Best Budget Level kit Everyone needs / Arms and Shocks

This is the lowest cost of entry for a proper Level / lift. This is what I sued, there are other shocks available, but this is exactly what i used. After installation video coming next!
Rough Country Arms:
Amazon- amzn.to/3yGD3sk
Bilstein Front Shocks:
Amazon- amzn.to/3ZNWueS
Ebay- ebay.us/wivfPi
Bilstein Rear Shocks:
Amazon- amzn.to/3JHqweP
Ebay- ebay.us/Qou3DQ As an Amazon Affiliate / Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your support is appreciated as it helps the channel to continue to test products!
www.duramaxnews.com

[@robertbuhlman7757]

Perfect timing picking my truck up and this is exactly what I was thinking of doing can't wait to see you're finished video

[@mxriderwd]

Dude, loving your channel. Thanks for these videos!

[@MrStangerbanger]

Great info. I lifted my truck 6inches on 35s it has 1200 miles on it but all get these today.

[@rodgood]

I used the Rancho quick lift up front was easy to install ,and inexpensive . Gained 1.5 inches on the Duramax, perfect match for my rear Pac brake air bags that gave me an 1 inch lift .

[@Johnny_Bee]

Please post your before measurements (center wheel to fender lip all 4 corners)

[@ryanlogan2911]

2000 mile review thru Oregon NorCal Nevada & Utah. The 6112s / 5160s W/ Bilstein UCAs kick ass. My rear had a slight bump in rake from the Roadmaster Active Suspension towing upgrade.

[@toddmeadows1576]

Installing my icon dynamic stage 1 3.5in coilover lift tomorrow. With cognito UCA’s. I’ve been running the Motofab 3in spacer and their uca’s…. Not happy. Making a lot of noise and rides like crap haha. Just staring at the icon coilivers, I know I’m going to be very very happy with this setup. And don’t even get me going with the cognito uca’s haha I’ll send pics later!

[@ultimatepursuit7165]

Love the videos keep em coming! I have the Rough Country pre loaded struts (6" lift)and man they were a huge improvement over the factory Ranchos. Bilstein will make a huge difference 🤟🤟

[@DemonWorks]

Great to hear ! Not too many people out there doing the larger lifts.

[@John___Dough]

Thx man cool video do you know anything about the power steering calibration or front camera calibration that they do when you get a two in lift it says on gm website they do those calibrations after installing a lift can I do them myself?

[@jglew82]

I put the 5100's on my AT4, set in the middle ring land. With the 3.0, I'm sitting about 3/8" - 7/16" higher in the front, so still plenty of tow/haul rake, but looks really good.

[@mattcarlson8773]

Did you use the Trail Boss 5100's or the normal 5100's? I am assuming TB/AT4 but have to ask.

[@jglew82]

@@mattcarlson8773 yes, TB/AT4 ones.

[@mtower235]

I did the 5100s all around in my 21 boss. I put on a brushguard bumper and winch and the high setting put it back to where it was with additional weight. They are great. If I get in there for anything else I’m gonna replace the upper arm. It looked weak and my suspicions seem correct.

[@DemonWorks]

Oh man! Get some arms on that bad boy asap !

[@alecduff8418]

Got a question for you. I just picked up a 2021 elevation. It currently had a spacer leveling kit on the front. I am looking to go to these shocks. Would setting the clip and the stock trail boss height give it leveled look? I am not looking to add any blocks to the rear. Thank you!

[@daniejw]

Being that you have a high country. Does your truck have electronic dampers? If so, how will these work?

[@willscott4933]

Good information great video thank you

[@DemonWorks]

Glad it was helpful!

[@michaelthayer6995]

Hey Demon. Love the videos on the 1500 LZ0. Looking to get your input on a mild 2 inch-ish lift. If cost was not a factor, from your research and experience, what set up would you go with front and rear? I’m looking to still have a little bit of a rake and have the best ride, aesthetics, durability, etc. Thanks in advance and keep the videos coming!

[@DemonWorks]

Hey ! sorry for the delay on this reply ! I actually like the Fox setup and that was going to be my next setup to run. Since I am going to a ZR2, I no longer plan to do that. Maybe when out of warranty and I need new shocks, I will likely swap to the Fox.

[@meir800]

Ready lift on mine , great!!

[@Steve-kx6hd]

I did ready made also with a 4” lift so far so good

[@trailbosschrispayne5454]

Just did bilstein 5100 on my TB on top setting with cognito arms. 286/76/18 tires on stock 18's. :)

[@AG-mt4bm]

Nice, how high are you in the front now? 3.1”?

[@michaelwipf5795]

Hi! love the channel! Would you recommend updating the arms even with just getting the Bilstein 5100 and and set the ring at about the one inch slot ??

[@DemonWorks]

I think you will be fine with factory arms, but the aftermarket arms give me a better sense of comfort after seeing so many failed factory arms.

