Terrible Ride...what Tha?!

[lt1transam]

I bought an '03 Silverado LS single cab with 5.3 back in March. I noticed that it rode very stiff (rough as hell I mean) compared to my 2000 model. I do know the previous owner shackled the rear but the front is stock. It's getting almost unbearable because of the stretch of freeway I drive down every single day. Anyone know of any factory screw-ups or similar issue?

[[email protected]]

I bought an '03 Silverado LS single cab with 5.3 back in March. I noticed that it rode very stiff (rough as hell I mean) compared to my 2000 model. I do know the previous owner shackled the rear but the front is stock. It's getting almost unbearable because of the stretch of freeway I drive down every single day. Anyone know of any factory screw-ups or similar issue?

Check the front torsion bars and see if they're "all the way turnt up". If they are, your truck will ride like total shit.

[lt1transam]

I bought an '03 Silverado LS single cab with 5.3 back in March. I noticed that it rode very stiff (rough as hell I mean) compared to my 2000 model. I do know the previous owner shackled the rear but the front is stock. It's getting almost unbearable because of the stretch of freeway I drive down every single day. Anyone know of any factory screw-ups or similar issue?

Check the front torsion bars and see if they're "all the way turnt up". If they are, your truck will ride like total shit.

 

 

I'll check and see if I can tell. Thanks

[Silverado4x4]

If you cant tell try and post some pics of the side view and front view of the truck, try to get a pic of the front "A" arms for the front shot. Or get under the truck and find the torsion keys they will be at the end of the long bars going to the "A" arms, at the frame cross member put you finger over top the keys where the adjustment bolt is and see if there touching the top of the cross member if there is hardly any gap or no gap then there cranked hard, as Tyler said it sounds like the bars are crank up hard.

[lt1transam]

If you cant tell try and post some pics of the side view and front view of the truck, try to get a pic of the front "A" arms for the front shot. Or get under the truck and find the torsion keys they will be at the end of the long bars going to the "A" arms, at the frame cross member put you finger over top the keys where the adjustment bolt is and see if there touching the top of the cross member if there is hardly any gap or no gap then there cranked hard, as Tyler said it sounds like the bars are crank up hard.

Wouldn't there be a visible indication? The front only meaures about an inch higher than my buddies '05.

[[email protected]]

If you cant tell try and post some pics of the side view and front view of the truck, try to get a pic of the front "A" arms for the front shot. Or get under the truck and find the torsion keys they will be at the end of the long bars going to the "A" arms, at the frame cross member put you finger over top the keys where the adjustment bolt is and see if there touching the top of the cross member if there is hardly any gap or no gap then there cranked hard, as Tyler said it sounds like the bars are crank up hard.

Wouldn't there be a visible indication? The front only meaures about an inch higher than my buddies '05.

 

 

Look under it and you'll see a bar with two bolts that are tightened against two bars that run to the lower control arms. If they don't have at least about an quarter of an inch or so of thread sticking out, they need to be loosened to approximately that area. Cranking the stock torsion keys will not give you too much lift and is not worth the harsh ride that it comes with, IMO.

[lt1transam]

Do 2wd's have torsion bars?

[[email protected]]

Do 2wd's have torsion bars?

 

No, but you didn't mention it being a 2wd. I just assume a truck is usually 4wd.

[dlstewart01]

I don't believe a 2003 will. There was a high performance suspension available in I believe 2004 that had torsion bars on a two wheel drive. I forget the RPO code. In 2006 the ext cab with the short (crew cab) bed two wheel drive had torsions bars. The majority of two wheel drives will have coil springs.

[[email protected]]

I don't believe a 2003 will. There was a high performance suspension available in I believe 2004 that had torsion bars on a two wheel drive. I forget the RPO code. In 2006 the ext cab with the short (crew cab) bed two wheel drive had torsions bars. The majority of two wheel drives will have coil springs.

 

Z60, or something like that.

[dlstewart01]

I don't believe a 2003 will. There was a high performance suspension available in I believe 2004 that had torsion bars on a two wheel drive. I forget the RPO code. In 2006 the ext cab with the short (crew cab) bed two wheel drive had torsions bars. The majority of two wheel drives will have coil springs.

 

Z60, or something like that.

 

 

No that was not it. I can probably find the RPO code, but not tonight. Its too late...

