GMT900 Suspension(and others): How to get the correct parts

SnakeEyeSS · July 13, 2015

After several hours trying to figure out which a half dozen AutoRide shocks I needed, I found some tricks that should help people do it much more quickly.

Some of this is redundant, but I feel better with several conformations.

Start by search for the PNs listed at the bottom of shock/strut, if your lucky your is still in the systems and you can save yourself a lot of trouble. In my case non of the PNs are valid anymore, they didn't even show an updated number on parts sites.

First, look at your RPO codes for your suspension and spring rates. Z55 is auto ride, Z71 is off road, Z95 is magnaride, etc etc.

The spring rates will probably be the last two. From what I can tell, it is always one number followed by a letter, usually another number. (I haven't found a way to decipher spring rates, but it doesn't really matter for the purposes of this thread)

You now need to find a website that allows you to browse parts by your specfic VIN. If you have to send in your VIN for verification, they probably won't give the PN, forcing you to buy from them. Please help out on this, the only one I have found so far is a Jim Butler dealership site, post other you find in case they stop doing it:
http://gmwholesaleparts.com/....but they don't show any PNs...

Now, go to the AcDelco online parts catalog on their site,

http://parts-catalog.acdelco.com/catalog/catalog_search.php

and use your VIN to start the search.

They will only give you a broad list of possible parts, but, almost every part shows the corresponding spring rate code. The fronts will be easy, just find the strut that matches your spring rate. Mine were 6LP & 7LP, so I just did a page search (find on page) for 7LP and browsed through the pages until it showed up.

For rear Autoride shock, there were only a few options, and they don't list spring rates. This is where cross referencing with a dealer parts site where you start with a VIN comes in handy.

Now its time to narrow it down. On the parts site like the above referenced gmwholesale, start by entering your VIN, NOT year/make/model. Then navigate to the part you are trying to find.

For the rear shock, in my case, only one will show up(in my case, it lists the GM and ACD part numbers seperate, and at a bizarre $80 price difference. Some other sites will list those numbers together). When the item info pops up, look for any key words. In my case, it said "exc Y91".

While AC Delco parts catalog showed three possible rear shocks, only one have "exc Y91" in the description, BINGO, we have a match, and a PN.

The problem with GMPD style system (, I mention them because they are well known here, but which many other sites use the same catalog system) is it doesn't give you EVERY possible part for your vehicle, they even admit this and ask you for your VIN for that reason, to make sure the PN matches your VIN.

So, I found nifty parts list at a Russian site, but it only applies to autoride. This is where you will need to do leg work: find an official parts catalog breakdown graphic. In the top left will be a code, like "TCG-07"

Search google for that code, and hopefully you will find a graphic of that sheet and corresponding list of part numbers. This could take a lot of browsing...

Hop on Amazon and say a little prayer. If they have Your AcDelco PN, your going to save a bundle over dealer, online parts sites, or RockAuto. Enter your vehicle info when it prompts at the top. Once you do, when bring uo the AcDelco PN, it usually lists the same summary that the ACD parts catalog does. Such as suspension and/or spring rate codes.

Now you need to do a similar investigation for shock mounts. There inst a big of an issue only a few variations of mounts.

AutoRide uses a specific type of mount. The standard style shocks use a completely round mount, while autoride uses a mount that has a flat edge on the outer side, so pay attention to part pictures and graphics.

As far as I can tell, all spring rate AutoRide combos share one PN for spring seat, two for upper insulator, and two lower insulator. use the link below to correspond the spring rate to the correct insulators.

Here is the link to the mentioned russian site, for those with AutoRide.

http://gmsklad.ru/catalog/chevrolet-a/TAHOE-HYBRID-(4WD)-2012/32782