I have in the back of my lmm a full load of wood and that baby rides like a caddy !!Without a load my f-350 rides better then my GMC, what gives, what can I do to get a better ride besides runing with a load ?

Sulastic Shackles - go to www.sulastic.com

I have a similar product on my truck, Velvet Ride Shakles which are no longer availible. Glad to see another product because they are worth every penny. When I drive a customers HD I can't believe it's so rough and they live with it.

Vernon

do those shackles really make that much of a difference??? my truck almost never had a load...just an ARE shell...

I am intereseted as well, I have the cab mounts ordered, and will do whatever else I can.

Nobody can help? I have seen the bilstien shocks also may help, my truck has the z71 package which I read somewhere that includes bilstiens already.

Does the Z71 have different shocks? GMC website states they are different.... wierd...

the have "de-carbon" shocks. What GM went to for the z71 pkg. when the GMT800 came out.

Is that what they call the 01-07 Chassis er what?

The body mounts were a big help on my truck, It think.

I've got the Z71 as well, thinking of upgrading to Bilstiens, but after swapping the rear body mounts not so sure.

yes. GMT-800=99-07 bodystyle

Steven,

I have read the "bilstiens" make the ride more firm, which I am totally not interested in at this point.

Do you have an LMM?

JD440,
I have an LMM which is a GMT900 is the Z71 still the same?

don't hold me to it but if it has red shocks it may very well be. The bilsteins have a more "controlled" ride which somewhat translates to firmness. I have the zinc Bilsteins and they are too firm. Yellows are a little better I hear. Adjustable Rancho RS9000X i think is the # have a decent reputation for ride. Might search for them in this forum for feedback

i wouldn't say the bilsteins make the ride more firm but they make it more comfortable. You notice quite a bit of difference from stock.

Three upgrades I would do if I were you:

1. Bilstein shocks
2. Sulastic shackles
3. Upgrade the cab mounts (its a TSB I think)

Then assess what the ride is like and go from there.

I've heard of the cab mounts. Is it a certain cab that has the update or ??

Shocks are the single best impovement you can make over the factory ride. I'm starting to hear more and more about Sulastics, I have not tried them myself to be a 'believer' but thinking about a set for my dually. Talked to them at SEMA last year, just never pulled the trigger.

Cool. I was just 2nd guessing the shocks because of the z71 package. I am going to get a set of the sulastics, have the cab mounts ordered. The shocks make me nervous.

You wont regret the shocks. I promise.

If you do, I'll buy them back

Ok brother, I have gone to your website and orderd up the shocks. I am banking on you. ;-)

Are those the only 3 mods? Other than weight in the bed?

I just did the Zinc 5100 series Bilstein's about 12K miles ago, best investments of anything I've done. The stock shocks were completely useless at 15K miles. Fronts would not rebound, 1 of the rear shocks would, the other only part way. Just a thought, what's the psi that you run daily. I run 60 or so with the low air pressure light on in the rear and 55 in the front. I'd like to run lower in the rear, but just haven't taken in for the reprogram of the TPMS. When I run the 75-80psi when towing, it'll ride like a log unloaded. Chris

I am not sure of the cab mounts if its only for short beds JD440

Are those the only 3 mods? Other than weight in the bed?


No way your not even hitting the tip of the iceberg.

I am not sure of the cab mounts if its only for short beds JD440
Thanks Matt, I'll have to ask next time I take it in

I just pulled out my lift, and removed the factory overload spring as well. I have the firestone bags so if I load up they can make up for the lost capacity. 99% of the time I'm unloaded. So far I've only gone about 80 miles but it's a lot better than with them in. When you hit a bump the overload isn't there to "kick" when the other springs contact them. Cadillac. I just need to get some bilsteins in there, maybe in spring.

Well I am putting in the sulastics today, I have the bilstiens on my workbench (yellow) and the cab mount is on order from the dealer. I will post back, plan is to do one mod at a time to measure the improvement / difference. I am still a bit nervous about the shocks, as my truck is a z71 and came with a different type of shock from the factory, well according to the window sticker anyway.