[nickvrebel]

there was at least 2 different suspension packages that truck was available with:

smooth ride suspension package and the heavy duty towing suspension.

 

my guess is that your 2000 has the smooth ride and the new truck is the HD towing. this is easily determined by looking for the presence or absence of the factory hitch receiver and the transmission cooler. (G80 locking rear would be in the towing package in that year too, but wasn't exclusive to that package).

 

also, I get them mixed up, but I think it's the smooth ride package that has a red stripe on one end of the leaf spring and the other has no stripe.

 

Other than that.... the only explanation would be if the rougher riding truck has too much air pressure (35 psi, I don't care what is labeled as the tire's max pressure, it should be set by the truck's recommended pressure) or bigger rim diameter.

[dlstewart01]

Alright, heres a build sheet for a 2004 two wheel drive with the performance suspension and torsion bars

. Looks like its B2E and Z60.

 

 

Re: 04 Sierra with factory 'high performance' suspension?

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Option codes

ae7 - bench seat-uplevel custom cloth ag1 - power driver seat adjuster

aj1 - deep tinted glass al0 - sensor indicator, inflatable restraint

am7 - folding rear seat au0 - remote keyless entry system

au3 - power door locks a31 - power windows

b2e - limited appearance package: 20" chromed aluminum wheels 20" touring blackwall tires high performance suspension b30 - full color keyed carpet w/mats

b32 - front color-keyed floor mats b33 - rear color-keyed floor mats

b85 - bright body side moldings cj3 - air cond., dual zone manual

c49 - electric rear window defogger df5 - isrv mirror w/compass & temp

dk7 - custom interior roof console dl8 - heated power adj exterior mirrors

eva - evap emission requirement e63 - wideside body

fe9 - 50-state emissions ff8 - arm tors bar spring adj (g)

ff9 - arm tors bar spring adj (h) gt4 - rear axle - 3.73 ratio

g80 - locking rear differential jc4 - heavy duty power disc brakes

jjg - frt end subassembly knp - h.d. Transmission oil cooler

kup - throttle control electronic k34 - electronic speed control

k47 - high capacity air cleaner k68 - alternator 105 amp

lm7 - vortec 5300 v8 sfi gas engine m30 - 4-spd auto trans w/ overdrive and electronic control

np5 - leather wrapped steering whl nt8 - federal emission system

osg - assembly plant, oshawa, ontario pdj - tx/ok/la/ca/fl/nm equipment *am/fm stereo w/cd & cassette (required for tx/ok/la/ca/fl/nm truck discount below for residents - ok,tx,la,ca,fl,nm & parts of ks,ar,ms,al,sc & ga see dealer for details)

pdu - light duty power package incl *eng vortec 5300 v8 sfi gas *locking differential *trailering equipment qr9 - 20" chromed aluminum wheels

qss - 20" touring blackwall tires q4b - gvw rating - 6200 lb

r4y - tire brand all goodyear r6i - announcement show proc opt

r6j - customer dialogue network r9u - gm access-autobook identifier

r9z - poms expedite-sold orders slm - stock orders

tfe - sales incentive-commitment plus t96 - front fog lamps

ub1 - am/fm stereo w/cd, cassette uk3 - steering wheel radio controls

uq3 - enhanced performance speakers vb3 - chrome rear bumper

vg3 - chrome front bumper vk3 - front license plate mount

vp6 - noise control vr4 - weight dist hitch platform

vxs - complete vehicle label v22 - chrome grille surround

v73 - statement of cert. U.s. V76 - recovery hooks

xss - p275/55r20-111s bw front tire yd3 - base equip for sch gvw plate

yd6 - rear spring - base equipment ye9 - sle/slt decor

yss - p275/55r20-als bw rear tire zgc - p265/75r16 bw spare tire

zy1 - solid paint z60 - high performance suspension

z82 - heavy duty trailering equip. Z88 - gmc truck nameplate

1sc - sle decor includes: *air cond., dual zone manual *dual pwr heated osrv mirrors *rear window defogger *am/fm stereo w/cd player *chrome styled steel wheels *electronic speed control *power locks & windows *remote keyless entry with content theft alarm *isrv mirror w/compass & temp *leather wrapped steering wheel *front fog lamps *sportside body deletes body side moldings 1sz - option package discount

39u - indigo blue metallic 6yt - component frt lh computer sel susp

69d - dark pewter custom cloth 69i - dark pewter interior trim

7yt - component frt rh computer sel

[lt1transam]

Alright, heres a build sheet for a 2004 two wheel drive with the performance suspension and torsion bars

. Looks like its B2E and Z60.

