5/5 Drop while KEEPING stock Autoride

[BlizzardX23]

Thanks to Chistoso for talkin to me and lettin me know it could be done, and thanks to Clean95 for pickin up my shock extenders!

Ok...so, my NEW DROP SHOCKS that I got with my drop kit are GARBAGE...it takes about 15lbs of pressure to collapse them completely...which is why my truck rode like SHIT....but

I put shock extenders on and installed my old Autoride shocks...which makes my truck ride just about like stock...

Also...I got instructions from Mcgaughy on how far to bend the Autoride links. I measured my sock links from eye to eye...and measured the example picture from eye to eye. the distance is shorter by 3/4 of an inch. This was meant for a 3 inch drop.

That means for every inch of drop, remove 1/4 inch off the link. I had some metal rod that I used for mine.

Originally, the Autoride link is 4 inches....with my 5 inch drop, I cut a new rod to measure 2 3/4 inches and installed the link ends back on....now I start my truck and the pump kicked on for a few seconds then turned off!

I'll have pics 2moro



btw...the back end doesnt bounce ANYMORE now and it rides SMOOOOOTH!!!!!


And no, it didnt lift the back end up AT ALL

 

[matt14]

Coo, ive been thinking about picking up some extenders and tryin out the factory shocks. post up them pics!

 

[chistoso]

Sweet!!! wait til you put a few bodies or tow with it and the shocks raise it up to preweight height.. I love mine, it rides the same height regardless of just me in the Lade or full of people with a trailer being towed..

I did a full inch off the links which is about what I have, 4" rear drop..

 

[Kleen97]

Yeah and your front end is still lower than clean 95 and hella lower than me cuz i can still fit my head inbetween my fender and tire. lmao

 

[BlizzardX23]

Sweet!!! wait til you put a few bodies or tow with it and the shocks raise it up to preweight height.. I love mine, it rides the same height regardless of just me in the Lade or full of people with a trailer being towed..

I did a full inch off the links which is about what I have, 4" rear drop..

yea, I love it....the ride is great now...it really did bring the back end back to stock comfort...thank a lot for all your help bro...I appreciate it!


lol...Kleen97...your shit is sick though...its kool to have someone on the opposite side of the suspension scale!

And I was watching you drive...your truck looks like it rides super smooth also...SPECIALLY compared to Clean's truck...his looks like those ricer civics with heated springs you see driving around hahaha

 

[Kleen97]

yeah i know he was bouncing all over the place and i don't think being lower means give up a smooth ride. Not bagging on him i am just stating my opinion but all of you alls trucks look sick too. oh yeah by the way, it does ride smooth so the next thing i need to do is work on my system in the beast.

 

[05ukon]

Thanks to Chistoso for talkin to me and lettin me know it could be done, and thanks to Clean95 for pickin up my shock extenders!

Ok...so, my NEW DROP SHOCKS that I got with my drop kit are GARBAGE...it takes about 15lbs of pressure to collapse them completely...which is why my truck rode like SHIT....but

I put shock extenders on and installed my old Autoride shocks...which makes my truck ride just about like stock...

Also...I got instructions from Mcgaughy on how far to bend the Autoride links. I measured my sock links from eye to eye...and measured the example picture from eye to eye. the distance is shorter by 3/4 of an inch. This was meant for a 3 inch drop.

That means for every inch of drop, remove 1/4 inch off the link. I had some metal rod that I used for mine.

Originally, the Autoride link is 4 inches....with my 5 inch drop, I cut a new rod to measure 2 3/4 inches and installed the link ends back on....now I start my truck and the pump kicked on for a few seconds then turned off!

I'll have pics 2moro



btw...the back end doesnt bounce ANYMORE now and it rides SMOOOOOTH!!!!!


And no, it didnt lift the back end up AT ALL

I'm having that problem with my 2/3 drop I cut the original sensor rod and now my compressor turns on and the back get a lift. You think you can hook me up with some of those links or tell me were you got them from? I need some links for a 2/3 drop

 

[denalianyone]

why not utilize the autoride till it goes out then you will want to convert back. the price on replacement compressor and oem Autoride shocks are expennsive.

 

[Max]

I would not recommend the stock shocks for anything past 2" of drop with keys/arms. Swapping from autoride shocks to bilsteins made my truck ride better and also allowed a true 5" drop in the back. For trucks with keys/spindles set at 4" I'd consider an alternative or at least some z71 bumpstops, 3/4 drop is fine on oem autorides with shock extensions tho. The drop on your denali is far out of range for those shocks and won't offer the ride quality of other trucks with correct length shocks. I learned first hand the negative effects of zero uptravel with too much drop and it resulted in me putting my truck into the ditch. Be safe out there guys

 

[ROB28]

can any of you post up pics of the cut links or new ones were can i get them and how much are they??? irecently bought a drop a 3 /5.5 kit from djm but i have the rear airride dont know what to do next ??remove air ride??get shock extenders ??cut the rods??? what will ride better

 

[Max]

I'm not sure you can get past 4.5" of drop with the stock shocks but you can trim down the stock links until the compressor barely runs upon startup. I put a few hundred lbs of weight in the back of my truck to dial in the autoride when I still had it, just trimmed the links until the shocks barely filled once I started the truck then removed the weight and dialed the links out just a hair. I have some belltech shortened links if you don't want to cut yours, send me a sandwich or some shit via paypal and I can mail them out to you if you like.

 

[ROB28]

I'm not sure you can get past 4.5" of drop with the stock shocks but you can trim down the stock links until the compressor barely runs upon startup. I put a few hundred lbs of weight in the back of my truck to dial in the autoride when I still had it, just trimmed the links until the shocks barely filled once I started the truck then removed the weight and dialed the links out just a hair. I have some belltech shortened links if you don't want to cut yours, send me a sandwich or some shit via paypal and I can mail them out to you if you like.

but do istill need shock extenders???

 

[laidon26s]

what lowering kit is everyone using to get a 5 inch drop..? i have a 2003 escalade with autoride and want a 3/5 drop but cant find anyone who makes a kit for it.. im assuming it would be the same as a denali or tahoe.. am i wrong..?

 

[NORCAL SS]

what lowering kit is everyone using to get a 5 inch drop..? i have a 2003 escalade with autoride and want a 3/5 drop but cant find anyone who makes a kit for it.. im assuming it would be the same as a denali or tahoe.. am i wrong..?

you can do it just will have to remove the fuse to get a full drop. WITh the autoride trucks i do with the djm tb 4 inch spring the stock shocks are to long so i pull the shocks out and pull the fuse out in the eng. comp and put non autoride shocks in and its fine.

another option is pulling the clip off the rear link sensors and keeping fuse in that way has been easier also.

going over 4 inches on stock autoride shocks your way past the shock stroke and just not the best way of doing it. Even with shock extenders.

another thing I do is just jack the truck up and measure the most you can jack it up before the autoride links have no more movement left ie the shortest you can go with out snapping the links at full extension and then measure 1/4 inch more just to be on the safe side and then go tot he hardware store get a threaded bolt and cut the end off and then make my link adjustments as i can. This way you get the most drop you can get and the autoride still works.

 

[ohiokon]

Tony is right about the autoride shocks. I went spindles/keys and TB springs and hardware kit in the rear and it rode like shit. No matter what i did the rear autoride shocks held the rear of the truck up. I broke down and got 4 Belltech SP shocks from Tony. Rides 100% better and it brought the rear down to 33 1/8, the front is 32 1/2. Hopefully the rear settles at least 1/4". You have 2 ways to defeat the autoride so you dont get the service suspension message. 1. Install the resistors on the shock harnesses. I have a bunch of them if any body needs some. 2. Remove the RPO codes from the BCM and the truck will never know it ever had autoride. I will be doing the 2nd method this Fri as long as my buddy doesnt back out. I am also going to try to remove the codes from a different BCM while it is installed in my truck and if this works I will be able to offer this service. If anybody is interested shoot me a PM. Good luck on Pinks Tony! When does it air?

 

[Max]

I disconnected my negative battery cable for a few minutes and then pulled the RTD fuse located in the underhood fuse panel, no lights for me and the compressor no longer kicks on once the truck is started.

 

[NORCAL SS]

Tony is right about the autoride shocks. I went spindles/keys and TB springs and hardware kit in the rear and it rode like shit. No matter what i did the rear autoride shocks held the rear of the truck up. I broke down and got 4 Belltech SP shocks from Tony. Rides 100% better and it brought the rear down to 33 1/8, the front is 32 1/2. Hopefully the rear settles at least 1/4". You have 2 ways to defeat the autoride so you dont get the service suspension message. 1. Install the resistors on the shock harnesses. I have a bunch of them if any body needs some. 2. Remove the RPO codes from the BCM and the truck will never know it ever had autoride. I will be doing the 2nd method this Fri as long as my buddy doesnt back out. I am also going to try to remove the codes from a different BCM while it is installed in my truck and if this works I will be able to offer this service. If anybody is interested shoot me a PM. Good luck on Pinks Tony! When does it air?

i think end of november. im going to dial in the suspension over the next 2 nights on the backroad here.

 

[ROB28]

im gonna try removing the rtd fuse lets say that works. then i can just buy some djm shocks and thats it or do i still need shock extenders???

 

[NORCAL SS]

on 00-06 djm does not use shock extenders on the 5 inch plus drop. All you need is the 2000 shock number and i have those here.

 

[ROB28]

ohh by the way i traded my tahoe springs for the tb springs is it just me or the tb springs look taller??