Question about ZW7 Smooth Ride (Nivomat) shocks

[BADRIDES]

My 2002 Tahoe has the ZW7 code and it had the fat black shocks with the G65 code.

 

[CountryBoy19]

I hear you with the confusion. Why do they list the blue ones as a replacement for ZW7? Are they just a cheap alternative to Nivomats that are not self-adjusting but can support the weight and provide similar dampening characteristics in conjunction with the original springs?

I'm not really sure.

By my logic, if an 04-06 4WD ZW7 vehicle originally came with Nivomats and AC Delco offers a cheaper replacement (the blue ones) wouldn't there still be a Nivomat option offered by AC Delco?
Furthermore, if they offered a cheaper replacement for the 4WDs, wouldn't they also offer a cheaper replacement for the RWDs?

As it is, according to Rockauto, there is no AC Delco Nivomat offered for 04-06 4WDs, and there is no cheaper blue one offered for 04-06 RWDs.

For 03 & earlier models there is no cheap blue option, both 4WD and RWD have the Nivomat as the replacement, but those Nivomats have different part numbers. This is because the RWDs had a different rear axle than the 4WDs.

It's safe to say that the RWDs are not just treated as the same vehicle w/o a T-case and front drive axle. They call for different brakes and everything so it's safe to say there may be other differences between the two, like suspension differences.

We can also reasonably expect that RWD vehicles are going to stay on the street but 4WDs can be expected to go off-road occasionally.

Maybe the Nivomats just weren't working out in off-road performance?

Understanding all those things, my logic tells me that when they moved from the 03 models to the 04 models, which is when they made a lot of big changes to these, they changed something with the suspension options packages for the 4WDs. The ZW7 no longer meant Nivomat shocks.

 

[CountryBoy19]

The plot has yet again thickened... It occurred to me that I have only been looking at Yukon XL models, because that is what I have. Out of curiosity I plugged in a 2004 Yukon.

While the 2004 Yukon XL model has Nivomats for RWD vehicles and the blue shocks for the 4WD, the 2004 Yukon has only Nivomats for both 4WD & RWD.

It appears that maybe for some reason Nivomats were not included with the ZW7 pkg on long wheel-base 4WDs after 2003. Once again, maybe because they were being subjected to more harsh use/abuse and being damaged? I don't know the reason... dang I would love to get ahold of a GM engineer...

 

[CountryBoy19]

Oops, double-tap

 

[Massfloefi]

The plot has yet again thickened... It occurred to me that I have only been looking at Yukon XL models, because that is what I have. Out of curiosity I plugged in a 2004 Yukon.

While the 2004 Yukon XL model has Nivomats for RWD vehicles and the blue shocks for the 4WD, the 2004 Yukon has only Nivomats for both 4WD & RWD.

It appears that maybe for some reason Nivomats were not included with the ZW7 pkg on long wheel-base 4WDs after 2003. Once again, maybe because they were being subjected to more harsh use/abuse and being damaged? I don't know the reason... dang I would love to get ahold of a GM engineer...

Funny thing is that I know someone with a 2005 Suburban 5.3 4x4 and they do have nivomat shocks.

 

[CountryBoy19]

Funny thing is that I know someone with a 2005 Suburban 5.3 4x4 and they do have nivomat shocks.

I would be interested to know if they also have RPO code G65 ...

 

[CountryBoy19]

I would be interested to know if they also have RPO code G65 ...

Stopped by the salvage yard today; 2 of the 3 Tahoe/Yukon models had Nivomats (no Suburbans or Yukon XLs there). Both RPO stickers for those had ZW7 & G65...

 

[BADRIDES]

See post 11

 

[BADRIDES]

I have priced you everything you need. Dont see why you keep shopping around.

 

[CountryBoy19]

I have priced you everything you need. Dont see why you keep shopping around.

At this point I don't believe the Nivomats are even supposed to be on my XL. I started the thread because I thought maybe somebody had switched out my suspension when it was supposed to be Nivomats; I was looking to return it to the stock setup. But until I get more answers on how ZW7 and G65 are related and why GM seemingly made the change on the long models, I don't have any desire to change my suspension.

I posted the recent salvage-yard RPO info because I believe (at least post-2003) in order to have the Nivomats you must have RPO G65 in addition to ZW7. The fact that both vehicles with ZW7 & Nivomat shocks also had G65 supports my theory.

If anybody knows of any long wheel-base (Suburban, Yukon XL, Esky ESV) with Nivomats post-2003, is there any chance you could check the RPO sheet and see what it says?