2017 Sierra Ride Quality

[blam1988]

Hey everyone,

sorry if this has been talked over already.

I'm a brand new GM owner that has come over from the dark side of Ford.

Long story short, I test drove a 17 Sierra SLE crew 4X4 Z71 with 20" wheels and stock rubbers.

WHAT AN AWESOME RIDE is all I could say while I was driving it down through the roads and freeways.

I live out in the country and had to drive down to the barn to grab a few things.

first thing I noticed was that the ride quality was WAY worse than my old 2014 F-150.

I found the truck would rock more, and was moer "bouncy" - recovery wasn't as fast as the old Ford...am I crazy?

Is this something I can fix? or is it just the design of the GM?

thanks everyone!

[Justin101714]

You could try new shocks. But for the most part. They ride stiff and bouncy. Haven’t driven one yet that has driven better whether it’s a single cab, double cab or crew cab.

 

 

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[BullShark.]

I had a 2014 Sierra that rode great on the roads and in the fields. I bought a 2017 and the ride turned into a harsh bouncy ride. I first put on Michelin LTX ms2 and the ride didnt improve. I then put on Michelin Premier LTX and the ride is somewhat bearable if I decrease the tire pressure to 31 lbs. I am working with the dealer to try a set of 17 or 18" wheels to see if they help before I put out the money.

 

I noticed a the same phenomenom with my 2017. It rode perfect on the first test ride and then turned into a bucking bronco as soon as I drove it more. They all aren't the same and I know that for a fact. Good Luck is all I can say.

[silveradosid]

brothers new gmc slt ccsb is the same way beautiful on the highway but on rough country roads it will bounce your $ss of the rear seat

[blam1988]

yeah, I'm getting a lot of people saying that too. great on smooth roads, but terrible off roads.

Bilsteins seem to be the majority vote here.

I've heard the oem ranchos are garbage and aren't even what ranchos are normally if you bought them separately.

thanks for the input guys.

[MaverickZ71]

Numerous auto review magazines have said GM's suspension tuners have it a$$-backwards: the Z71 "off-road" model handles better on the freeway but bounces all over creation when off-pavement, while the standard soft-suspension is ill-handling on pavement but less-jarring off road.

 

IMO, and apparently those of the magazine editors, an "off-road" suspension should be setup like the Fox shocks on the Ford Raptor, the Bilsteins on the Ram Power Wagon, or even the DSSV 'shocks' on the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon ZR2--to allow you to fly over the bumps, not creep over them like a Corvette traversing tall speed bumps in a parking lot.

[cbrsilv15]

Z71(rancho shocks) = bouncy/harsh ride.

 

Swap them out and the ride quality should improve quite a bit.

[gtbigup01]

I think this all depends on what you mostly do. If you're always off-road or un-improved roads then it'll make sense, if not leave them alone. There's not guarantee that switching them to any of the recommended brands here will get what YOU are looking for. I drive 110 miles everyday (5days) to work and back and yep smooth ride, but any imperfections on the road like a pothole that half assed fixed , if my tires hit that it rocks from side to side as I go over it.

 

On the flip side I just purchased a truck because I like them, mine will rarely see off road use LOL. Once or twice just to get the 4X4 gears working and to get oil through it parts.