When will we get info on '07 HD suspensions?

[94redZ]

Does anyone know what type of front suspension we will get on the GMT 900 HD trucks? I kind of want to know because if we get a SFA, then ill hold out for the 2007 models. If not though, then ill buy an 06 now and just do a SAS on one. This really sucks that there is no info on this topic that is concrete. I have seen many pics on the other website, and they seem to suggest an extremely outdated, minimally strong torsion bar front suspension.

 

There is some guy on the other site that started out saying that we MUST hold out for the new breed of HD trucks for their solid axle up front. Sounded great, but then the guy seemed to disappear after his "inside news" was found to be untrue. WTF????? I love offroading, and I love Chevys, but I guess i cant really truly love both without modifications to the current trucks in terms of the front end.

 

What Im asking is if anyone has a friggin answer to the most famous suspension question about the 07 HD trucks....What type of suspension are we getting, and if that cant be answered, then any guesses? I kind of want to know before i spend 4500 dollars on a new dynatrac front D60 for the new truck.

 

Ok well i might as well rant a little while im at it.... Everyone seems to know that GM got rid of the solid front axle in 88 (92 on blazers, subs, and 1-tons). But the big thing I want to know is WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS????????? and even more so is that they spent all this money on revamping the GMT 900s and why dont we get a better suspension?

 

General Motors has the best drivetrain hands down for vehicles. Believe it or not, in my home state of New Jersey (sucks), so many people that plow snow or are involved in construction, landscaping, and other labor intensive jobs that need tough driving trucks end up buying Fords and Dodges simply because of the solid axle up front. THese people are die hard GM fans too!!!

 

GM...do us all a favor and at LEAST add an option for a solid axle on the HD trucks so that us four wheelers and truck abusers have something more than just a cushy ride and a 4x4 emblem. THink of all the business that you would get if you just offered a solid axle package with your unstoppable drivetrain....but then that would require your engineers and bean counters to pull their heads out of their a**es and get into a vehicle other than their aveos to see there is a relevance for reliable front ends!!!

[Mark2500HD01]

Like you said in your post.... The reason for the nonsolid axle is for the ride quality, they will not make a solid axle because I bet that the people who will stop buying their cars (soccer moms, grocery getters) vs. will buy their cars (construction), will not outweigh the sales. Mainly, because theres a larger market for 3/4-1tons with comfy rides rather than a solid axle. Atleast thats waht I think...

 

And from what i've heard here in the motor city, is that the 07's will have T-bars again. So no change in the front end, execpt maybe turning radius?

[XR Man]

THink of all the business that you would get if you just offered a solid axle package with your unstoppable drivetrain....but then that would require your engineers and bean counters to pull their heads out of their a**es and get into a vehicle other than their aveos to see there is a relevance for reliable front ends!!!   

 

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I am with you in that I agree GM would sell alot, or at least have a shot at selling alot more trucks if they put a SFA on the HDs. I know people that do not even consider trucks without solid axles.

 

To the naysayers: The soccer mom argument has no foundation in the HD class. The ride quality argument in the 3/4- 1 ton class can be debated also. The bottom line is this: there is a huge market for a SFA reguardless of what is thought of the ride and GM is ignoring it! 2ndly I would bet there are far more people that do NOT buy GM because of the front suspension than there is that DO buy Gm because of their front suspension. Since there is no other 3/4 ton with 4x4 IFS Chevy has nothing to loose, all the competitors offer the same thing, they would just open themselves up to so much more.

 

Climbing to the top of the soap box now: I think it would be a cold day in hell before GM goes back to a SFA.

 

Also engineers have nothing to do with it anymore, if you want to design a truck you need to be an artsy fartsy interior designer, a lawyer, or a bean counter.

[kosb]

I think that Gm could make money and If they offered both an IFS and SFA I think that if they dont they will not be able to compete in the HD market. If they would offer both I think they would sell more SFA then they would IFS but what do I know.

[94redZ]

Heres another question while im thinking about this really sucky situation.... Who decides what type of suspension, among other things, that are going to go into the next generation of Chevy trucks? I just was wondering because of a few things:

 

1. HD Trucks are made mostly as haulers, work vehicles, offroad vehicles, and just heavy hitters in general. How many people buy an HD truck SOLELY for the purpose of saying "yeah, I have an HD truck." Thats pretty stupid, like saying "I have a golden toilet, but I never use it."

 

2. Soccer moms (from what I have seen) buy big vehicles mostly for their protection and higher height...It makes them feel safer. I dont really think they know or would even care if a truck had a SFA or IFS. Not trying to be sexist or whatever, but grocery getter people and soccer moms generally have no or little use for a truck period, so the majority of truck buyers should be able to have the say on what type of suspension should be under the trucks they are buying....Right?? At least that is my theory.

 

3. Speaking of our say, Why doesn't GM do a survey on what truck buyers want on a HD (read Heavy Duty) Truck, and see what they say? I know that not everyone wants a solid, easy(ier) front end to work on, and would rather have a cushy ride, but if they did some research (at least into coilsprung IFS suspensions), they might learn a LOT about why truck buyers swing over to Ford and Dodge when it comes to 3/4 and 1 ton trucks... Especially since the average 4x4 HD truck is probably around 30,000 bucks.

 

Hmmm...Maybe its just a huge conspiracy... like to keep Off Road Unlimited and Fabritech, among a few others, making huge money on selling Solid Axle Swaps...or something. HEY GM....how about doing an official survey on what people want in their HDs, like an underhood light that reaches to the back of the truck, for instance ( i think they got rid of that, didnt they?)? And forget this JD Power and Associates...Hell they give the same awards to toyotas and nissans, and probably even daewoos....oh well whatever. I think it might be nice to see what happens if they did a survey, like they did a little while ago on the other GM site...

[Chris97K1500]

If JD Power and associates did give awards to Daewoo, then they are giving it to GMDAT, aka, General Motors. But back to your SA question. I personally prefer the ride of a IFS, but, in saying that, I'd rather have a Coil Spring setup in the front instead of a torsion bar. SA's are great and so is IFS, just depends on who you talk to and what their needs are. I think an option to have a SA would meet both parties in the middle. People who want IFS can get IFS and someone that needs a SA can get a SA. But to make ALL HD trucks SA would leave a large segment of buyers with nothing. http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/showthr...10&page=3&pp=20 This link to GMInsideNews shows how the new Tahoe setup is going to coil spring and the spy pic is believed to have coil spring setup in the 4x4HD, course none of this is gospel, but it's something to wonder about. Chris

[Mark_in_Tulsa]

I honestly can't say that a GM HD rides that much better than any other HD. Its not like its an over whelming difference. Its not like a BMW over a Pinto difference. I personaly think GM trucks sway way to much when turning and in corners. I don't feel as in control in a GM truck. But yeah on a hwy the GM feels smoother, but not near enough compared to the other brands to justify a IFS. But who knows maybe this new set up will be worlds ahead of everyone else.

[luthor]

GM has the capability of bringing out the best and outstanding vehicles that are incorporated with excellent quality parts. And when it comes to safety, well, GM has these parts that are tend to function well throughout your drving and am sure that GM is more working out for their vehicles to serve at its best. still lookin' for that suspension? the car parts discount i think can give u the idea on what u need.