how it goes and if it is high I already have a 1 inch spacer for the rear if need be to level it back out. So basically I'll be 6 inches lifted up front and 3 or 4 in the rear.

 

[JB1]

That was my debate going into the lift. I decided to do the 4 inch lift with 3 inch springs in the rear. I'm keeping my zone ucas and setting the bilsteins at 2 inches (from what I've read the zone ucas will be just fine since the bills will be at 2 inches, correct me if I'm wrong). Most say 2 will be nose high and that you need 1.4 with that setup to be level (and at 1.4 the zone ucas will potentially be an issue), but there are a few that say theirs came out perfect at 2. I'm gonna see how it goes and if it is high I already have a 1 inch spacer for the rear if need be to level it back out. So basically I'll be 6 inches lifted up front and 3 or 4 in the rear.

Sounds like a plan, I look forward to seeing it.

 

[FLYxxBOY]

Hey Jb1, what rear shocks are you running or were running with your 6 inch lift? I got the upgraded fox shocks with mine but I think they sent me the wrong ones (they say it will work even though the ones I got say for 0 to 1 inches of lift and the part numbers don't even match up). All I can really find is Rancho shocks that are for 4 to 6 inches, cant find anything with bilsteins.

 

[azcoyote]

I have the BDS 6” w/o the preload spacer just the 5” top spacer. I also have 6112’s set to zero lift and I have 3” rear coils with Fox rear shocks, my OEM UCA sits flat. If you keep the Zone UCA it would probably push the knuckle outward at the top and they would adjust the lowers outward during alignment making your front wheels stick out further (zone UCA is longer).

if you go with the 4” I would set your Bils at the second notch which on 6112’s each notch is .47” lift. If you get the 6” kit don’t use the preload spacer and set them at 0.0” lift


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You don’t have a build sheet or something do you? That setup
Sounds perfect for me.

 

[JB1]

You don’t have a build sheet or something do you? That setup
Sounds perfect for me.

No sorry, I never did a build thread. If your on the fence between a 4” or 6”, this is a great option.