WoW!!! That was a thorough analysis there drTom...now it's clear, longer shocks riskier than shorter factory, therefore, i'd never touch my factory any longer, just align them and i'm ready to roll! But... if the ride isn't good enough then i'll go wid that option!

 

As for offroad theory on whether to upgrade shocks or not, I'm not very mechanically inclined, nor do I offroad much so I won't comment. I do know comfort though. My friend has his leveled with stock shocks, and I have mine leveled with bilsteins. We both do 95% highway driving. We agree on the difference, and he is looking to buy the bilsteins next. Some of these guys will tell you there is no difference, but going from his to mine is a big difference. His H3 rides like a brick compared to mine. I feel like my leveled ride with the bilsteins rides better than factory ever did.

 

Don't worry about the number of turns. All trucks are different. I had to cranks 8 turns on the passenger side & 6 1/2 turns on the driver's side.
Go by the measurement from the top of the fender well to the center of the wheel.
I run my H3 at 23 1/2" with no problems.

https://www.hummerforums.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=11428

 

Yep it's different on all trucks. And it depends on the size breaker bar. Most people use huge breaker bars.. I had a 1/2" driver with NO breaker bar, so the distance in cranking it makes for less/more turns than a smaller driver. It lifted my truck to like 23" from center fender to center wheel.

There's no denying that the bilstein-driven trucks will be more comfortable. It's all a matter of preferance. I dont mind my truck riding like a truck. Some people wish to retain that cadillac-feel to their truck.

 

I'm sorry, but this makes absolutely no sense. It doesn't matter what kind of tool you use, 1 turn of the bolt is still 1 turn of the bolt.

 

I am sorry but to be honest I am confused either!!!

Oh well!

 

X2 - You mark the bolt and the frame in the same spot. The tool has nothing to do with the amont of turns of the bolt head in reference to the frame mark. 1 turn is 1 full rotation of the bolt head!

Every vehicle is different when it come to Torsion Bar leveling. Don't forget that after you do TB level your vehicle go out and hit some bumps and brake pretty hard to set the TBs. Tou may notice that you need to readjust them once they set. All of our H3/H3Ts have been set to between 23 1/4" and 23 1/2". I found that to be the best comprimse of lift, look, On Road adn OffRoad ride.

On our Alphas I did not find a need for the aftermarket shocks or bumpstops. However on the I5, the aftermarket shocks & bumpstops did make a great difference. I think it may have to do with the extra weight of the V8 and the different spring rate of the Alpha TBs.

 

Not everybody marks the bolt. Most people think "Gee, I just turned this here wrench, and I think the bolt made a rotation". And the length of breaker bar does in fact impact how many rotations per crank you can achieve.

Nonetheless, the amount of turns is pointless. Just measure it really good.

 

we earthlings need an explanation of this.

"the length of breaker bar does in fact impact how many rotations per crank you can achieve."

just go slow cause we not very smart

 

?????360 degrees is 1 full rotation of the bolt. If you swing a wrench in a 45 degree arc, I don't care if the wrench is 6" or 60", it's still only going to travel 45 degrees!! I can see now why you chose the military over engineering school!