 

 

Re: 04 Sierra with factory 'high performance' suspension?

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Option codes

ae7 - bench seat-uplevel custom cloth ag1 - power driver seat adjuster

aj1 - deep tinted glass al0 - sensor indicator, inflatable restraint

am7 - folding rear seat au0 - remote keyless entry system

au3 - power door locks a31 - power windows

b2e - limited appearance package: 20" chromed aluminum wheels 20" touring blackwall tires high performance suspension b30 - full color keyed carpet w/mats

b32 - front color-keyed floor mats b33 - rear color-keyed floor mats

b85 - bright body side moldings cj3 - air cond., dual zone manual

c49 - electric rear window defogger df5 - isrv mirror w/compass & temp

dk7 - custom interior roof console dl8 - heated power adj exterior mirrors

eva - evap emission requirement e63 - wideside body

fe9 - 50-state emissions ff8 - arm tors bar spring adj (g)

ff9 - arm tors bar spring adj (h) gt4 - rear axle - 3.73 ratio

g80 - locking rear differential jc4 - heavy duty power disc brakes

jjg - frt end subassembly knp - h.d. Transmission oil cooler

kup - throttle control electronic k34 - electronic speed control

k47 - high capacity air cleaner k68 - alternator 105 amp

lm7 - vortec 5300 v8 sfi gas engine m30 - 4-spd auto trans w/ overdrive and electronic control

np5 - leather wrapped steering whl nt8 - federal emission system

osg - assembly plant, oshawa, ontario pdj - tx/ok/la/ca/fl/nm equipment *am/fm stereo w/cd & cassette (required for tx/ok/la/ca/fl/nm truck discount below for residents - ok,tx,la,ca,fl,nm & parts of ks,ar,ms,al,sc & ga see dealer for details)

pdu - light duty power package incl *eng vortec 5300 v8 sfi gas *locking differential *trailering equipment qr9 - 20" chromed aluminum wheels

qss - 20" touring blackwall tires q4b - gvw rating - 6200 lb

r4y - tire brand all goodyear r6i - announcement show proc opt

r6j - customer dialogue network r9u - gm access-autobook identifier

r9z - poms expedite-sold orders slm - stock orders

tfe - sales incentive-commitment plus t96 - front fog lamps

ub1 - am/fm stereo w/cd, cassette uk3 - steering wheel radio controls

uq3 - enhanced performance speakers vb3 - chrome rear bumper

vg3 - chrome front bumper vk3 - front license plate mount

vp6 - noise control vr4 - weight dist hitch platform

vxs - complete vehicle label v22 - chrome grille surround

v73 - statement of cert. U.s. V76 - recovery hooks

xss - p275/55r20-111s bw front tire yd3 - base equip for sch gvw plate

yd6 - rear spring - base equipment ye9 - sle/slt decor

yss - p275/55r20-als bw rear tire zgc - p265/75r16 bw spare tire

zy1 - solid paint z60 - high performance suspension

z82 - heavy duty trailering equip. Z88 - gmc truck nameplate

1sc - sle decor includes: *air cond., dual zone manual *dual pwr heated osrv mirrors *rear window defogger *am/fm stereo w/cd player *chrome styled steel wheels *electronic speed control *power locks & windows *remote keyless entry with content theft alarm *isrv mirror w/compass & temp *leather wrapped steering wheel *front fog lamps *sportside body deletes body side moldings 1sz - option package discount

39u - indigo blue metallic 6yt - component frt lh computer sel susp

69d - dark pewter custom cloth 69i - dark pewter interior trim

7yt - component frt rh computer sel

 

Thanks for all the info guys. Sorry I didn't mention 2wd. The truck does have the tow pkg. I hate the way it rides period. My tires are all 34-36 psi.

[jro909]

my z85 rides rough but the tires and shocks kind of make it that way better then the driving a boat feeling over bumps...get new shocks if it really bugs you