Bilstein Leveling Kit?

[Bourget117]

Has anyone used the Bilstein 5100 leveling kit? im not looking to do a lift kit as I don’t plan on larger tires. Maybe going from the 32 stock tires to maybe 33. But no bigger. I’m not a fan of the front rake. It probably a 2 inch diff from the rear. So when I seen that Bilstein makes a kit that’s not too expensive and has the shocks I want Along with leveling out the JT without spacers or pucks, I figure it’s a got to be a decent combination.
Any thoughts or experiences?

Sponsored

 

[Bigb55]

Their Spring provides 2-2.5" of lift. Spring Rate is equal to OEM Rubicon springs. So will ride like stock.

Not required but highly recommended would be an adjustable track bar and the Mopar 2" lift lower control arms and some longer front sway bar links.

Install and check the rake. Sometimes a 3/4" spacer in the rear is needed if it goes nose high a tad.

 

[Bourget117]

Their Spring provides 2-2.5" of lift. Spring Rate is equal to OEM Rubicon springs. So will ride like stock.

Not required but highly recommended would be an adjustable track bar and the Mopar 2" lift lower control arms and some longer front sway bar links.

Install and check the rake. Sometimes a 3/4" spacer in the rear is needed if it goes nose high a tad.

I know the kit comes with longer sway bar end links. But why would I need a track bar or new control arms?
The lift should be sufficient in the front to level it without going too high. I measured what I have now and my fronts are 2 inches lower than my rears. The Bilstein kit adds 1.3 inches to a rubicon and 1.9 inches to everything else.

 

[Jteakus]

You can always bolt on the kit and see if it is fine for you, You can also add anything you want to it later. No experience with this kit but their shocks are the only ones that can control bounce on my 2nd Gen Cummins trucks and last.

 

[Bigb55]

I know the kit comes with longer sway bar end links. But why would I need a track bar or new control arms?
The lift should be sufficient in the front to level it without going too high. I measured what I have now and my fronts are 2 inches lower than my rears. The Bilstein kit adds 1.3 inches to a rubicon and 1.9 inches to everything else.

Because around a 2" lift puts it on the edge of being out of OEM specs. Some handle it better then others, dunno why.

I did the Rancho Level It kit which is very similar to the Bilstein (springs, sway bars links, shocks, even the same estimated lift height). It gave my sport just over 2" of lift, even with my winch up front. Springs can sometimes lift higher then advertised. I ended up a 1/4" higher up front then the rear. You really won't know until it's installed on the truck. I ended up adding a 1" rear spring. I am very happy overall with everything.

Buy my front axle noticeably shifted. So i ordered an adjustable track bar to get it centered.

My caster after the leveling kit was on the low end. So the longer Mopar 2" lift arms brought it up to the upper end. They're included in the Mopar 2" lift for the same reason.

It should be ok without an adjustable track bar and control arms. But honestly it rides 100% better with them.

The longer Mopar arms are fairly inexpensive and easy to install. Any adjustable track bar will work too.

 

[SoK66]

Not a direct answer to your question, but I didn’t care at all for the extreme rake on my ‘23 Willys. I added the Teraflex 1.5” spacer kit which leveled the JT perfectly. After the spacers were installed caster was not in spec, so per the same advice you received above I added the 1/4” longer Mopar lower control arms, plus Teraflex’s 2” shock extensions. I found that the stock sway bar links, which had the sway bar angled high at stock height, ended up the perfect length after the spacer was added.

As my next step I’ll add an adjustable track bar and better shocks.

The 5100s would be a big improvement over the stock Sport shocks. The ones that came on my ‘23 Willys are supposed to be same as Rubicon, but I drive a couple Rubis at work and they are clearly not the same tune. We also have a Mojave which to me is the sweet spot in the ride department. Makes me wish I’d gotten one.

 

[Shelstead]

I have this on my 2023 Gladiator Sport max tow and love this Bilstein 2”level kit I did put jks adjustable track bar on the front end and change the steer stabilizer to a Bilstein run 285/70r17 tire and it looks good and performs great off road it still has a small rake and still tow a Geo Pro camper and it sits level with the camper hook up

 

[Sandman 4x4]

I know the kit comes with longer sway bar end links. But why would I need a track bar or new control arms?
The lift should be sufficient in the front to level it without going too high. I measured what I have now and my fronts are 2 inches lower than my rears. The Bilstein kit adds 1.3 inches to a rubicon and 1.9 inches to everything else.

When you add longer springs or spacers to increase your hight, that will effect your camber in a negative way, not by much but maybe just enough to induce death wobble.

 

[Bourget117]

When you add longer springs or spacers to increase your hight, that will effect your camber in a negative way, not by much but maybe just enough to induce death wobble.

I’m starting to think I should just change the shocks and call it a day. No death wobble.

 

[Jesse]

#1. You realize the Gladiator is a Truck right? I guess your not planning on putting anything in the back?
#2. If you do "level" it, please adjust your headlights!

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

#1. You realize the Gladiator is a Truck right? I guess your not planning on putting anything in the back?
#2. If you do "level" it, please adjust your headlights!

#1 - some rarely put something in the back and want it more level for the majority of the time it's not hauling something.

How many times have you seen a pickup going down the road with an empty bed?

 

[ChrisNLA]

I’m starting to think I should just change the shocks and call it a day. No death wobble.

I have a 1.5" spacer in the front end. It keeps the rear ever so slightly higher (its barely noticeable) - perfect for having a little weight in the bed.

No issues whatsoever that can be attributed to the spacer.

Springs often run higher than advertised - so that's how you can end up spiraling out of control when you go to a spring level.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

#1 - some rarely put something in the back and want it more level for the majority of the time it's not hauling something.

How many times have you seen a pickup going down the road with an empty bed?

While I’m not hauling every day, I do want a decent rake with the rear a little higher than the front, so leveling is not a priority. Especially spending more $$$ to do so. Then on top loose hauling capability. I will say this, after owning a few mid sized Chevys and a Dodge Dakota, the best for handling higher weights all around was the Dakota, especially with the Magnum V8 and 5 speed. The S10 was fine with the 4.3 with more legal capacity. The Colorado was not rated as high at 7,000 towing, but at 1,860 around 800 lbs more capacity than Gladiator. But where the Gladiator shines is in off road dynamics and all around build quality and the 3.6/8sp combo easily is quicker empty than the others, but when asked to work? Not so much tq down low, especially compared with the 5.2 Magnum V8, that was a beast at towing and hauling. But none of them can beat the mileage at legal steady speed or flying around.

Sponsored