Strengthening rear suspension for towing

[Yukonman209]

Hello everybody just wondering I have a 2002 Yukon SLE 2 Wheel drive i’m using my Yukon to tow cars with a trailer by purchase. Just wondering how to make the suspension more stronger so the rear doesn’t drop as much when I hook up to the trailer with an a vehicle on it.

 

[swathdiver]

Well, at about 21 years old, make sure the springs are not wore out and if they are replace them. Consider using air lift springs inside the coil springs or the Firestone or other similar "springs" that replace the jounce bumpers, aka bump stops.

Your rig calls for a weight distribution hitch with sway control. My old eyes can't see if you have one. If you don't, you need it.

Consider taking a load to your local CAT scales and moving the vehicle back and forth on the trailer to get an idea of where to place it for best stability and so as not to exceed your 1000 pound tongue weight rating.

 

[OR VietVet]

Agree with @swathdiver about all of it and I blew up the pic and do not see a weight distribution hitch and sway bars. Get one asap. You have the shorter wheelbase, so don't expect that long wheelbase good feeling. Yes, get some spring assist and do your research.

 

[Fless]

Shoot a pic of your RPO codes on the back of the glovebox lid and post it up here, but not at an angle like your first post. From that we can see what suspension came with your rig. You might have ZW7 (Premium Smooth Ride) and that has special rear shocks that adjust for loads. But we need to see those codes....

And let us see a picture of one of your rear shocks.

 

[tungsten]

Ive only had air bags with leaf suspension,works really well.You could hook a 12v compressor into your trailer wiring to make filling easy.

 

[MassHoe04]

Are you possibly loading too far up front or just towing vehicles that are too heavy?

Too far to the back will lift the back of the tow vehicle and cause instability and traction issues.

Too far to the front and your put too much weight on the tow vehicle.

Dead center is not good either. May cause stability issues with the trailer.

Ideally, load would start off with weight centered, then roll forward just a bit.

You are looking to put about 10% on the hitch for best handling and safest tow.

If this is a business for you, I saw these hitch weight scales. You could write-off the expense...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9V2JY8N/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0B9V2JY8N&pd_rd_w=zxgrA&content-id=amzn1.sym.88097cb9-5064-44ef-891b-abfacbc1c44b&pf_rd_p=88097cb9-5064-44ef-891b-abfacbc1c44b&pf_rd_r=M08MY9XMJ5JSTSRM6C5E&pd_rd_wg=BFPYH&pd_rd_r=36d76f23-7f05-4319-bcfe-3c312df9036a&s=office-products&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw

 

[Yukonman209]

Shoot a pic of your RPO codes on the back of the glovebox lid and post it up here, but not at an angle like your first post. From that we can see what suspension came with your rig. You might have ZW7 (Premium Smooth Ride) and that has special rear shocks that adjust for loads. But we need to see those codes....

And let us see a picture of one of your rear shocks.

Can you give me a better idea where that code is that you’re talking about behind the glove box?

 

[Yukonman209]

 

[wjburken]

Can you give me a better idea where that code is that you’re talking about behind the glove box?

It’s a sticker that’s on the inside of the glovebox door. It will have a series of 3 character codes.

 

[Fless]

So load leveling shocks. Can you take a pic that's more in line from front to back? What do the truck coil springs look like? See this driver's side pic for what the Nivomat shocks look like (you don't have those), and where the coil springs are on top of the axle.

Here's what the RPO sticker looks like:

 

[Yukonman209]

So load leveling shocks. Can you take a pic that's more in line from front to back? What do the truck coil springs look like? See this driver's side pic for what the Nivomat shocks look like (you don't have those), and where the coil springs are on top of the axle.

View attachment 385513

Here's what the RPO sticker looks like:

View attachment 385514

 

[Yukonman209]

 

[mb1500]

Look like you had OEM nivomats ZW7 and G65 and they were replaced with whatever that coilover looking shock is to compensate for being a traditional dampener.

I would swap out your normal coil springs with one from a model without Nivomat, Autoride, etc or simply replace the Nivomats although that’s probably a more costly proposition

 

[Fless]

Look like you had OEM nivomats ZW7 and G65 and they were replaced with whatever that coilover looking shock is to compensate for being a traditional dampener.

I would swap out your normal coil springs with one from a model without Nivomat, Autoride, etc or simply replace the Nivomats although that’s probably a more costly proposition

My observation as well. We can't tell if the springs were changed from the softer ZW7/G65 spring setup to a standard spring. I'd probably just add airbags in the coils and air them up as needed.

 

[89Suburban]

I was never a fan of those spring over shocks after I tried them on one of my Squarebody Suburbans. Prefer air shocks or air bags.

 

[Yukonman209]

What is a good site for me to look up good springs because I looked on Amazon and they all look the same to me and then I read that on a certain year you can get the springs off a Dodge and fit them on but I don’t know how that would work out

 

[mb1500]

Web Hosting by InMotion Hosting

 

[swathdiver]

What is a good site for me to look up good springs because I looked on Amazon and they all look the same to me and then I read that on a certain year you can get the springs off a Dodge and fit them on but I don’t know how that would work out

Moog 81069 rear coil springs, these are the equivalent of GM HD springs used on Z71s and later generation ZW7 without Nivomats. 45H2164 for ACDelco Professional.

Isn't that Moog number the right one Ron? @OR VietVet

 

[OR VietVet]

Moog 81069 rear coil springs, these are the equivalent of GM HD springs used on Z71s and later generation ZW7 without Nivomats. 45H2164 for ACDelco Professional.

Isn't that Moog number the right one Ron? @OR VietVet

Same MOOG springs I use on my rig.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

You are already receiving sage advice from the knowledgeable folks on this Forum.