How do I get my Tahoe to ride/handle like my 3500HD?

[shock]

I have been driving a 2019 Tahoe Z71 and a 2019 Silverado 3500HD LTZ crew cab long box single rear wheel. I’ve always preferred the lack of body roll of the 3500HD. The ride is a bit stiffer and I don’t mind, but I wouldn’t want a ride any stiffer than that.

I wouldn’t mind a mild leveling of the Tahoe but not interested in any drastic change in height.

I recently bought a Miata. The sporty handling has really exaggerated how I feel about the Tahoe body roll. I don’t need 3 cars and financially/garage-space-wise it makes the most sense to get rid of the 3500HD.

How do I get the Tahoe to feel more like the 3500HD?

All the shops that do this sort of thing in my area get wildly mixed reviews so starting there is not my favorite option.

 

[B-train]

That's a tall order. You want a lighter vehicle with coil over suspension to ride like a much heavier vehicle with torsion bars. I don't think there is any outcome that will give the firm feel you want without making it feel like a lumber wagon.

What size wheels and tires are you running? Does it have auto ride suspension (z55 or equivalent). Personally I like the way my 22 inch Denali wheels handle corners with the premium suspension, but I pretty much hate them for any roads other than smooth. I don't feel excessive body roll, but we may have different driving habits too. LOL

 

[shock]

It’s currently completely stock besides Michelin tires. Wheels are 18” oem, 265/65/18. Suspension is not magnaride, no height adjustment, etc. I believe the Z71 is same as LT but with slightly softer shocks.

 

[CMoore711]

I’ve always preferred the lack of body roll of the 3500HD. The ride is a bit stiffer and I don’t mind, but I wouldn’t want a ride any stiffer than that.

I would just start here before you started to change any ride height.

Get some stiffer sway bars from Hotchkis or Hellwig along with some upgraded endlinks and polyurethane sway bar mounts. Most kits I think include polyurethane mounts and possibly end links also.

You will notice a significant reduction in body roll by adding stiffer sway bars; And sway bars don’t affect ride height.

Then if that doesn’t do enough move to a rear level and drop the rear by 1.5”-2”.

 

[Doubeleive]

hellwig sway bars front & rear. bilstein 4600/5100, maybe some airlift 1000
the pickup has leaf springs so different system

 

[Marky Dissod]

How do I get the 2019 Tahoe Z71 to feel more like the 2019 Silverado 3500HD LTZ crew cab long box single rear wheel?
All the shops that do this sort of thing in my area get wildly mixed reviews, so starting there is not my favorite option.

The rear suspensions simply do NOT compare directly ... but what about the front suspensions?
Dimensionally, Tahoe Z71 (1500) may be incompatible with 3500HD steering / suspension parts,
but the rates of the 3500's springs / shocks / swaybars would be HIGHLY informative.

In other words, the 3500HD might still help you decide what aftermarket parts to buy,
even if you can't just swap suspension / steering parts.

 

[MrMonte]

As stated by others Hellwig swaybars will transform your ride. After installing the Hellwig swaybars I could feel a difference just by sitting in my Yukon. Bodyroll is gone.

 

[Alessandrolomb]

I have been driving a 2019 Tahoe Z71 and a 2019 Silverado 3500HD LTZ crew cab long box single rear wheel. I’ve always preferred the lack of body roll of the 3500HD. The ride is a bit stiffer and I don’t mind, but I wouldn’t want a ride any stiffer than that.

I wouldn’t mind a mild leveling of the Tahoe but not interested in any drastic change in height.

I recently bought a Miata. The sporty handling has really exaggerated how I feel about the Tahoe body roll. I don’t need 3 cars and financially/garage-space-wise it makes the most sense to get rid of the 3500HD.

How do I get the Tahoe to feel more like the 3500HD?

All the shops that do this sort of thing in my area get wildly mixed reviews so starting there is not my favorite option.

I'd recommend swapping out the stock rubber bushings for polyurethane ones. It really helps with better handling and responsiveness.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Hellwig sway bars front and rear is the best mod that you can make to achieve your objective. There is virtually zero body roll after installation, and the rear sway bar is adjustable to even better dial in your ride.

 

[shock]

Thanks for the replies. I’ll check into a sway bar and bushings.

 

[vcode]

Inflate your tires to 50 psi..... LOL!

 

[dbphillips]

I feel like just lower profile tires on larger wheels will accomplish much of this, but couldn't say whether 20" would be enough or need to go to 22"

 

[Doubeleive]

I feel like just lower profile tires on larger wheels will accomplish much of this, but couldn't say whether 20" would be enough or need to go to 22"

NOPE

 

[dbphillips]

NOPE

BECAUSE?

 

[Doubeleive]

BECAUSE?

the lean and sway is from the suspension at standard height the widest tire you will most likely fit is a 305 that will still rub at full lock and will do practially nothing as far as handling
you "might" get a little better grip (accelerating/braking) depending on the tire, wider tires are heavier, might cause less response, they are less efficient and can cause oversteer and might actually feel less stable in sharp turns

 

[vcode]

BECAUSE?

They will make your truck ride rougher no doubt, due to the reduced sidewall height, but it may actually handle worse. Tire choice is probably more important than rim size.

 

[MrMonte]

the lean and sway is from the suspension at standard height the widest tire you will most likely fit is a 305 that will still rub at full lock and will do practially nothing as far as handling
you "might" get a little better grip (accelerating/braking) depending on the tire, wider tires are heavier, might cause less response, they are less efficient and can cause oversteer and might actually feel less stable in sharp turns

Installing General UHP 305/45/22 tires took the handling of my 2018 Yukon Denali to the next level especially in sharp turns. I have plenty of curvy hilly backroads to play on. Response & grip are very impressive.
For clearance I adjusted the fender liner mounting tabs so I don't rub even with a 2" spindle drop in front.

 

[Doubeleive]

Installing General UHP 305/45/22 tires took the handling of my 2018 Yukon Denali to the next level especially in sharp turns. I have plenty of curvy hilly backroads to play on. Response & grip are very impressive.
For clearance I adjusted the fender liner mounting tabs so I don't rub even with a 2" spindle drop in front.

View attachment 428356

the right tires of course can make some difference, but tires alone will not fix sway and lean, there is a significant difference in suspension with your denali and a z71, particularly being lowered as well. those particular tires would probably be too soft for me. How is the road noise now compared to when they were new?, usually with soft tires after about 10k miles the road noise increases a lot

 

[MrMonte]

the right tires of course can make some difference, but tires alone will not fix sway and lean, there is a significant difference in suspension with your denali and a z71, particularly being lowered as well. those particular tires would probably be too soft for me. How is the road noise now compared to when they were new?, usually with soft tires after about 10k miles the road noise increases a lot

Tires are pretty quiet now but I only have 5K miles on them. With the Hellwig swaybars + lowered + 305/45/22 summer tires it's not Cadillac smooth but smooth enough. I can hit those curves hard without any body lean. Upgraded cam (no AFM) & tune is icing on top. The bigger tires did cost some mpg but after syncing my speedo to a GPS I'm at 21.7mpg for the last 4,000 miles of mixed driving, drive thru, & sitting idle.

 

[dbphillips]

Oh, duh, OP should just go test drive a Tahoe with 22" rims...