Chevy suspension

[Boondox]

For those of you driving the new style Chevy Silverado pickups, you know they have the cushiest, most car-like ride of the full sized trucks. This is not necessarily a good thing if you use your truck for serious hauling, plowing snow, etc. So since I need new shocks anyway...any good or bad experiences with heavier-duty aftermarket shocks for these trucks?

Pete

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the cushiest, most car-like ride of the full sized trucks )</font>

Pete, I think that has nearly always been the case for Chevy trucks, and at least in past years, was true of GM cars, too. The late 50s and early 60s GM cars had a suspension that was actually too soft, and when my Dad bought a '59 Olds he put Monroe Load-Leveler shocks on both front and rear. Of course they were one of the brands we were selling back then, and most of my knowledge is badly dated. However, I'd suggest you go to the link I've provided and read what they say about possible brake related considerations, or talk to your favorite Chevy mechanic. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[JATO_RaT]

The shocks are just part of the issue. You can tune a suspension with various shock configurations. KYB gas adjust will give you one of the harshest rides, but give you much better handling. The various shocks like Monroe etc., will really not change your suspension much. Chevys suspension design is just soft in my opinion. Thats great for folks looking for a more comfortable ride. The shocks will do some tweaking to change this, but without changing the geometry of the suspension, your not going to get drastic changes. My .02 cents says try a pair or two pairs of the KYB gas-ad-just, the white ones. Check tirerack.com for more info.

 

[SPIKER]

best way is to drive it (or push it more likely) /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif down to the local FORD dealer and trade it in for a REAL TRUCK /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

ok someone HAD to say it right /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

but yes I agree the NEW chevys do ride OK but man they don't HAUL well. the olds ones were much better at that... think "Super Duty" though

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[DCRC]

I recently put Monroe Reflex on my F 350 superduty and they definitly firm up the ride without making it to harsh. I end up buying them at NAPA auto parts since they kept them in stock.
I would reccomend these for any full size truck.

I had put a set of Bilstein Heavy Duty shocks on my wifes Nissan truck (now sold) and they thing rode like it was solidly mounted to the tires. Horrible. But man would it corner! They were on for a day and replaced with a basic Monroe stock replacement.

 

[InlineDieselFan]

Pete,

Go on down and get a nice inline diesel Cummins powered Dodge then you won't worry about having a cushy ride.

For the other real answer, the manufacturers all tend to put cheap shocks on unless you buy some special sport or hauling package. I have Bilsteins on my dodge already and am very happy. But as already mentioned you may very well need to do more than just change shocks.

steve

 

[Junkman]

Don't listen to these people pushing Dodges or Fords... if you are going to buy a new truck, then you should buy the up and coming truck to have. It will haul anything that you can put in the back of it, including all your animals and tractors. Read more about this amazing new truck here.....

 

[Egon]

Pete:

Air bags on the back will help with heavier loads. They may also be available for the front ???

Talk to local auto parts supply people about shocks. There are many different types available with many different price tags on them.

There are bolt on kits for dual shocks for the front.

An extra leaf in the rear spring may also help. Overload helpers may also be available for the rear. These may be a bolt on type.

Probably lots of different solutions. Just a matter of fitting into the buget.

My personal option would be the dual shock bolt on kit for the front and the bolt on load helper for the back.

The variable air bags would offer the best ride for all conditions.

Bird-- I had the Monroe load levelers on one off my cars. They worked great.

Egon

 

[jwstewar]

How much weight are you hauling that it has been a problem? I regularly put 2000-3000# of gravel in the bed of my Silverado and it doesn't lower my truck all that bad - maybe 3" or 4". I don't think that is too bad on a half ton truck. Now when I had the 13,000#s behind it, it was squated pretty good. The truck might squat a little bit, but that is just because you are going down to pick up some of the "helper" leafs on the spring. I've watched my wife's aunt with her 2000 F-150 and see how much it would squat with 1000#s in the rear, I would then put 1500#s in my truck and it wouldn't squat near as much.

Just my 2 cents - you can have a nice ride and still haul a heavy load. Don't listen to any of this Ford/Dodge propaganda - Chevys Are The Best. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[chim]

Our company has many Ford and Chevy pickup trucks, along with a few Dodges, Nissans and others. These are trucks for our managers and foremen, and they see varied duty. The biggest chore for one guy's truck might be putting the trash cans at the end of a driveway. Another may tow a trailer with a large trencher routinely. We have 20-some heavy duty utility trailers we use to take materials and tools from our warehouse to projects.