[@mattarnolts-xb4bk]

I was looking into the cognito SKU 210-P1137. (3" leveling lift kit, 3" front and 2" rear with upper control arms and elka shocks) they are not remote reservoir shocks, and that might be a comparable option to the fox shock setup.

[@DemonWorks]

I had that saved as an option as well, but the fox kit. I didn't see elka without reservoirs.

[@khristofer1979]

When i had my Bilstein 5150 shocks put on i just had them level the front so I'm guessing it was set at the middle or top clip setting on the front struts so i didn't upgrade the control arms but the ride quality was night and day difference over the junk stock shocks and made it handle like a truck should. stock setup was too bouncy or floaty. I've had them on about 10k miles and love them.

[@armandoveloz5644]

You still pretty content with your setup

[@khristofer1979]

yes I am. i truly don't think ill upgrade any other suspension components. as i just don't do that much off-roading anymore to warrant the extra expense. the shocks have just under 18k miles on them and they still feel brand new @@armandoveloz5644

[@bdhouse6153]

I've got a 2020 AT4, looking at the Readylift 2 SST with 3" rear block to replace my factory 2" block. I like the rake, aslo adding the Bilstein's F & R, going with the lowest ring setting since I'm already adding a 2" lift.........Bilstein rep is saying you can't use these on a lift, only stock AT4, but I've read numerous post on FB saying you can. Any comment?

[@DemonWorks]

I don't have direct hands on info for this, but my opinion is that I believe the added lift of just the shocks puts the angles at max function. Any higher would throw the ball joint angles out of whack and possibly further issues from the front axles. This is why the larger lifts will include a spindle, to correct the angles and add lift that way.

[@richardoaks3597]

For all of you searching the comments I’ll save you some time. The owner of this truck added a spacer and didn’t replace the control arms hence the broken control arm / ball joint. So if your stock don’t worry.

[@ryanlogan2911]

Installed the Front 6112 kit W/ Bilstein UCAs & rear 5160s yesterday. 21 AT4 Duramax.

[@DemonWorks]

Those arms looked really nice ! How do you like them?

[@ryanlogan2911]

@@DemonWorks will know more today. I have an appointment at the alignment shop this afternoon. I was not that impressed they are not assembled on arrival. I had to press the bushings in and install the grease zerks etc. For +$600 should be plug & play…

[@ryanlogan2911]

@@DemonWorks Drives and rides better than it ever has. I put on one size bigger than stock Duratracs too. The alignment shop is in a logging town in Oregon so does fleets of “crummies” (crew trucks for loggers) so they know how to dial in the front end of trucks getting non stop abuse.

[@jsclayton]

Curious what the benefits are of TrailBoss parts at "stock" height vs non-TrailBoss parts set with a little lift? Isn't leveling one of the primary uses of the 5100s?

[@AG-mt4bm]

Basically the shock itself essentially the lift. They are 2 inches longer. So you just add to the 2” of lift.

[@ryanlogan2911]

Hi Did you make a video of the install? What are your thoughts on the Bilstein UCA for this application? I went with the Bilstein 6112s and I am about to tackle the project.

[@DemonWorks]

I didn't do a how to because I felt there were a lot of videos out there already and I didn't have the time to film and swap parts. The Bilstein UCA's look super cool, they just weren't available when I bought mine.

[@ryanlogan2911]

@@DemonWorks how many hours was it to swap the Struts & UCAs

[@johnhaynes9133]

Hey there's not that many videos on the elka shocks made for ours trucks. Could you compare those?

[@DemonWorks]

unfortunately, those are outside of my budget so I won't be testing those out, sorry !

[@logancraig]

For non-trail boss models, do you think the upper control arms are necessary for a 2” front lift? Or should factory be okay since it should be the same height as a stock trail boss?

[@DemonWorks]

I do believe all should receive an aftermarket upper arm if changing the lift in any way.

[@ChevyLee86]

Hey dude, can you find out why gm isn’t putting the 3.0 duramax in the at4x? I was hoping to buy one but will only do it if I can get a dmax

[@DemonWorks]

I don't have resources to find out why, but I have speculated that it is due to the cooler stack. The charge air cooler radiator is very low and with the design of the front bumper, it won't work. There isn't room to just move it up as the engine is very close as it is.

[@Kyleleongillespie]

Was going to see if you could look at these? MotoFab 3-Inch Front / 2-Inch Rear Leveling Kit with Upper Control Arms Since it comes with new control arms is it something you would use or not?

[@Kyleleongillespie]

Didn't know if you had seen this yet?

[@DemonWorks]

looks like a good basic kit amzn.to/3RBpYuH

[@desron37]

Might be a question that has already been asked and answered. But I'm planning on running the regular Bilstein 5100 on my 2020 RST and set it to the 2.5" lift. What size block should i use in the rear to level it? Thanks

[@DemonWorks]

I went with a 1.5". depends on the look you want.

[@peterschevy1971]

I am thinking about doing this lift to my 22 GMC Sierra, did you need to adjust front camera or calibrate the steering?

