2004 Silverado...drives a little rough

TXAggie2001 · July 27, 2004

so are the suspensions on these things really tight or what???

I just bought a brand new 2004 Chevy Silverado and I love it! The only thing is: it rides a little rough, like I can feel every bump in the road.

I came from a 1993 GM Sierra with blown shocks, and that thing seemed smoother than this. I thought it was funny too, because I was reading the sticker yesterday and I got the "Smooth Ride Suspension" on it...

so I'm hoping that these things are just built to haul heavy loads, and the suspension will settle down after the first few thousand miles...am i right?

SteveG66 · July 27, 2004

TXAggie, I have probably the same truck as you. I have had mine for 25k, I hate to tell you this but it seems to get worse as it gets more miles on it. Fortunately I will only have it for 3 years (company vehicle).

FYI-If you have the Goodyear ST's, keep an eye on them, especially when wet or snow. They have been terrible for me, I hope you have better luck. I will be replacing before this winter with Dueller AT's. I have read great things about them.

Other than the ride, I love my truck, in fact, just installed an xm radio in it. I will probably put a couple hundred lbs. in the back over the axle to help to settle it down.

I have been reading of Velvet Ride replacement shackles with good comments, however, they are currently not available for the 04's.

Let me know if you are able to find a solution to the ride.

Good Luck,

Steve

OUMike · July 27, 2004

Ah a newbie helpin' a newbie. Doesn't that just make you feel all warm inside

Are your trucks Z71s or 4x4 models?? I've personally driven 04' 2WD models that were very smooth. If your truck is 4WD thats pretty much just the nature of the beast.

99-2door · July 27, 2004

Ah a newbie helpin' a newbie. Doesn't that just make you feel all warm inside

Are your trucks Z71s or 4x4 models?? I've personally driven 04' 2WD models that were very smooth. If your truck is 4WD thats pretty much just the nature of the beast.

sjspor · July 27, 2004

Check to make sure the air pressure is correct in the tires, they may be overinflated.

And About the Goodyear ST's (AKA the glazed donuts) Yup.. they bad in the rain

TXAggie2001 · July 27, 2004

yeah it's a 2WD which is why i'm curious...

actually funny story: i took the truck back to the dealer a week after i got it because of the vibration...i just thought the tires were off-balance.

They came back and said three of my four brand-new Goodyear tires were "significantly damaged"!

They were backordered on replacements, but they finally got some in and replaced them...i get the truck back and there's still no difference in the ride.

So I guess I'm glad they caught the damaged tires...but the original problem was not fixed.

To be honest, it's not that bad, and I LOVE everything else about this truck, so it's time to just learn to live with it.

deepdiver1950 · July 27, 2004

My o1 gmc rides like a tank. A long time ago I had a 53 chevy pickup with a straight I-beam suspension that actually rode smoother than this newer truck. How can they call this a "smooth ride"? I think that it is worse on my truck because it is a short wheel base & it is a sportside. If I had known that the sportside body is fiberglass, I would not have ordered it.

What are these Velvet Ride shackles, I have never heard of them.

OUMike · July 27, 2004

If I had known that the sportside body is fiberglass, I would not have ordered it.

fiberglass

Since when??

deepdiver1950 · July 27, 2004

I put mud flaps on all 4 fenders, while I was drilling the holes I noticed that the front fenders were metal and the rear fenders were fiberglass, so I asked the dealer & they confirmed it. If you tap on the front fender & then the rear fender you can plainly hear that they aren't made out of the same material.

04SilveradoZ71 · July 27, 2004

Something else I have to look forward too a truck that rides ruff. Last time I checked trucks are not supposed to ride like a d**n caddy. I am from the sticks so a rough ride isn't bad since the roads are crap to begine with.

deepdiver1950 · July 27, 2004

This is 2004, I think that the ride on a truck is getting worse, not better.

hvac1000 · July 27, 2004

Velvet ride is a great setup for a smooth ride. I have been using them for years. Do a Google search and you will see what I mean. I have a 2002 4X4 ext cab and I do not go off road much. On a city street or highway thet do improve the ride and do not detract from the capacity of the truck for load purposes. NOTE they will lower the rear about 1 1/2 to 2 inches. In my case it leveled the truck so I no longer felt I was driving down hill. LOL

99-2door · July 27, 2004

If I had known that the sportside body is fiberglass, I would not have ordered it.

fiberglass

Since when??

Since 1988........

Actually the new body style trucks are made of urethane not fiberglass like the 88-98 trucks were.

lrymal · July 27, 2004

Velvet Ride is not really meant for the 2003 models and upwards. Something was changed on the leaf spring mount for these years. I didn't know that and installed them on my '03 Silverado.

BUT, I have not had any problems and am not totally sure what the problem is. But, it is significant enough that Lord Corp does not list the 1/2 ton '03+ GM full-sized pick ups in their compatibility chart. Somewhere at GM-Trucks is an explanation of the problem. The search engine might dig up that info. In the meantime:

http://www.lordcorp.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=488