Autoride Question

[ebod]

Will an "autoride" equipped 2500 Suburban ride softer, when the vehicle is unloaded, than one with the standard suspension (which is described as "firm")?

 

What exactly does autoride do? Is it good for anything (other than adding $$ to the price of a truck)?

[8.1L]

That is a great question, and I'll know more after my XL shows up. I did find this press release from Delphi (GM's electronics arm) that helps answer what it does and how it works, and it sounds decent. How it works in the real world, I don't know... I ordered it anyway.

 

Delphi's Autoride Helps Make General Motors Vehicles 'Safe & Secure'

TROY, Mich., Aug. 25, 2004 --

 

Autoride Benefits

Autoride is a fully automatic ride control system that continually adjusts the damping level on each of the four individual shock absorbers to provide superior ride quality and handling performance. Autoride's "tow/haul" mode helps improve vehicle body control while towing and hauling by offering increased levels of damping. Also included with Autoride is automatic rear level control, an air suspension system that helps keep the vehicle level over a wide range of passenger and loading conditions while also maintaining rear ride travel.

 

Autoride Operation

 

Autoride uses an electronic control module (ECM) to continuously monitor brake, throttle and steering inputs as well as vehicle body and wheel motions.

 

Using this data, the ECM can maintain optimum ride quality by separately and electronically adjusting the hydraulic fluid flow through the valuing discs in the shock absorbers. This results in enhanced body control motion and a pleasing, refined and well-isolated ride.

[8.1L]

That is a great question, and I'll know more after my XL shows up. I did find this press release from Delphi (GM's electronics arm) that helps answer what it does and how it works, and it sounds decent. How it works in the real world, I don't know... I ordered it anyway.

 

Delphi's Autoride Helps Make General Motors Vehicles 'Safe & Secure'

TROY, Mich., Aug. 25, 2004 --

 

Autoride Benefits

Autoride is a fully automatic ride control system that continually adjusts the damping level on each of the four individual shock absorbers to provide superior ride quality and handling performance. Autoride's "tow/haul" mode helps improve vehicle body control while towing and hauling by offering increased levels of damping. Also included with Autoride is automatic rear level control, an air suspension system that helps keep the vehicle level over a wide range of passenger and loading conditions while also maintaining rear ride travel.

 

Autoride Operation

 

Autoride uses an electronic control module (ECM) to continuously monitor brake, throttle and steering inputs as well as vehicle body and wheel motions.

 

Using this data, the ECM can maintain optimum ride quality by separately and electronically adjusting the hydraulic fluid flow through the valuing discs in the shock absorbers. This results in enhanced body control motion and a pleasing, refined and well-isolated ride.

[Markeaux]

OK I originally had it backwards, so I editted the below which should be correct:

 

When I got my 01 Tahoe Autoride there were descriptions about the 2500 series Sub's that said Autoride on them did not include the active rear leveling ... Not sure about later models, but all that info should be on GM's website.

[8.1L]

When I got my 01 Tahoe Autoride there were descriptions about the 2500 series Sub's that said Autoride on them did not include the electronically controlled shocks, so it only included the active rear leveling system ... Not sure about later models, but all that info should be on GM's website.

 

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The GMC site is fairly confusing to me, but I pulled this off the Chevy Suburban site. It indicates that the 1/2 ton has the rear self-leveling component, but that the 3/4 ton does not. We can assume, I think, that the GMC and Chevy 3/4 ton Suburbans are the same mechanically. So, I think that is our answer. I still don't know how it feels on the road or off.

 

Autoride:

Available on LS and LT, this suspension automatically varies the amount of shock damping rate on a continual 20-millisecond basis by monitoring road surface, speed, gas and brake pedals, steering angle, and wheel height conditions to maximize handling and comfort. Also, a rear self-leveling feature on half-ton models helps maintain the rear suspension level with the front during heavy trailering or fully loaded conditions.

[Jacqson]

Will an "autoride" equipped 2500 Suburban ride softer, when the vehicle is unloaded, than one with the standard suspension (which is described as "firm")? 

 

What exactly does autoride do?  Is it good for anything (other than adding $$ to the price of a truck)?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

The simple answer to your first question is "No". All the autoride does in a 2500 Burban is electronically dampen your shocks. Autoride shocks are a high pressure gas with valving that is electronically controlled by your on board computer. They are something like electronic stability control. If you make a fast maneuver the computer electronically increases the damping of your shocks to try and prevent the vehicle from losing control. The Autoride shocks are around $250.00 each. Before I bought my 02 2500 Burban(With Autoride) I went for a ride in a Suburban without the autoride and I found that the autoride equipped Suburban handled much better especially during quick maneuvers. Myself and a friend tried to compress one of these shocks and the two of us had a heck of a time trying to compress it. They have a lot of gas pressure to them. There are also lift kits made for autoride equipped Suburbans. The trick with autoride when you lift your vehicle is the shock has to stay at the factory length, it cannot be extended. I have the RCD kit on my truck and if you want to see how the autoride works with a lift kit just send me your email address and I will send you the pics. I hope this explanation answers your question.

[boomer 33]

Ii was wondering, seems like you know a lot about the Autoride. --- I am having back problems and would like to soften up the ride on my 2004 Yuk XL 2500 4x4. Do you know of a good way to do that without destroying the dynamics of the suspension?

[Jacqson]

Ii was wondering, seems like you know a lot about the Autoride. --- I am having back problems and would like to soften up the ride on my 2004 Yuk XL 2500 4x4. Do you know of a good way to do that without destroying the dynamics of the suspension?

 

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The Autoride has nothing to do with the ride stiffness on a 2500. You would have to go to a lighter more flexible rear spring and/or a lighter front torsion bar setup. Autoride on a 2500 is just Real Time Damping which means the shocks are electronically dampened depending on road conditions but should never get stiff enough to make your ride harsh. There is info about autoride on the Delphi Website. They call it BSRTD which means Bi-State Real Time Damping. Hope this helps.

[boomer 33]

Ii was wondering, seems like you know a lot about the Autoride. --- I am having back problems and would like to soften up the ride on my 2004 Yuk XL 2500 4x4. Do you know of a good way to do that without destroying the dynamics of the suspension?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

The Autoride has nothing to do with the ride stiffness on a 2500. You would have to go to a lighter more flexible rear spring and/or a lighter front torsion bar setup. Autoride on a 2500 is just Real Time Damping which means the shocks are electronically dampened depending on road conditions but should never get stiff enough to make your ride harsh. There is info about autoride on the Delphi Website. They call it BSRTD which means Bi-State Real Time Damping. Hope this helps.

 

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Thanks, I will check on ligter springs.