[@DemonWorks]

Steering gets calibrated at the time of the alignment, if they do that step, which is required but sometimes skipped. I did not relearn my cameras at all. No issues.

[@cjlos2050sp]

I want to install a 1" spacer on my trail boss. Do you still recommend installing new control arms?

[@DemonWorks]

Highly Recommended !

[@kingpin16052]

Sorry I always comment with questions after watching your videos. I just did a cognito 2" economy lift front and back with billstein 5100's and cognito UCA. Everything was great, and after about 4k miles I was pulling into a parking spot slowly with the wheel turned the whole way, heard a loud pop and my alignment was off. Went through everything, re torqued everything.... took it to the alignment shop and somehow my toe was pointed in on both sides. Enough to make the steering wheel sit at 10 oclock..... We cannot figure out why this would happen, any suggestion on where I should look? Appreciate it!

[@DemonWorks]

I enjoy the questions, so keep them coming! It sound like you did everything you needed to as far as going over every bolt. If you told me it was just one side that was off, then we would at least know to focus on this side, since it's both, that makes me think it was the steering rack that shifted. That's just a wild guess because there's not much that could happen especially if you went over it all and found nothing. I would for sure take a closer look at everything again as well as the rack bolts and housing.

[@kingpin16052]

@@DemonWorks I will get to that asap! I asked about the steering rack, but they said I wouldn't be able to drive it if it was the cause... I've had very minor alignment issues while it was under warranty, but the dealer always claimed everything was okay even though they've had to tweak the alignment about 3 times (40k miles in a year). This time it was a loud pop though, so something is up.... If I find out I will report back! Thanks again!

[@kingpin16052]

@@DemonWorks Interesting find. Rack and pinion are fine, appears no movement and everything is torqued... However, on the drivers side, where I heard the loud pop, and where the toe was the worst.. Somehow where the ride height clip sits and the bottom spring perch is, it appears that it has collapsed by about 1/2". I'm not sure if it is a billstein defect, the cognito spacer that sits there, or possibly my error in installation. Its good to see where the cause is coming from though and no more wondering! I will have to take it all apart when I get some free time. Thanks!

[@wd9581]

@DemonWorks I'm having issues with me 5100s on my AT4 23. Did you reuse the oem strut nut or use the one supplied from bilstein? My installation said discard and use the bilstein strut nut. I'm now getting noise from the struts when driving over bumps.

[@DemonWorks]

I used the Bilstein nut. Double check the sway bar links are real tight. Any looseness and those will become noisy just like you are getting. Hope that’s all it is !

[@wd9581]

Greatly appreciated man. I'll double check the links. ​@DemonWorks

[@Nutakins]

Did you do a follow up video to this one?

[@DemonWorks]

Just mentioned in my review videos. I was happy with this setup.

[@BC_Hunter]

If you put a level kit on, do you recommend going to the top ring?

[@DemonWorks]

I try to not max out parts I install, but the Bilstein I believe is ok with it being at the top.

[@kylepowell4906]

Let’s go O’s

[@mattcarlson8773]

Why replace control arms if the trail boss has the same part number as the other trims? They have to be able to take the 2” lift I assume.

[@DemonWorks]

Trail boss arms break the ball joints. I have several videos showing it, they come in for repair quite often.

[@mattcarlson8773]

@@DemonWorks that’s all I needed to know! I scrolled quite a ways back and didn’t see any other vids on this, so I missed it. Thanks

[@paulsmith-ld8xl]

When u gonna do the fox shocks

[@DemonWorks]

kicking around the idea of maybe getting a ZR2 in the future, so I may not go fox, but you never know ..

[@armandoveloz5644]

I know you’ve moved on with truck but if you remember how was the ride with this setup. Some say to stiff and terrible on stuff like washboards.

[@DemonWorks]

I thought it rode pretty nice. Everyone has different opinions on what stiff means. The ZR2 rides the best, though.

[@pech_wake_day1153]

Why didn’t you go for 6112’s?

[@DemonWorks]

cost. I wanted to select the best budget friendly setup on this one. Next I will go to a fox setup or comparable.

[@01camarosspower]

Still satisfied with the Rough Country control arms?

[@DemonWorks]

Yes! Quiet and no concerns! Thanks for asking!

[@ryandriverhidatsawarrior3034]

I had RC UCAs and they was junk

[@DemonWorks]

What issues did you have?

[@DemonWorks]

They are the lowest cost… but they don’t look bad.

[@ryandriverhidatsawarrior3034]

@@DemonWorks yes can’t beat the price I just know that when I had them on my truck I had to replace them twice and the whole front end The truck was built by C.O.S big truck builders

[@ryandriverhidatsawarrior3034]

@@DemonWorks they like wore with in 6 months the ball was wore they pivoted and you could feel the wore spot in the ball itself so I just went back to the OEMs maybe my truck was to high so 8 months in I had OEM back on they looked good but idk hope you have better luck with them then I had custom offsets garage 2016 GMC Denali it’s on that page