2008 Has Soft Rear Suspension?

50usilverado · May 22, 2008

Talked to several dealer today and was told the 2008 rides smoother than my 2005 becouse the spring are softer and longer, it seems truck companies are always trying to make the ride smoother but the trade off is a softer bouncer suspension. was told the 2009 ram will be very soft, there are no leaf spring at all , only coil. Has anyone outthere also fint this with the truck?

sno · May 22, 2008

Yes- my truck squats any time there is a load in the bed or a trailer hitched up.

dlstewart01 · May 22, 2008

Its because of all the car people who buy new trucks continually whine about them riding like trucks?????

And I hear Dodge is going to coil springs and the load capicity will decrease. All in the name of comfort.

Don

VMax2007 · May 22, 2008

My truck squats much less than my 2000 GMC ext cab Z71 did. But I have the Z60 (stiff) suspension. The Z71 suspension is typically pretty soft.

Woodcutter · May 22, 2008

All things considered, the springs on the 1500s are about as perfect a compromise between a comfy ride and good load handling capacity, IMO.

I thought the springs were all the same for the 1/2-tons. The difference being the shocks and sway control between the Z60, 71, 83, 85 etc.

50usilverado · May 22, 2008

All things considered, the springs on the 1500s are about as perfect a compromise between a comfy ride and good load handling capacity, IMO.

I thought the springs were all the same for the 1/2-tons. The difference being the shocks and sway control between the Z60, 71, 83, 85 etc.

where is the front sway bar on the 2008, it must be mounted to the rear of the engine, cant see it from the front on my truck, unless there is neither onr there, i have the z85 package

jrrod2004 · May 22, 2008

Yes- my truck squats any time there is a load in the bed or a trailer hitched up.

uh, how many of us here bought the truck to use as a truck??? I sure as hell did not buy it for 'car uses'....

jrrod2004 · May 22, 2008

All things considered, the springs on the 1500s are about as perfect a compromise between a comfy ride and good load handling capacity, IMO.

I thought the springs were all the same for the 1/2-tons. The difference being the shocks and sway control between the Z60, 71, 83, 85 etc.

where is the front sway bar on the 2008, it must be mounted to the rear of the engine, cant see it from the front on my truck, unless there is neither onr there, i have the z85 package

This is according to GM (I dont think it comes with a sway bar)

Service Information

2008 Chevrolet Silverado - 2WD | Sierra, Silverado (VIN C/K) Service Manual | Document ID: 1702670 General Description The front suspension allows each wheel to compensate for changes in the road surface without affecting the opposite wheel. Each wheel independently connects to the frame with a steering knuckle, ball joint assemblies, and upper and lower control arms.

Two tie rods connect to the steering arms on the knuckles and to a steering gear.

Rear wheel drive models have a front suspension that consists of the following components:

• Control arms

• Stabilizer shaft

• Shock/Coil spring modules

The upper part of each Shock/Coil spring module bolts to the frame. Three insulators, a mounting plate and a nut secure the coil spring to the shock housing. Two bolts secure the lower part of the shock module to the lower control arm.

A spring steel stabilizer shaft controls the side roll of the front suspension. This shaft is mounted in rubber insulators that are held by clamps to the frame side rails. The ends of the stabilizer shaft connect to the lower control arms with link assemblies.

The upper ball joint assembly is integrated into the upper control arm. The assembly attaches to the steering knuckle with a prevailing torque nut.

The lower ball joint assembly is integrated into the control arm. The assembly attaches to the steering knuckle with a prevailing torque nut.

The upper and the lower control arms have pressed-in bushings. The bolts pass through the bushings and join the arms to the frame.

Ball joint assemblies have rubber grease seals. These seals prevent the entry of moisture and dirt. This prevents damage to the bearing surfaces.

Four-wheel drive models have a front suspension that consists of the following components:

• Control arms

• Stabilizer shaft

• Shock module/Shock absorbers

• Coil Springs (1500 series)

• Torsion bars (2500, 3500 series)

The upper part of each shock absorber (2500, 3500 series) extends through a frame bracket. Two insulators and a nut secure the upper part of the shock to the frame. A through bolt secures the lower part of the shock to the lower control arm.

The upper part of each shock module (1500 series) attaches to the frame by 3 nuts. The lower part of the shock module attaches to the lower control arm by 2 bolts.

A spring steel stabilizer shaft controls the side roll of the front suspension. This shaft is mounted in rubber insulators that are held by clamps to the frame side rails. The ends of the stabilizer shaft connect to the lower control arms with link assemblies.

The front end of the torsion bar attaches to the lower control arm. The rear of the torsion bar mounts into an adjustable arm at the torsion bar crossmember. This arm adjustment controls the vehicle trim height.

Both RWD and 4WD models have sealed front wheel bearings. These bearings are pre-adjusted and need no lubrication.

MS3DALE · May 22, 2008

I thought the springs were all the same for the 1/2-tons. The difference being the shocks and sway control between the Z60, 71, 83, 85 etc.

where is the front sway bar on the 2008, it must be mounted to the rear of the engine, cant see it from the front on my truck, unless there is neither onr there, i have the z85 package

The front sway bar (AKA "Stabilizer Shaft") is mounted to the rear of the engine on the GMT900 Trucks.

And,The rear springs are all the same,EXCEPT if it has the "NHT" MAX Trailering package.

alaska511 · May 22, 2008

You need to check your tongue weight at the scales, and get that WD hitch set up right. Mine squats 1" fully loaded with the trailer on and hangles great. I have talked to many people, and nobody is having this issue that you are, unless they aren't using th proper hitch, or are doing it wrong.

50usilverado · May 22, 2008

You need to check your tongue weight at the scales, and get that WD hitch set up right. Mine squats 1" fully loaded with the trailer on and hangles great. I have talked to many people, and nobody is having this issue that you are, unless they aren't using th proper hitch, or are doing it wrong.

i have to try a couple more things, i am hopeing an increase in ball height and another link on the torsion bars might make the big differencs

alaska511 · May 22, 2008

You need to check your tongue weight at the scales, and get that WD hitch set up right. Mine squats 1" fully loaded with the trailer on and hangles great. I have talked to many people, and nobody is having this issue that you are, unless they aren't using th proper hitch, or are doing it wrong.

i have to try a couple more things, i am hopeing an increase in ball height and another link on the torsion bars might make the big differencs

that may do it, I have mine 1" above level trailer height. I am running 7 links on my bars. If you choke to less than 6, you will have it too tight.

95Sierra2500 · May 22, 2008

I drove my parents' old '90 suburban, then a half-ton '01. The difference in ride was shocking. I thought I was going to roll that pickup through a turn that wouldn't have made that suburban blink. The OEMs have softened the half-ton and light 3/4 tons up WAY too much. They're TRUCKS, they're supposed to ride stiff and be capable of hauling things, not ride around like a Caddilac.

Steveman · May 22, 2008

You guys really arn't making too much sense right now. Softer rear springs? On the NBS, yes they may be softer but they are also a lot longer then they used to be, this spreads out the weight across the spring and in doing so it allows the spring to hold more weight. Also I dont see why you guys should be complaining about a "rough" ride. I and a lot of other people would much rather not be bounced out of our seats when driving off road, or even just on crappy city streets. Also if I'm not mistaking dont the NBS trucks have higher payload and towing capacities then any of the previous model trucks? Furthermore just because the suspension is softer does not necessarily mean it will be bouncier. If the truck is equipped with good struts they should eliminate the amount of bouncing the suspension does and if you think about it a harder suspension would actually make the truck itself bounce more when you hit a bump.