Bilstein 6112/5160

[Cocoabean]

Put about 150-200 miles on the truck this week and the new shocks are settling in well. They were stiff the first few drives, but softened up after a 100-mile round trip drive earlier this week. I’m hoping they soften up a little more after next week’s 500+ mile road trip.

Right now I’m really happy with the upgrade. The truck feels more planted and soaks up highway bumps much better than the stock ranchos. Haven’t taken it off road, but likely will next weekend.

I have the 6112’s set at clip 2 (0.60”) and the ReadyLift leveling kit (1.75”), and the truck is looking more level than ever. Really happy with the new setup.

 

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[noiseyears]

Great looking setup. Love the color of your truck. Can you share any pictures of your CV axles in the front?

 

[Cocoabean]

Great looking setup. Love the color of your truck. Can you share any pictures of your CV axles in the front?

Here you go.

 

[SmittysAT4]

First combo lift kits I have seen and it sure looks killer!!! 6112s at .6" and the Ready Lift 1.75" should be about 2.35" however I am guessing that maybe with the 3.0 Duramax ya got about 2" lift??

 

[Cocoabean]

First combo lift kits I have seen and it sure looks killer!!! 6112s at .6" and the Ready Lift 1.75" should be about 2.35" however I am guessing that maybe with the 3.0 Duramax ya got about 2" lift??

Yea, I think it settles in around 2". I thought about setting the 6112's at the 1.2" clip, but wasn't sure how that would look or ride. Overall, I am happy with the setup. Just threw some new tires on this week as well, so its felling like a new truck again after 3 years.

 

[SmittysAT4]

Now is the rear stock? How was the alignment, any issues? I just did my Cognito install and everything aligned great. I still have some rake and the back is about 1.25" higher. This Cognito kit netted just about 1" over stock, might crank on the spanner and see if I can gain a little more lift.

 

[Cocoabean]

Now is the rear stock? How was the alignment, any issues? I just did my Cognito install and everything aligned great. I still have some rake and the back is about 1.25" higher. This Cognito kit netted just about 1" over stock, might crank on the spanner and see if I can gain a little more lift.

The rear is the stock AT4 height. No issues with the alignment. I have a lifetime warranty on the alignment, so I get it done annually and never had an issue.

What kit exactly did you install?

 

[SmittysAT4]

The rear is the stock AT4 height. No issues with the alignment. I have a lifetime warranty on the alignment, so I get it done annually and never had an issue.

What kit exactly did you install?

I did the Cognito kit bellow: I gained just over an inch with this kit and still have some rake. Looking to maybe adjust the spanner nut a tad to gain a little more lift up front. I just do not want to go too high and be out of adjustment for the new UCAs.

Cognito 1-Inch Performance Ball Joint Leveling Kit With Fox PS Coilover 2.0 IFP Shocks for 19-25 Silverado Trail Boss & ZR2/Sierra AT4 & AT4X 1500 4WD

Each Kit Features: Yields 1 inch of front lift Cognito Ball Joint SM Series Upper Control Arm Kit A Pair of Fox 2.0 Performance Series Coilover IFP Front Shocks A Pair of Fox 2.0 Performance Series Monotube Rear Shocks Enhances the trucks appearance and reduces the factory nose down rake...

cognitomotorsports.com

 

[Cocoabean]

I did the Cognito kit bellow: I gained just over an inch with this kit and still have some rake. Looking to maybe adjust the spanner nut a tad to gain a little more lift up front. I just do not want to go too high and be out of adjustment for the new UCAs.

Cognito 1-Inch Performance Ball Joint Leveling Kit With Fox PS Coilover 2.0 IFP Shocks for 19-25 Silverado Trail Boss & ZR2/Sierra AT4 & AT4X 1500 4WD

Each Kit Features: Yields 1 inch of front lift Cognito Ball Joint SM Series Upper Control Arm Kit A Pair of Fox 2.0 Performance Series Coilover IFP Front Shocks A Pair of Fox 2.0 Performance Series Monotube Rear Shocks Enhances the trucks appearance and reduces the factory nose down rake...

cognitomotorsports.com

I found the front end needs 2" lift to get a true leveled stance after settling in. Since this is a 1" lift, I don't know if you will get a true leveling. You will have to add a spacer at the top of the strut or at the lower control arm (or a mix of both) to get the extra 1" needed to level the truck out if that is what you want. That is essentially what I have done.

