Yukon, Poor highway handling

[mtnxr]

I have a 2002 Yukon with the stock Firestones and Autoride. The handling at 75 to 80 mph on our interstates is lousy. The truck seems to have some bump steer and basically just wallows around as your going down the highway. It is especially bad going through dips that cause full or considerable suspension travel. It is un-nerving to drive this thing. I also have a 2000 Sierra that handles great. Both are 4wd. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Shaners]

First off I'd check the air pressure in the tires.

 

I've never driven a vehicle equipped with AutoRide, so I'm not familiar with it's characteristics. You might want to talk to the dealer, and compare it with another one on the lot.

 

I know there are guys here that have AutoRide, so I'm sure they will be more help.

[mtnxr]

I have checked the tire pressure and had it to the dealer several times. They say everything is OK but there is no way this thing should be this scary on the highway. It feels like a 1975 lincoln town car with worn out shocks with the exception that it does not track straight.

[Chuckster]

I have a 2002 Yukon with the stock Firestones and Autoride. The handling at 75 to 80 mph on our interstates is lousy. The truck seems to have some bump steer and basically just wallows around as your going down the highway. It is especially bad going through dips that cause full or considerable suspension travel. It is un-nerving to drive this thing. I also have a 2000 Sierra that handles great. Both are 4wd. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Actually I have heard horror stories about the unnerving feel of Autoride..

 

See if there is a way to disable it and see if it makes a difference.

[SilveradoWV]

Just something that comes into my head is the Round Tire vs the Square Tire (if you look at a round tire from the front the tread kind of rounds off to the sidewall, where a square tire has a noticeable edge where the tread meets the sidewall) and the tread area appears kind of flat.) I usually run square tires which help the steering and road wondering, because I have heard people say round tires kind of leave you steering alot more to compensate for the truck weaving some. Prolly the autoride situation in your case though!

[RyanbabZ71]

i would have said air pressure right away. I can tell a huge difference even if it is like 2psi. Saturday I hauled a tractor about 150miles in the bed so I aired up the tires to 55 front and 58 rear. The truck rode like crap all over the rode. The next day I checked the pressure and found the right side rear to be at 61 psi and front 57 so 2 and 3 psi difference made the truck ride horrible. I corrected the pressure and it rode great going home

[Dave J]

I'd recomennd trading for one that has Quadrasteer! AND you CAN get it on 1500/2500 Yukon/subrban, silverado/GMC you would feel/know the differance! tow ANYTHING? all the more reason to have it!!

[Markeaux]

So what pressure ARE you running front and rear? I've had my 01 4x4 Autoride Hoe since 9/00 and have run it soft and hard with the stock 265/70-16 'stones, 285/65-16H Pirelli Scorpion Zero's and now Yokohama AVS ST 285/70-16H. There is no doubt the scariest handling (but softest ride) was with the stock Firestones. The best handling was with the Scorps (though a bit firm), but all around the AVS ST's are a supreme balance between ride and handling. I did not drive much over 75 with the 'stones, but both the Scorps and AVS ST's have been supreme all the way up to 95.

 

Note that both rear Aride shocks exhibited signs of leakage after 2yrs so were replaced under warranty.