Well, I did not end up putting the sulastics in, after sizing up the job and potential complications, I am going to hold and do the Cab mounts first, then bilstiens, and sulastics if I still need them.

That's a good order to do them in IMO

I just went with a deaver mini leaf pack which replaces the overload spring and the 3rd leaf from the top. It feels pretty damn amazing, and I am going to try taking off the sulastics and see if that helps even more.

Thanks bro. Always good to have a second opinion.

SoCal where did you get that? Did is affect what you can carry for payload

I picked them up from deaver leaf springs directly in socal.

For load capacity, im sure it has lessened some, however I have only had ~1klbs in the bed with the new leaf pack and it hardly squatted. I havent hooked the trailer up, but im pretty sure if I get a heavy trailer I will be needing air bags, which would be the case with the stock leafs as well.

I just made my first run out to the farm with them on and wow I was surprised, pretty damn smooth on some of the washboard roads.

Can you give me the specs and model you grabbed?

http://www.deaverspring.com/

They dont have it listed on their site, but you can give them a call.

Are you leveled out in the front?

Any ride height difference ?

It popped up a little bit in the back, and I still have a 1/2 in plate that I could remove, but im waiting to see how things settle.

I am not leveled at all. I go in friday for the cab mounts, would love more info on your springs, I am in MA so its not a drive on over and pick em up type of deal.

Thanks in advance for the info

do those shackles really make that much of a difference??? my truck almost never had a load...just an ARE shell...

Yes they do work and very well to take the harsh edge off the ride on these heavy load range trucks.

Does the Z71 have different shocks? GMC website states they are different.... wierd...

If they are different there is not much to tell. We have pulled a ton off already and never noticed anything different.

i wouldn't say the bilsteins make the ride more firm but they make it more comfortable. You notice quite a bit of difference from stock.

Three upgrades I would do if I were you:

1. Bilstein shocks
2. Sulastic shackles
3. Upgrade the cab mounts (its a TSB I think)

Then assess what the ride is like and go from there.

Thats a great common list to do for a better ride.

Thanks Nick. I go in for Cab mounts tomorrow.

Can any one explain the difference between the yellow and zinc bilstiens? I am really wondering why some guys are reccomending one over the other?

Can any one explain the difference between the yellow and zinc bilstiens? I am really wondering why some guys are reccomending one over the other?


Valving, Compression/rebound and dimensions so you do not limit your travel of your suspension. Shocks are like tires, many tires can work on many trucks but you have to get the right size and right load range to maximize tire life and be able to hauler loads and at the same time fit in the wheel wells of your truck with out rubbing. The Yellow shocks for these trucks are a tad shorter than the OE shocks and the OE shocks already limit your travel. If you are looking for the most out of your suspension and ride why limit the travel. The yellow shocks for these trucks have a harsh compression valving that is great when you have alot of weight on you truck such as a cab over camper or heavy winch bumper, so when you hit a "G" out on the highway the truck doesn't compress to fast and bottom out. Also this goes for rough roads and not bottoming out to fast. BUT the yellow shocks have a very loose rebound valving and if you don't have the heavy weight of a cab over or heavy winch bumper the truck will "spring" up very fast and feel un-controlled.

Now take all this info and look at how the yellow shocks are already shorter than the OE factory shocks and that they rebound fast, then look at the fact that the number one suspension mod to these trucks is to "level" them out or add height to the front end and now you have put your suspension in a very short rebound point from resting ride height. The yellow Bilstein shock will not offer you much to be a true value of a upgrade.

