Replacement autoride strut coil spring assembly

[usdlawstudent]

Hi all, new to the forum and first time posting. I tried looking for an answer for about an hour, but couldn’t quite find what I was looking for. Feel free to forward links to other thread(s) if this has already been discussed and settled

I recently purchased a 2010 Yukon Denali AWD with ~136k miles from the original owner. It has the z55 glove box code. The vehicle has been very well maintained, but I’m pretty sure the suspension is completely original, and could use new shocks and struts. I was looking for a coil spring + strut assembly that preserves the active auto ride suspension. Rock auto and most other retailers only seem to sell passive conversion kits. At one point recently, I thought I found an active replacement assembly from Mac auto parts, but now I can’t seem to find the link to share.

For those that have done this, have you just bought replacement struts and coils separately? I was hoping to buy the “assembly” to make for easier DIY and avoid needing a coil spring compressor, but I suppose I can adjust my expectations if that’s the way to go. Appreciate any help in advance!

 

[petethepug]

Dorman is / was the only legit company making a loaded or complete set up like your looking for. 07-14 Escalade / Denali AWD and likely the 09> 2WD variant use the same front springs for z95 / z55.

You can get an OEM set up with AC Delco lifetime guarantee front z55 active struts for about $575 a side. I sent ya a pm with the info.

Don’t skimp on the strut bushings. Get the OEM GM version as the rubber material inside lasts a good decade and keeps the knocking away.

 

[usdlawstudent]

Dorman is / was the only legit company making a loaded or complete set up like your looking for. 07-14 Escalade / Denali AWD and likely the 09> 2WD variant use the same front springs for z95 / z55.

You can get an OEM set up with AC Delco lifetime guarantee front z55 active struts for about $575 a side. I sent ya a pm with the info.

Don’t skimp on the strut bushings. Get the OEM GM version as the rubber material inside lasts a good decade and keeps the knocking away.

Thank you so much! From what I’ve seen during my review of the various forums, it seems like the “majority view” in the forum participants is that the oem active ride is “better” than the non-active/dummy replacements. Do you all generally understand that to be the case?

In case helpful, I am considering using a leveling kit to raise the front end up a touch, but I don’t have plans to retrofit the suspension with an aftermarket “off-road” suspension/lift kit

 

[petethepug]

As long as you don’t plan on laying frame vs a level or drop of an inch or two, OEM z55 or z95 handles soaking up the frequency of the road better. If going lower, Bilstein, higher, what ever ya got for the lift. If going to the extreme on the high or low road, yea, you’ll be talking about resistors if the truck you’ve got has z55.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

There are 5 genuine OEM front Z55 shocks (only) left at GMPartsDirect.com at $363.33 each, and as @petethepug stated, you should also purchase the ancillary rubber parts and steel top plate to go with the entire strut assembly. The springs are currently backordered at this web site, but you can also use an equivalent Moog spring spec (that is what I did, as the OEM front springs are discontinued for my 2007 Yukon XL Denali), and they work just fine. My recommendation is that you purchase all of the front strut components, and take them to a local repair shop with a large spring compressor and let them assemble the strut assembly for you at a nominal labor charge. Then, you can replace the front strut assembly yourself, as it is an easy job to do in your driveway.

You do not need to do any mechanical leveling of the truck, as the Denali with the Z55 suspension is self-leveling. Once the job is complete, you only need to perform the Automatic level Control (ALC) procedure on a known level surface with a quality bi-directional scanner.

I've had both the OEM Z55 suspension and an aftermarket passive suspension (converted by the previous owner) on my 2007 Yukon XL Denali, and when I converted back to the OEM Z55 suspension, I found it to be a far superior suspension and ride. I will note, however, that some folks on this Forum have converted to, and prefer, an aftermarket passive suspension.

 

[petethepug]

Nuf said and well done like a perfect steak.

Your previous post needs to be copied and pasted into your standard welcome greeting for new visitors.

 

[usdlawstudent]

Thanks guys! Can’t overstate how helpful this info is

 

[usdlawstudent]

Hopefully last question on this - any tips on how to locate the RPO code for the coil springs?

Rock auto appears to have a few GM OEM springs available using my vehicle info (year, model), but the only suspension RPO codes listed in my glove box (6G4 and 7G4) don’t seem to line up with the RPO codes in the rock auto coil spring offerings. I’m guessing the coil spring RPO code is on the coil spring itself (?) but I can’t easily see a code on my springs from looking under the vehicle or under the hood. I’m guessing that I’ll have to remove the wheel to confirm, but if there’s a simpler way, I’d love to know

 

[usdlawstudent]

Might’ve answered my own question after doing a parts search on ac delco - I plugged my vin in - 1GKUKEEF8AR268270- and its returning a GM part number 20842472 as corresponding to RPO codes 6G4 and 7G4.

