Z71 Hiway ride, very stiff feel every bump

95Blaze · November 24, 2004

Okay, I have 2k miles on my new Z71 I know it's a 4x4 but really! The hiway ride has been embarassing (when my Mopar Bro-in law rides with me ) when the bed is empty. It gets better with more passengers. I lowered the air rear tire air pressure on the Bridgestone Duellers to 30 PSI but did not help much. Does anyone else have the same hiway ride? Could there be something to tight on the suspension?

I did not think a new truck would fell that way.

Blue-2001-Z71 · November 24, 2004

On my '01 I cranked the T-bars up, which stiffened the ride noticeably. Now, how people define a harsh ride is very subjective. How many full size 4x4s have you owned. I've driven 2500s for the most part, so my 1500 feels very smooth by comparison. However, a good washboard road will near make you sick by rattling your kidneys to oblivion. How level does your truck sit? You might try lowering the torsion bars a bit, but not too far or you'll handle all sorts of funny. If you do, be sure to have the camber adjusted as it will be way out.

99silveradoz71 · November 24, 2004

When the time comes, Bilstein HD's made a huge difference in ride quality on my 99.

mcreyaufmiller · November 25, 2004

So how many people realize that Bilsteins are stock on the Z-71 package?

lrymal · November 25, 2004

I did not think a new truck would fell that way.

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My 2003 Z71 was/is very smooth riding, an '03 model. However, when new, it had some issues with expansion joints and roads with tar strips, with the back end being very choppy.

I purchased Velvet Ride Shackles and they simulated the ride you feel when you have a few bags of concrete or sand in the back. As a result, the ride is very nice. But, I can't recommend these because Velvet Ride Shackles have been pulled from our trucks as an item of purchase due to some changes in the leaf spring mounts. Fortunately for me, my shackle mounts are the right ones.

Others on this board have recommended leaf spring modification or add-on kits that smooth out the ride. Hopefully, they will contribute.

> So how many people realize that Bilsteins are stock on the Z-71 package?

Actually, that isn't true anymore. They stopped supplying Bilsteins about three years ago.

budhayes3 · November 25, 2004

So how many people realize that Bilsteins are stock on the Z-71 package?

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Not all Z71's have Bilsteins...wish mine did. Alot of the newer Z71's come with red Tennaco shocks, which is what I have. I'm still debating whether to change to Bilsteins or Edelbrocks.

mcreyaufmiller · November 25, 2004

Thanks for the update. I was under th eimpression they were still part of the package. Guess that is one way to cheapen the truck.

Mike

nightowl · November 25, 2004

My 2003 Z71 ride is nice and smooth. But I was used to my 97 2500, which rode rough.

asilverblazer · November 25, 2004

My truck has the red shocks on it. Rides good except for expansion joints on the interstate which are murder unloaded, add a little rear ballast to hold the back of the frame down and it'll smooth out like a baby's back side.

Blue-2001-Z71 · November 25, 2004

The red shocks are the Tenneco's, which are working well for me so far. But when loaded I can really feel them starting to go. Actually, they're more likely to rust through before they wear out (looking bad right now). I Tenneco has been on the Z-71s since 99 or so.

gnutruk · November 25, 2004

Yep. Normal when new. My 1500 '02 rode that way until the lame factory shocks started turning to mush. As others have pointed out, freeway expansion joints will practically do internal organ damage.

It'll settle down some in another 6 or 8 K. Also, you'll get used to it. But your sedan-type passengers will continue to make rude comments about the ride of your truck for as long as you own it.

My solution to their big mouths is to speed up to 90 and threaten to kick them out if they don't shut up. Rides smoother at that speed, too.

gnutruk

ps. Don't try to make too much of a difference by lowering the tire pressure. As I'm sure you know, you're increasing the operating temperature of your tires with lower air pressure (increased side wall flex), and cutting into your milage.

99silveradoz71 · November 26, 2004

The boys have it right, the newer trucks had Tenneco's on some of them. Mine for one.

'05_Z71 · November 27, 2004

Love the way mine rides. I just drove I-20 through eastern Alabama which IMO is one of the bumpiest/worst roads in the country and the truck rode great. BTW I traded a Mercury Marauder on the truck and I think my truck rides better than the Marauder on uneven pavement.

95Blaze · November 27, 2004

My truck has the red shocks on it. Rides good except for expansion joints on the interstate which are murder unloaded, add a little rear ballast to hold the back of the frame down and it'll smooth out like a baby's back side.

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I should have pointed out that theHiway Expansion joints is what bugs me. When the bed is unloaded talking to the 1 passenger is like speaking through a fan. If I have more passengers the additional wieght helpes. I've owned a 85 Toyota, 88 Bronco and a 95 Blazer, all of which were 4X4s. and this is my first fullsize truck with a bed. I think if I would have purchased a long bed 4X4 the addtional wieght would help. But the 6.5 foot bed is what I have and will just have to live with it.

A couple of weeks ago I had a Rhino liner sprayed on. I think that added some weight and helped slightly.

To remedy the problem about the only thing I will do is get some good tires. I've always used BGF A/Ts and never complained about them. A bed cap would be nice but it would get in the way of my quads. Hey there's an idea, I guess I could just leave the quads back there.

Well thanks for th input guys.

lrymal · November 27, 2004

I should have pointed out that theHiway Expansion joints is what bugs me. When the bed is unloaded talking to the 1 passenger is like speaking through a fan.

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If you are willing to risk that your shackles are not compatible, then you might want to purchase Velvet Ride Shackles. It appears that the shackle design changes periodically as new batches are sent to the factory. The designs are compatible with the frame and the leaf springs, but the changes don't work well for the Velvet Ride guys, so they yanked their product from the 1500 chassis GM trucks. At least this is my understanding.

I'm one of the lucky ones and my shackle mount is perfect for the Velvet Ride shackles. At any rate, these get rid of the problem with th expansion joints. Totally. Perfectly. The risk is that they won't fit perfectly if the design you'd have isn't compatible with the VR shackles. Since I don't have the problem, I'm not sure where the problem is. And if they don't fit correctly, I'd suggest reselling them on eBay and taking a slight $$$ loss.

This link is the website for Velvet Ride shackles:

http://www.lord.com/Default.aspx?tabid=872