Ok Guys (and Gals), I was just under the monster changing the oil, and noticed something I found to be very strange and enlighting at the same time.

Both front lower control arms are riding on the rubber overload stops. I have made no modifications to the truck to date and only have 5500 miles on it now.

The enlighting part is that the truck has had a very rough ride over sections of a local freeway I traverse daily. To the point of building a harmonic like road vibration which I think is gloing to shake the beast apart. I was thinking it was just the crappy factory shocks, but I think I have found the real cluprit now.

I am going to be visiting my local dealer this next week about this, but would like some input from all of you as to weather any others of you notice the same thing with your trucks. Specifically I would like to know of the 4X trucks use a longet stop that the 2X's. The stopers on mine are yellow and are aprox 3 1/2" tall.

I need input please on this one. I am thinking that my truck may have gotten some 4X components installed by accident.

Thanks in advance everyone....!!

John

not a crazy question at all..however I am going to move this to the correct section.. Suspension!

I think it is normal for stoppers to be making contact with control arms. IIRC mine were before I lifted it. On the vibration thing ...I've also think I read where this is a common problem and due to the wheelbase and spacing of cracks in road that create the harmonic like vibration. It's most apparent on concrete freeways. Not sure how to help it ...perhaps put some weight in the bed and see if that helps. I'm sure others with first hand experience with this will chime in.

Seems like I have answered this question before. Because I have. The bouncers are a normal part of your suspension system. GM designed it to ride on them for extra cushion at the bottom of the suspension travel. if you crank the bars up so it isn't on them so much the ride will be bouncier. Get the right shocks and it will get better.

Shocks are also part of why your truck vibrates on the concrete. But not all of it, like tophaog said, put some weight in the bed and it will be better. The first couple days I had my truck before I got my toolbox and tools installed my truck rode like crap.

Oh yeah, your stops sound like they are the same as mine, as far as I know they are the same on 2x and 4x.

[quote=tophog]I think it is normal for stoppers to be making contact with control arms. IIRC mine were before I lifted it. [quote]

You know, that just dosn't seem right to me, if you are going to just run it on the stoppers, then why even put torsion bars on it???? Stoppers are not susspension, they are put there to prevent bottoming out hard. Don't get me wrong, or take this the wrong way, but in my opinion there is no need for shocks, springs/Torsion Bars or any thing else if you are judt going to run it on the stoppers. This just makes no sense to me tophog......

I'll keep you all apprised...

John

CBRJohn2000, I took my truck in late February with a similar question. I noticed the control arms were on the stops pretty hard. I asked the guys at the dealership to check it out. They put it on the allignment jig and said the front end of the truck was at the bottom of the allowable height spec (He called it Z-height). So they turned up the torsion bars and re-alligned the front end.
I talked to the guy that did the front end allignment and accually looked at it while they were doing the work. He told me GM engineered those stops in as part of the suspension system. In effect they are a helper spring. You get a better ride by using a softer rate torsion bar, but to make sure the suspension didn't bottom out on small bumps they use that stopper as an increase in spring rate, which keeps it from bottoming out. So, you get a softer ride on the street and when you feel the need to get some air under the front tires, the truck doesn't put the front tires through the fenders. I know a couple of guys with lifted 1500 Chevy's and one pulled the stops out "for more wheel travel".:badidea: The truck rode like it didn't even have any torsion bars in it at all. Any little bump and the front would bounce like you tried to play Dukes of Hazzard.
Just my $.02 though..