Crappy ride 2016 suburban

Scott R · January 4, 2020

I recently purchased a 2016 Chevy Suburban and I am very disappointed in the ride. I still own a 2001 2500 suburban and love the ride of the 2500 over the 2016 1500!!
the 16 bounces like crazy in the rear when going over bumps. I’m sure other people are experiencing this issue. Can you please give me ideas on how to take care of this. I have been talking to people and some are saying to install 1000 lb air bags in the springs .and new shocks. Has anybody done this to their truck? FYI I’ve been so dissatisfied with this Soccer mon car I mean Suburban that I went out and test drove a 3500 crew cab diesel and loved the way that handled. I really don’t want to sell my Suburban. Thanks. Looking forward to reading your replies.

davester · January 4, 2020

If it bounced unloaded, then definitely shocks. airbags can help for if/when you are towing.

Lowing tire pressure can also help with the ride, when the burb isn't fully loaded.

The Zip · January 4, 2020

14 hours ago, Scott R said:

the 16 bounces like crazy in the rear when going over bumps.

When I first got my truck I said the same thing. Your description sounds like you have Premium Ride suspension, more bounce than I was used to. Magnetic ride is the opposite, some owners say that ride is too stiff. Suspension in these trucks are one or the other. Air bags and new shocks may change your ride, but if you have Premium ride I don't think there is anything wrong with the suspension.

ickyoldman · January 5, 2020

Lower your tire pressure to 50 psi to start

The Zip · January 6, 2020

Premium ride suspension and 38 psi drives just fine. I just drove the diamond lane in the flow of traffic through LA at 80 mph with no issues. With that suspension, I wouldn't recommend those speeds unless you are used to the feel and know the roads. First time I drove the truck at high speeds and hit a dip, the truck got squirrely. The trucks with Magnetic ride suspension should handle high speed dips better.

K2xxSteve · January 6, 2020

Yeah, there's not really a middle ground "just right" suspension in these trucks. The standard premium ride suspension is way too floaty and bouncy for me, and then the Magnetic Ride on LTZ/Premier trucks is definitely on the stiff side. I've observed Suburban LT's with standard suspension definitely having a lot of rear end bounce on the highway over bumps that my Premier with Mag Ride handled just fine. Whether it's that or blown shocks, I dunno. Between the two, it was the Mag Ride or nothing for me, as all of the body motion with the standard suspension would have made half of my motion-sickness prone family members ill. Even I got a little motion sickness with the standard premium ride suspension on a Suburban LT that I test drove. If there's a sweet spot for overall ride and handling quality, I'd say it's the LTZ/Premier trucks with Magnetic Ride and the 20" wheels.

JimCost2014 · January 9, 2020

On 1/3/2020 at 9:47 PM, Scott R said:

I recently purchased a 2016 Chevy Suburban and I am very disappointed in the ride. I still own a 2001 2500 suburban and love the ride of the 2500 over the 2016 1500!!
the 16 bounces like crazy in the rear when going over bumps. I’m sure other people are experiencing this issue. Can you please give me ideas on how to take care of this. I have been talking to people and some are saying to install 1000 lb air bags in the springs .and new shocks. Has anybody done this to their truck? FYI I’ve been so dissatisfied with this Soccer mon car I mean Suburban that I went out and test drove a 3500 crew cab diesel and loved the way that handled. I really don’t want to sell my Suburban. Thanks. Looking forward to reading your replies.

Welcome to the site.

How about a little more info, trim level, miles, history of maintenance if known, wheel size.

mikemcclain8 · February 19, 2020

On 1/6/2020 at 11:52 AM, K2xxSteve said:

Yeah, there's not really a middle ground "just right" suspension in these trucks. The standard premium ride suspension is way too floaty and bouncy for me, and then the Magnetic Ride on LTZ/Premier trucks is definitely on the stiff side. I've observed Suburban LT's with standard suspension definitely having a lot of rear end bounce on the highway over bumps that my Premier with Mag Ride handled just fine. Whether it's that or blown shocks, I dunno. Between the two, it was the Mag Ride or nothing for me, as all of the body motion with the standard suspension would have made half of my motion-sickness prone family members ill. Even I got a little motion sickness with the standard premium ride suspension on a Suburban LT that I test drove. If there's a sweet spot for overall ride and handling quality, I'd say it's the LTZ/Premier trucks with Magnetic Ride and the 20" wheels.

I have a 2015 LTZ and was under the impression that the rear was air ride/leveling while only the front was magnetic. I know the rear has air as the compressor runs at each start up. That being said, my old Ford Expedition EL would bounce like crazy in the rear in the cold as the air bags had holes and would leak. My LTZ doesn't bounce like that so check your air bags to see if they are faulty.