I see few of the yellow Bilstein's sells because the common HD owner needs something tailored for everyday driving and hauling a trailer. Most are installing larger tires that add more un-sprung weight and a shock that offers the most out of the suspension travel, let alone offers more rebound resistance will make the truck drive down the city streets and open highway loaded and unloaded feeling more controlled and clean up the ride quality all around for the better. The (Zinc) Bilstein 5100 series shocks have more options in shock spec's that can match up better for todays truck owners preference. I prefer the (Zinc) platted series 5100's over all and I have had a very good run of satisfied customer give me there own feed back to back up what I have found with my personal research of finding the better shock for these Chevy HD trucks. So what Bilstein 5100 Zinc plated series shock is the perfect one.....well I did say they come in many specs that helps me put a customer into the perfect set per there personal truck set up weather it might be stock height with or without stock tires, let alone if they have changed the trucks stance in height that we need to help control the stroke of the suspension or even per there lift kit size....it will all depend and the best thing to do when looking for the most out of shocks is to purchase from a person that has back ground with them.

Update, had Cab mounts installed. All I can say is OMG!!! what a H U G E difference they make. If you dont do this mod you are crazy.

Nick, you are awesome, sent you a PM.

Well I am putting in the sulastics today, I have the bilstiens on my workbench (yellow) and the cab mount is on order from the dealer. I will post back, plan is to do one mod at a time to measure the improvement / difference. I am still a bit nervous about the shocks, as my truck is a z71 and came with a different type of shock from the factory, well according to the window sticker anyway.


my wifes z-71 tahoe came with the yellow and blue Bilstiens...you can bet your ASS that GM went with the UN carbon shocks to cut corners

Update, had Cab mounts installed. All I can say is OMG!!! what a H U G E difference they make. If you dont do this mod you are crazy.

did you do it yourself? i heard they werent very hard to do

Richard, I had them put in at the dealer because it was warranty (aka free).

would these mods help the ride of an 05 also

Yes they would.

Nick, sent you a PM, which zincs do I need,? My truck is bone stock, with the stock 17"s, and I occaisionally have a plow on the front.

I am not looking for a more firm ride.

Nick, sent you a PM, which zincs do I need,? My truck is bone stock, with the stock 17"s, and I occaisionally have a plow on the front.

I am not looking for a more firm ride.


Hey Darth, so if your '09 benefitted from these new cab mounts, are they a '10 model part? What do I need to ask for ?

Nick, how hard is it to change these cab mounts?

They are ez all you need is a socket and an jack to hold the cab up. I would have done her myself but free is free.

here is the link with more info on them
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=272124

i wouldn't say the bilsteins make the ride more firm but they make it more comfortable. You notice quite a bit of difference from stock.

Three upgrades I would do if I were you:

1. Bilstein shocks
2. Sulastic shackles
3. Upgrade the cab mounts (its a TSB I think)

Then assess what the ride is like and go from there.

I have this exact setup and Love it!
I am stock height aside from 3 turns of each torsion bar adjuster.

Best upgrades Ive done aside from 5" exhaust and TransGo.

Deavers is worth the $. I had Solastics, very good to take the edge off and reasonably priced. May have to try the cab mounts.

Cool, I have next 2 weeks off, lets see if I can get bilsteins in. BigDog which bilstiens do you have zinc or yellow?

Has anyone else tried the Deaver replacement leaves ??


I just had our first full batch come in from Deaver and I was going to do a write up after the holidays. :)

Has anyone else tried the Deaver replacement leaves ??

Cool, I have next 2 weeks off, lets see if I can get bilsteins in. BigDog which bilstiens do you have zinc or yellow?
Says zinc 5100's in his sig. Same as mine I'd guess.

Ive got a 500lb gun safe in the back of mine, and I did some mild work out in the field with it in the back. It performed really well, and I really dont think there is much sag with 500lbs in the bed with the deaver mini pack in there. Ill measure when I pull the safe out.

With the toyo muds and the deavers, axle hop seems to be almost eliminated. I used to get quite a bit of chatter while driving on some of the sandy farm roads.

A heavy tow, I have not done yet so I cannot comment on that.

Bump ! So what happened guys? I need some ride improvement, and you never came back with your results.

Bilstein shocks for the proper set up of your truck and Sulastic Shackles work great for the money. This is the most common set up making our customers happy.

Nick, do u loose load capacity with Sulastic shackles

Nick, do u loose load capacity with Sulastic shackles

NO you retain the OE rating.