 

[SmittysAT4]

I found the front end needs 2" lift to get a true leveled stance after settling in. Since this is a 1" lift, I don't know if you will get a true leveling. You will have to add a spacer at the top of the strut or at the lower control arm (or a mix of both) to get the extra 1" needed to level the truck out if that is what you want. That is essentially what I have done.

I have the lower strut spacer from RC that supposed to give me an additional 3/4" to 1" just need to free up some time to get them installed. Seems like I have to take a lot apart for those little suckers to go in correctly....

 

[Cocoabean]

I have the lower strut spacer from RC that supposed to give me an additional 3/4" to 1" just need to free up some time to get them installed. Seems like I have to take a lot apart for those little suckers to go in correctly....

I haven't done just the lower spacers. You might need to loosen the strut mount nuts on top to give yourself some movement, but shouldn't be as bad as a full install.

 

[Thunder_Grey2025]

I have the lower strut spacer from RC that supposed to give me an additional 3/4" to 1" just need to free up some time to get them installed. Seems like I have to take a lot apart for those little suckers to go in correctly....

Let me know if you need a difference in firmness when you use the lower spacer to lift. I did that to mine as I still had a lot of rake and I feel like it stiffened out the suspension a little more than I like. When I removed it, it felt good, planted and smooth over bumps.

 

[hdrolling]

I have the lower strut spacer from RC that supposed to give me an additional 3/4" to 1" just need to free up some time to get them installed. Seems like I have to take a lot apart for those little suckers to go in correctly....

I installed some on mine after after the 6112 didn't raise my front heigh enough, didn't need to remove almost anything except the wheels.

Removed the bottom bolts and used a pry bar in the spring to lift the lower shock enough to get the spacer in. I had both sides done in about an hour to include wheels off and on. You don't "need" to remove a bunch of stuff like the videos show.

 

[TheShark]

I installed some on mine after after the 6112 didn't raise my front heigh enough, didn't need to remove almost anything except the wheels.

Removed the bottom bolts and used a pry bar in the spring to lift the lower shock enough to get the spacer in. I had both sides done in about an hour to include wheels off and on. You don't "need" to remove a bunch of stuff like the videos show.

I have a question for you! Back story: I have the Bilstein's set at highest circlip, and new UCAs. What setting are yours at? I'm hoping the highest so that you can answer this. After putting in the lower spacers (and which ones EXACTLY did you get), do you have any clearance issues between the CV axle(or boot!) and the lower strut mount or bolts? And did you put the bolt head or the nut on top? I'm looking to gain another inch of front lift, and I am going to swap factory rear 2" blocks for 3" blocks to keep it level. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[hdrolling]

I have a question for you! Back story: I have the Bilstein's set at highest circlip, and new UCAs. What setting are yours at? I'm hoping the highest so that you can answer this. After putting in the lower spacers (and which ones EXACTLY did you get), do you have any clearance issues between the CV axle(or boot!) and the lower strut mount or bolts? And did you put the bolt head or the nut on top? I'm looking to gain another inch of front lift, and I am going to swap factory rear 2" blocks for 3" blocks to keep it level. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

So yes I used the highest setting in my 6.2L, if you have the heavier 3.0 you might be lower.

Originally I ordered the ready lift 1.75, but decided to get the Bilstein after. So I used the Bilstein and the ready lift UCA from the kit, it wasn't high enough so after I installed just the lower spacer from the ready lift kit with the Bilstein shocks.

So for the bolts I alternated, on the side with the CV I installed the bolt up (like the truck comes stock) and the other hole I installed down. That way I didn't need to worry about removing the CV to get that one bolt in on each side, didn't see any harm in just going up.

I also have the road active suspension on my '25 even though the company said it doesn't fit the newer 25 and up AT4s, it fit fine on my '25 and raised the rear about an inch. So that might be another option for you vs changing out the rear block to gain an inch or more.

Included a pic of the RAS installed and one of the spacer on the front, you can see the head of one bolt and then the threads and a nut on the other side.