I have a few questions on installing the hellbent 2" spacers:

-What tools do I need to do this?

-Any tips on installing them?

-Do you need a spring compressor to get the spacers in?

-Is this something I should be doing, or be letting a certified mech put them in?

-I can keep my stock shocks like they say on hellbents website right?

----->> If anyone can post the procedures they went through, Im would sure appreciate it!!!

 

I'd definetly would NOT keep the shocks stock. I still havnt bought the spacers b/c I want to buy the shocks and spacers all at once. Get the Bilstein 5100 and the spacers for a total of about $350 and let me know how you like it when its all done.

 

As far as tools go, yer gonna need some fairly big (I used .5" drive stuff) metric (yep, metric) sockets, there may be a few standard sockets used too, 2 floor jacks, 2 jack stands, a torque wrench, air tools if ya got 'em, an allen key for the top of the front shocks, and some bricks or wood blocks to put the jackstands on. I think that's about it. Spring compressor: get one. It's free and it'll make yer life a whole bunch easier getting those springs back in. You don't need it to get the springs out though. Just be careful using the thing; get a buddy to handle one side of the compressor while you do the other. Should you do it or let a mech. do it? Only you can answer that question. You're experience level as a mechanic should be your basis for judgement. You can keep you're stock shocks as long as you're gonna be doing nothing but street driving. I've heard they'll fully extend on a mere speed bump. Why not replace them while it's apart? Here's a rough procedure:
1. Disconnect track bar on passenger side. 2. Jack up truck, put on jackstands (leave jacks in place; one under each shock), and remove tires. 3. Disconnect sway bar end links. 4. Remove bottom shock bolt. 5. Lower axle to full droop on the side yer disassembling. 6. Remove shock tower and shock through engine compartment. 7. With axle at full droop, you should be able to yank the spring out with a little effort (after the shock is out). 8. Reassemble in reverse order and then repeat on the other side.
I may have forgotten some minor stuff, but these are the big steps. USE A SPRING COMPRESSOR. Just be safe, take yer time, and don't forget to torque everything to spec. Hope this helped.

 

I just installed mine and it works great with stock shocks, no spring compressor required either...pretty easy install.

 

Why? They will work fine! I will let you know how it rides with the stock shocks. I just have too much on my plate right now to get some anyway, and even if I was going to install them, I havent figured out which shock I want. Does anyone have the part number for the bilstien 5100 at the right length? I want to see how much they are, bc Im leaning that way.

 

Be prepared for death wobble if you don't replace shocks. Mine worked fine for a while, then on the interstate hit a pothole and you better hang-on. replaced factory shocks with rancho 9000's, havent had problem since. Also rancho's are adjustable. Just my .02

 

Stock shocks have nothing to do with death wobble.

 

how long have you had it so far and how is the ride with the stock shocks? For the people with stock and the bilstein's 5100, is there a big difference between the ride

 

then whats it all about

 

find that huge thread I started about the 2" leveling kit and the lift kit and you'll find the part #s

 

found something nice and better than stock for a good price:

Rough Country RC-8000 shocks (4) for $128 or upgrade to RC-9000 shocks (4) for $150


http://www.marketworks.com/storefron...478&i=25473876

http://www.roughcountry.com/shocks-stabilizers.htm

While the bilsteins are like $300 for all (4). I mean could the rough country's be that bad since all i'll be doing it street driving?

 

The stock shocks will work fine with the HBS kit. I ran mine for several thousand miles with the stocker shocks. Now, having said that.......I changed over to Rancho 9000 adjustables. They made a tremendous help in the ride and handling. I highly recommend you change them out to either the Rancho's or Bilstein's...........but if money is tight....you don't have to do it right away.

 

I've been hashing over going this route (hellbent) or just getting a leveling kit with springs and Bilsteins (Kore or Lorenz). I've pretty much read every thread on the subject for the past 2 years on lifts and DW on this and other sites. My take on the subject is, if your suspension is slightly worn (which doesn't take much) then the 2" lift can/will give you DW. And one way to allieviate this situation is with a better shock. And by better, I mean Bilstein, Fox, King, etc. NOT Rough country or any lift kit shock.
Actually, lifting 2" and not modifying the control arm length is really not the way to go either. Kore and others can generally get away with it because of quality of components AND those freakin' expensive shocks...

 

So Viking!!! I have a report on the HBS spacers!!!!


Looks good, easy install since I took it to a shop ($100), but...............

............I got death wobble at a lower speed than usual! I was getting death wobble at around 75-80 w/ 315's, so I guess I was going about 7mph faster than that. Now, with HBS 2, it did it around 70mph on my speedo which is about 77mph. Not cool~! I do have 78k on my truck and stock shocks, so I think thats the main reason, and it didnt ride any different, only a tad bit more stiffness that you can harldy tell. Other than the death wobble you can harldy tell, but it feels like a lifted truck compared to before though. I checked the spacers after the 2 death wobbles on my way home, and they seemed fine. I am also in very bad need of some new tires, they are wall-erd out!!! I have my name and number 1st in line for the next set of H2 takeoffs at all dealerships around Dallas, so the next gangster who puts 20's on their hummer, I will be in business!


!!!!!Now, how do I get rid of the Death wobble??? For good?? I want to be able to run it at 100mph and not worry about it! Will the Bilstiens fix it, do I need a new steering component that may be worn out, , steering stablizers, or what?? I know I didnt get DW until my 315 bfg started wearing funny, and a new set should help, but what else??!!!??!!??!

 

With that kind of mileage, I'd take the truck into a GOOD alignment shop and have them do a thorough inspection. You may have to replace ball joints and or tie rods, etc. And I'd go with some good shocks. Also a good steering stabilizer, dual preferably. Let us know how it goes...