That part number doesn’t line up to the rock auto offerings, so it maybe a non OEM spring for me (Monroe, moot)

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Might’ve answered my own question after doing a parts search on ac delco - I plugged my vin in - 1GKUKEEF8AR268270- and its returning a GM part number 20842472 as corresponding to RPO codes 6G4 and 7G4.

That part number doesn’t line up to the rock auto offerings, so it maybe a non OEM spring for me (Monroe, moot)

Those are the secondary RPO codes for your front suspension. The primary RPO code for your suspension should be Z55. Please check and confirm that you have Z55 listed on your RPO code sticker. The correct parts will be compatible with both primary and secondary RPO codes.

From the GM RPO Decoder List:
Z55 - CHASSIS PACKAGE BI-STATE REAL TIME DAMPING
G64 - COMPONENT FRT LH COMPUTER SEL SUSP(6G4)
7G4 - COMPONENT FRT RH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (7G4)

As a cross-check, plug in your VIN in to the GMPartsDirect.com web site and see what you get.

Regarding springs, they often have a sticker on them with the part number listed.

 

[usdlawstudent]

Yes, I have the z55 primary code. I cross checked GMpartsdirect and the 20842472 part number lines up. Thanks again

 

[petethepug]

I found a match by searching the list of suspension codes listed on the R/A list against the ones in the glovebox door.

Eventually I got a match on just one.

 

[petethepug]

GM got it right on the z55 in this Gen. If the ride isn’t already amazing enough, towing is even better in an XL with the 6.2L on e85. It’s simplicity by today’s standards and strangely budget priced for its longevity and warranty.

 

[HockeyRandall53]

Dorman is / was the only legit company making a loaded or complete set up like your looking for. 07-14 Escalade / Denali AWD and likely the 09> 2WD variant use the same front springs for z95 / z55.

You can get an OEM set up with AC Delco lifetime guarantee front z55 active struts for about $575 a side. I sent ya a pm with the info.

Don’t skimp on the strut bushings. Get the OEM GM version as the rubber material inside lasts a good decade and keeps the knocking away.

Please send me these links as well if you can, as im looking for the same thing for my 2008 yukon slt. Needs front struts bad and would like to keep the factory autoride, Dealerships near me have been saying they haven't had those in years

 

[petethepug]

On its way

 

[Rick10Tahoe]

@petethepug, is there an AC Delco fully assembled front strut for the z55 suspension? If not, is it worth the trouble to buy all the AC Delco pieces and assemble them? How is the full assembled Dorman strut?

@usdlawstudent , what did you decide on? I need the same struts you were seeking.

 

[usdlawstudent]

I still haven’t decided, but going full OEM is going to be like $2k+ out the door, which is pretty steep for me considering the age/value of the vehicle. Rock auto has a passive fully assembled front strut assembly and passive rear shocks for ~$170 each or a little over $750 out the door. I’m leaning towards those for budget reasons. And I appreciate that I’d unfortunately lose the autoride functionality.

 

[Rick10Tahoe]

I still haven’t decided, but going full OEM is going to be like $2k+ out the door, which is pretty steep for me considering the age/value of the vehicle. Rock auto has a passive fully assembled front strut assembly and passive rear shocks for ~$170 each or a little over $750 out the door. I’m leaning towards those for budget reasons. And I appreciate that I’d unfortunately lose the autoride functionality.

I just finished the rear shocks and compressor all OEM and was $1k parts. Now I need to do the front

 

[petethepug]

There’s no fully loaded OEM strut for the 07-14 z55 / z95 anymore.

Worth it’s weight in gold to buy the OEM parts a la carte. On a few boots and goodies I did MOOG & aftermarket. MOOG has replacement springs on R/A right now. Your current springs should be ok. Save them as they’re NLA if you don’t like the MOOG.

Dorman assemblies were having frequent returns for leaks since introduced.

@petethepug, is there an AC Delco fully assembled front strut for the z55 suspension? If not, is it worth the trouble to buy all the AC Delco pieces and assemble them? How is the full assembled Dorman strut?

 

[usdlawstudent]

in case helpful, the arnott assembly is part # SK2954, $197.79 each on rock auto. Lowest price I found anywhere (even taking into account shipping cost). As I mentioned before, we’d lose the autoride functionaloty with these.

Rock auto is showing a Dorman assembly (949650XD) that is labeled “improved design.” Cost is $530.79 each. Much more expensive than the arnortt, but it looks like it retains the autoride functionality. They may cost similar to the OEM DIY assembly and may not be as good of quality or reliability.