2021 RST Z71…..Need Help with Suspension!

[ColoradoCub]

Hello guys, new Silverado owner here, recently bought a 2021 RST Z71 with Diesel off-road package and after 500 miles of driving it I have realized that this truck has the worst suspension I have ever felt in a truck and I’ve owned a bunch of them (though in full disclosure this is my first GM). There are multiple things that I have noticed since buying it that I didn’t notice on my 3-4 mile test drive. The truck bounces like crazy! It feels like I’m driving an old worn out Oldsmobile or something. I literally counted 3 bounces on the front end before recovery after hitting a dip at 50 mph, it’s like the shocks are worn out. The rear does the same thing, as well as jarring sideways on pavement breaks , sometimes at speed (ie like a railroad track). In addition I literally feel everything in the road through the cab and steering wheel, every little crack, broken spots,etc. Colorado has bad roads but I traded in a 2019 Ram 1500 with the Off-road package and the same exact tires that in stock form rode 10x better than this truck. I have messed with air pressure and it hasn’t helped in any way. So with all that said I am prepared to upgrade whatever is needed to make this truck ride better. Bilstein 6112’s and 5160’s is where I’m pointed right now. Can any of you that have gone through what I am going through give me a little feedback on maybe what you did. Thanks in advance.

Edited May 26, 2021 by ColoradoCub

[ChrisR2021]

That is completely opposite of the way mine rides & drives.

Have you taken it back to the dealer?

[ColoradoCub]

How do you take a new truck back to the dealership after a week of driving it and tell them that the suspension sucks? It’s not like it’s the front or the back, or one thing, it just seems like a terrible suspension design. I truly believe the shocks are just cheap as hell, and with the extra weight of the 3.0 in the front it just make it worse. And the leaf spring pack in the rear to try to bump payload and towing also with cheap shocks it’s just not well designed or invested in. The rear suspension is super soft in these trucks, a hard tri fold tonneau took an inch away from my rear suspension, that’s crazy. Anyway I ordered Bilstein 6112’s and 5160’s for the truck last night, god willing it will make a big difference, will surely update when I get everything on. I think part of the problem is that my Ram 1500 Off-road had a much better suspension so it’s really obvious to me. I bought this truck for the power train 3.0 Diesel/10 spd, other wise it was a pretty serious downgrade.

[newdude]

35 minutes ago, ColoradoCub said:

How do you take a new truck back to the dealership after a week of driving it and tell them that the suspension sucks? It’s not like it’s the front or the back, or one thing, it just seems like a terrible suspension design. I truly believe the shocks are just cheap as hell, and with the extra weight of the 3.0 in the front it just make it worse. And the leaf spring pack in the rear to try to bump payload and towing also with cheap shocks it’s just not well designed or invested in. The rear suspension is super soft in these trucks, a hard tri fold tonneau took an inch away from my rear suspension, that’s crazy. Anyway I ordered Bilstein 6112’s and 5160’s for the truck last night, god willing it will make a big difference, will surely update when I get everything on. I think part of the problem is that my Ram 1500 Off-road had a much better suspension so it’s really obvious to me. I bought this truck for the power train 3.0 Diesel/10 spd, other wise it was a pretty serious downgrade.

 

 

The 3.0 weighs all of maybe 50-70lbs more than a 5.3 so its not from the "extra weight".

 

Why would you take it to the dealer?  Its a complaint you have and its under warranty.  They can make sure everything is tight and within spec.  If that's all good and the ride still bothers you, then you can have the shocks changed out.  

 

As far as vs. Ram, its coil spring 5 link solid axle vs leaf spring solid axle.  The ride will be different, that's a given.  Front suspension wise they are pretty much identical, coil over strut with dual A arms.  

[ColoradoCub]

I hear what your saying, but it’s not a dealership warranty issue. I’m pretty mechanically savvy and I’ve owned pretty much every other half ton and several 3/4 tons in the last 25 years. (multiple Tundras, multiple F-150’s, multiple Rams) Leaf spring, coil spring, off-road and non off-road models. None of them have been as fubarred as this thing is. It’s like it has every negative attribute that each of my previous trucks have had all in one package. I’ve done a bunch of searching and it appears I’m not the only one who has experienced this, there are a lot of threads on guys complaining about the bouncy boat feeling and rear hop and slide on several forums. I’m sure the Bilsteins will make it better. With all that said, I love the LM2 and 10 spd combo, it performs amazingly!