It has been our experience that with Ford and Chevy trucks, their F150 and 1500 series trucks handle well and provide a comfortable ride. These are the best ones for trash can duty. They are just too wimpy for real use.

Going to F250 or 2500 gets you a truck that you can use for heavier duty applications. The ones with heavier optional suspensions are even better. These won't squat down in the rear if the trailer has a couple hundred pounds ot tongue weight, and they corner and handle better - particularly if there's something in the bed.

Looking back I can laugh now. Remember when gas shot up past the $1/gal mark? We thought we'd be smart and get a fleet of those gas (and some diesel) sipping riceburners. While they were fun for darting about the city traffic, and used less fuel per mile, they were a disaster otherwise. They made El Caminos look like heavy duty trucks. To add insult to injury, they had some very serious rust problems.................chim

 

[kokopelli2]

boondox
remember that shocks are not going to change the suspension. they will change the rebound rate, but not add strength. for that you need to add heavier springs and shocks or suspension adds. i just added timbriens (sp) i got them for plowing and hauling with my 04' 2500hd. when i need new shocks i will probably get somethings more heavy duty to speed things up.

oh the timbriens were pretty cheap 143 front or back.

 

[MarkV]

If you are happy with the ride except when hauling you might look into air bags like Egon mentioned. A friend of mine with a Silverado 2500 4x4 has gone on an extended trip with too big of slide in camper. When he came to visit one of our local shops installed some heavy duty air bags for about $400 and it made a huge difference in the stability of the truck with the camper on. The advantage is that with out the camper he can let out some air in the bags and has his normal ride quality. The air bags looked to be a fairly easy install which would have saved $150.

MarkV

 

[Boondox]

Am I happy with the ride? Not really, but judging from the squeaks and the rocking horse ride that has more to do with worn shocks than the manufacturer. I've driven Chevys before and like the ride when the suspension is in good shape. It's just that since the shocks are shot anyway, if there's a replacement out there better than OEM why not go for it?

The truck actually handles most anything I've put in the bed pretty well. A little sag with a bed full of rock maple, but that's a LOT of heavy wood in an 8' bed! The front end will soon have a snowplow attached, however, and that's one reason I'm thinking a beefier shock would be in order when I swap them out. I'm also looking at adding timbrens; sounds like a cheap and easy mod to make.

All you Dodge vs Ford vs Chevy guys. Argh! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I had a Dodge Dakota. Loved it. And I still have a 1957 Dodge truck that provides plenty of fun. But every used full sized Dodge I was interested in buying had either severe rust issues, tranny problems, or problems in the front end. Fords? I owned one once and it was the most miserably unreliable vehicle I've ever owned. Not saying modern Fords aren't better, but when I take a beating like that from any company they lost my business forever. And my Chevy is a nice, basic truck that meets my needs, handles well, and is easy to work on. Plus parts are available everywhere here in New England. So that's why I bought it. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Pete

 

[RobertN]

Check out Rancho RS9000 adjustable shocks. I put them on my previous truck(Ford F250 4x4). When I ran empty to partially loaded, I set them soft. When I ran heavy, like with the camper on, I ran them stiffer. I always ran the front shocks a little softer than the backs for ride quality; each shock can be independantly set.

They have a knob on them. They had nine(9) settings. The only thing about them was you had to reach in the wheel-well to each shock and turn the knob. They have a more expensive set that could be electronically controlled right from the dash.

Check out www.gorancho.com

The current truck is 3 years old, and the shocks are good. When they wear though, it will probably get the Rancho setup.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Fords? I owned one once and it was the most miserably unreliable vehicle I've ever owned)</font>

Me, too.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( when I take a beating like that from any company they lost my business forever )</font>

I thought the same thing, but instead of "forever", after 25 years I gave them another chance. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif So for the past 13 years I've been happy with them. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[JATO_RaT]

I've had trying times with all the manufactuers swearing to never buy or work on another one of their products. I still do.

 

[Nasty135]

I'm with you junkman,A little overkill but it is ssssssooo, KEWL! AArrgghh AArrgghh /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I have a GMC sierra 1500 4x4 and tows great ride is fine a little hard to stop with or without trailer in tow, pedal pressure is more than I like but I guess I could step up to larger rotors.
Tires can make a big difference in ride and handling also,my old goodyear AT's were hard as rocks & new michelins LTX ride is /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif