Ride Quality 2015 GMC 2500 Z71

DMAXNAZ · July 19, 2018

The roads where I live are pretty darn crappy. I was running 60psi cold in the tires, and that had me bouncing all over the road. Everybody that rides in my truck is like "damn" when we hit bumps and cracks. I just dropped them to 50psi cold and it's a little better. Pressure rises 3 pounds or so once the tires are heated up. I have the front cranked up 2" with keys and run 285/70/18 on a 18x9 wheel +1 offset. I ran this exact setup, other than my wheel was a +18 offset on my last truck when I lived in AZ, but the roads are 1000% better there and I just don't remember it being this darn rough. I noticed a improvement with that truck when I went to Bilstein 5100's on the front and rear, but the road are quite different. My question is, will the 5100's help my ride on these rough roads, or should I just stick to the stock Rancho's?? I have read all through this forum and others the past few days, and the responses are back and forth. I couldn't find much feedback on the Fox Adventure 2.0, other than that they would be stiffer than Bilstein. I just want to stop all of the commentary when I'm driving.

ewbldavis · July 30, 2018

These ride great for HD pickups. I would remind them that you're in a "real" truck and it is what it is.

If they want to bitch, let them drive.

jerseytaylor · July 31, 2018

i cant imagine 5100 bilsteins making it any worse! theyre what I will be using when I purchase my SuspensionMaxx leveling kit

dasbill · July 31, 2018

The bilsteins will make the ride better. Changed mine out on my 2015.5 chevy after I read about them and changed the ranchos on my 2017 gmc with less than 100 miles. Ride so much better

DMAXNAZ · August 2, 2018

On 7/30/2018 at 3:45 PM, ewbldavis said:

These ride great for HD pickups. I would remind them that you're in a "real" truck and it is what it is.

If they want to bitch, let them drive.

I usually do say something like that to them. I rode in my buddy's 2017 bone stocker and it rode really nice compared to mine. No crank and +44 vs crank and +1 make a world of difference.

poppagar · August 2, 2018

I had Bilstein 5100's on my F350 powerstroke w/4" lift and it rode better then my 2018 Duramax does now with the Rancho's. When I can afford it I'll switch out to the Bilstein 5100's.

ewbldavis · August 2, 2018

I cranked my torsions 3.5 turns. Didn't really notice a difference in ride.

I'm on board with Bilsteins. At some point when these crap Rancho's need replaced (or sooner), I'll be getting those.

DMAXNAZ · August 10, 2018

Just installed the 5100's. There is a noticeable difference between these and the ranchos. Overall I'm happy I decided to go with them. Not a bad upgrade for $300.

avalonandl · August 13, 2018

Bilsteins ride much better, I am going to chang out these crappy Ranchos.....

redwngr · August 18, 2018

For comparision, crank it back down to factory and try 55 psi front, 50-55 rear. Pressures assuming truck isn't loaded.

Doesn't take long to try, and you'll have your opinion (and buddies if you want) on your roads.

It'll give you a baseline to work from.

Edited August 18, 2018 by redwngr

DMAXNAZ · August 22, 2018

56 psi cold is the minimum I have found to keep the dash light off. They have been heating up to 59 or 60 lately. I've been happy with the ride since the new shocks. If I were to start all over I never would have touched the front and just dropped the rear.

Edited August 22, 2018 by DMAXNAZ

redwngr · August 22, 2018

11 hours ago, DMAXNAZ said:

56 psi cold is the minimum I have found to keep the dash light off. They have been heating up to 59 or 60 lately. I've been happy with the ride since the new shocks. If I were to start all over I never would have touched the front and just dropped the rear.

Your dealer can set the TPMS setting to whatever you want. Front are rear can be set to different numbers.

(they use the laptop with wireless hookup -- watched as mine was changed)

I had mine set to 50F 50R. (even though I'm not running that low)

Onstar app will show the numbers the TPMS has been set to (50/50 in my case) as the 'recommended' numbers and of course it reports the actual pressures as well.

Edited August 22, 2018 by redwngr