[Amcguy1970]

Yeah a few things need to be clarified. Either something is wrong with your truck and the shocks have failed, or you are just using an elaborate excuse coming from a four corner coil suspension truck to buy a new leveling suspension (that is what you listed, not a factory replacement that is catered to a good ride). The Ram uses coils, it will ride nicer period. But you say the Silverado rear is super soft, it will sag less with weight on the hitch than that Ram. The Ram suspension is catered to the suburban crowd who never haul/tow much, the Silverado is the other way and it geared towards hauling and towing, similar to the F150. Now yes the shocks aren't the best but to say it is the worst means you have never driven or ridden in an actual truck from just a decade or two ago, as those rode even worse (some weird combination of rough and floaty). Trucks these days ride so much better and are better controlled than back then, with the newer steering systems, coil over struts and new computer aided design simulations means things are much better. Not sure how people can say anything from today is worst than decades past, this also applies to headlights. People complain the halogens are crap, well they much have never been in an sealed beam vehicle before as I promise those are much worse. 

 

Either way, take it to the dealer and have them check it out and make sure nothing is wrong. If it is ok and you just don't like how it rides then replace the shocks if you see fit. How a truck ride isn't for everyone and each person has their own flavor. Some like it rougher, others want it smoother. Air suspensions are being added because people are buying these things less for truck duties and more for image contests and they want them to ride like a luxury car since they don't do any real work. 

 

A piece of advice, some of the best riding suspensions are the higher end off road shocks and springs from King, Dirt Logic or Fox. The truck will roll more but will soak up bumps like no other, that is why Raptors are so popular in the suburbs. They don't need the carrying capacity which is why towing and payloads are down but the ride is very nice. 

 

Tyler 

[diyer2]

IMO

 

Colorado doesn't have bad roads.

You want to see bad roads, go to Michigan. 

[ColoradoCub]

I think it really depends on what your used to driving. All I know is after finding this forum last night and posting this thread I did some searching and I’m clearly not alone in how I feel about the suspension. It apppears most have been appeased by replacing the cheap ass Ranchos with some sort of alternative. I’ll slap the new shocks and springs on next week and report back.

 

[Vigilante375]

Look at getting some bilstein 5100s. I put some on the rear (easy 10 minute job you can do in the driveway) and it was a night and day difference! 

 

There is a very long thread and the bilstein 5100s in the modv section. Give it a look. 

 

The cheap ass Rancho shocks suck and I don't know why Chevy uses such a total crap on and off road suspension component. 

[ColoradoCub]

Well I got some Bilstein 6112’s installed on the front and 5160’s on the rear. Absolutely transformed this truck, I love it now, I hated it before!

[RSVolcom]

I like how he comes to ask insight/suggestions then bitches about the responses he receives.  

 

[ColoradoCub]

5 hours ago, RSVolcom said:

I like how he comes to ask insight/suggestions then bitches about the responses he receives.  

 

Well when the feedback is way off point what’s a guy supposed to do? Go to the dealer and say “I hate how this trucks suspension feels”…..yeah that will go over well! I knew what was wrong with it, just had to figure out how to fix it, $1100 later it’s fixed!

[Robby James]

Wow $1100 for shocks, I must be getting out of touch with the value of the $ but 60K for a truck I should not have to do ****** to it!

IMO

[ColoradoCub]

2 hours ago, Robby James said:

Wow $1100 for shocks, I must be getting out of touch with the value of the $ but 60K for a truck I should not have to do ****** to it!

IMO

If you are happy with the floaty ride that’s inherit to these trucks and the garbage Ranchos then you don’t have to do anything to it. I absolutely hated the way the truck felt and rode the more I drove it so it was a no brainer for me. The more I researched this issue the more I realized that GM guys are just used to the car like ride in these trucks , guess they’ve had this suspension feel for several year models. For me it was horrendous, especially compared to the Ram Off-road I traded in for this truck. My wife doesn’t know ****** about trucks or suspensions and even she was like why does this truck move up and down so much on our rough roads, I just told her ….I know…..I’m working on it.

[Robby James]

7 hours ago, ColoradoCub said:

If you are happy with the floaty ride that’s inherit to these trucks and the garbage Ranchos then you don’t have to do anything to it. I absolutely hated the way the truck felt and rode the more I drove it so it was a no brainer for me. The more I researched this issue the more I realized that GM guys are just used to the car like ride in these trucks , guess they’ve had this suspension feel for several year models. For me it was horrendous, especially compared to the Ram Off-road I traded in for this truck. My wife doesn’t know ****** about trucks or suspensions and even she was like why does this truck move up and down so much on our rough roads, I just told her ….I know…..I’m working on it.

Not arguing the crap ride, just saying these trucks are astronomically priced and for that $$ it should ride exceptionally well.