Spring only (mostly) lift

by **blacksheep** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 6:48 pm

I've been reading about all the different kinds of lifts but I couldn't find anyone running a combo that seems perfect for my application. Its possible that I haven't looked hard enough but I'm hoping you lift gurus could tell me what you think. Looking for a front lift to offset the increase Ill get from the Tahoe springs and have a foundation I can build off of later if desired. Heres what I have ordered:

Moog 81071 std rear springs for Tahoe. Should be very close to z71 spring rates and they where $62 shipped from amazon
Moog 81114 front springs for trailblazer Listed for trailblazer, same spring rate as 81110's and 1" longer. $42 shipped, amazon
Bilstein F4-BE5-E375-H0 HD shocks for Tahoe
Bilstein F4-BE5-A333-H0 HD struts for trailblazer
.5 strut spacer from Markmc. For final adjustment of rake.

Got all of this coming to my door for under $400. From what I've read the rear should be about 1 1/2" higher but the front is still somewhat of a mystery since I haven't found anyone running just the 81114 spring without extra weight up front and in combo with some other lift. Since I have factory 85 springs the 81114 should give me at least 1" spring lift without changing the ride up too far since the rates are the same. Depending on the finished front to rear heights, it may get the spacer. The Bilsteins should handle all these changes. For the record I'm fine with a stiff ride.

I respect what you guys have done with these trucks and what to hear your thoughts on what I have planned.
What do you think?

by **boog2006** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 7:12 pm

If your purpose only needs a modest lift, I think you've selected a good setup. MOOGS weren't the easiest thing to put on upfront but I like the result.

by **fishsticks** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 2:15 am

I currently run just the 89 spring as my front suspension lift. I am pleased with it.

I haven't compared the Moog spring rates vs the GM ones.

by **v7guy** » Sat Mar 16, 2013 3:34 am

You've got a unique selection of parts there, but I don't see anything wrong with it. You are going to be the guinea pig. Lookin forward to seeing how it works out.
If nothing else you may just end up using 89s sans spacer

by **AV8ER** » Wed Mar 20, 2013 11:52 pm

I don't know how much this will help but I just installed Moog 81112 and gained just under an inch over from stock

by **blacksheep** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:26 pm

Good info. Assuming that you and I had the same oem spring the 81114 should give me about 1.5" of lift since the 81112's are alittle more than .5" longer than stock and the 81114 are another .5 longer than that. I just got them in the mail today along with the tahoe springs, the bilsteins came yesterday, the spring compressor shows it will be here tomorrow and I already have the .5" spacers. Getting very excited but the weather isnt right yet for working in the driveway. May bring it to a buddys garage this weekend but thats up in the air. Crossing fingers

by **AV8ER** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:04 pm

My factory springs were actually in the neighborhood of 16.25 in unlike the 15.5 number I found here so I'm thinking the ext may have had different springs

by **v7guy** » Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:09 am

do you have the spring codes from the stock springs?
do you have a measurement to the fender opening?

I'm curious how it all worked out
and WTF, where are the pics? lol

by **blacksheep** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 1:21 am

Rear springs and shocks installed. .5" lift at best with the moog 81071. The ride is good though, very close to factory but that may be due to the new bilsteins. These springs where listed as the standard springs for the tahoe, moog 81069's are listed as HD springs for tahoes and av's. There is no way anyone would complain about the ride of the 81071's so Im guessing that the 81069's are the z71 replacement. Amazon has a good return policy so Im going to try to exchange them. Would had been easier to just order the z71 springs on ebay but live and learn. Still hoping to get the front springs and struts in sunday.

by **AV8ER** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 2:36 am

I feel your pain man! I was about to rip out my new front springs less than 24hr after I put them in to switch for 81114's. It's kind of humorous how the two of us are doing similar minor lifts both not getting what we wanted out of the spring swaps. Hope you have luck with your return!

by **The Roadie** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:48 am

AV8ER wrote:..the two of us are doing similar minor lifts ...

I spotted your problem. :poke:

by **navigator** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 11:51 am

I think a lot of the early adopters know how you feel. Using new parts that no one has used before is going to have a learning curve.

Make sure to get before and after measurements and maybe do a build thread in case someone else wants the info later.

by **blacksheep** » Sat Mar 23, 2013 12:24 pm

Personally, I don't want a strictly on road truck but I don't need a total trail rig either. The lift isn't cosmetic, it will be enough to get a set of real tires under it and make the truck capable of going where I go. More lift than what your tire needs is a waste IMHO because it just raises your center of gravity but your axles clearances are not any better, no good for a on road or trail truck. Right now I think a longer front springs with the same spring rate as factory sounds perfect for the direction Im going with room to grow. Added spring rate in the rear will help with my towing. Heres a couple pictures of my old Nissan IFS, it was fun but I broke front end parts more than my solid axle trucks so I'm keeping the trailblazer modest. To each their own :cheers:

by **rz03LTZ** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 2:49 pm

What kind of lift did you get with the Moog 81114's up front?

How do they feel?

Edit - Just read your planning to install them today. I'll wait... semi patiently. No pressure.

by **blacksheep** » Sun Mar 24, 2013 8:56 pm

Installed! Got 2" in front with the 81114's with marks 1/2 spacer above the strut. Expecting it to settle a bit since the springs are new but I'm ok with that. The ride is unchanged if not alittle better than the factory suspension with 90k miles. The front fender is 35" from the ground and the rear is 34 1/4 with 245/65/17 tires. Had no binding at full extension from the cv axles, the limit of the ball joint seemed to be just a bit further than the limit of the strut. It still has the 81071's in the rear but the 81069's are in the mail and should be installed by next weekend. That should give atleast an inch in the rear. Ill take some pictures of the truck after those are in but I did take a quick picture of the 81114's compared to the factory 85's, sorry about the quality but I was too busy with the install to get a real good pic. As you can see theirs more coils on the moogs and about an inch longer. It was pushing the spring compressor pretty hard to get them to an install height, would had been tough to get more to get a spring spacer in there. With plenty of breaks it only took 5 hours thanks to all the info I had gotten here on what issues to expect and how to handle them.

by **rz03LTZ** » Mon Mar 25, 2013 7:57 am

So far it sounds like what your doing is exactly what I had planned. The Moog springs, slightly stiffer compared to your old 85's should be perfect in place of my original 83's with 186k on them.

by **AV8ER** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:14 am

The Roadie wrote:
AV8ER wrote:..the two of us are doing similar minor lifts ...
I spotted your problem.

I guess I'm just not as cool as you :flex dirty:

by **AV8ER** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 12:21 am

v7guy wrote:do you have the spring codes from the stock springs?
do you have a measurement to the fender opening?

I'm curious how it all worked out
and WTF, where are the pics? lol

Was this for me or blacksheep?

Website · by **rgraboske** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:19 pm

Be careful with the Moog springs. I installed a set in the front about 3 years ago, and they've sagged pretty significantly over time. I actually came here today to verify the GM part numbers so I can order new front springs.

I hope you have better luck than I did.

by **v7guy** » Tue Mar 26, 2013 10:19 pm

Blake, I was hoping you'd both respond lol
it's good info to have on the board for other guys

Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys