Help with reviving suspension

[Pyramid_Head]

Hello everyone. I'm an owner of a 2011 Suburban LT with 115k miles, plain jane suspension. I've been buying suspension parts lately to replace shocks, and i can't decide whether to go with KYB from Rockauto, or the more expensive brand Bilsteins 4600's. My truck is usually a family hauler, and have only towed a small trailer filled with bricks, and about 80 cement bags from Lowes to fix my house. The rear sagged a bit, but performed fine.

Also, what i am looking for as well is to reduce some of the roll and excessive lean/squattage from my ride. Will a set of aftermarket Jounces work on reducing body roll and squat, or will i have to buy stiffer springs (maybe both)?

I am also going to add Hellwig front and rear swaybars.

I'd like to keep it stock height. Thank you beforehand for your advice and input!

 

[Pyramid_Head]

Sorry... title was meant to read

"HELP WITH REVIVING SUSPENSION"

 

[PatDTN]

I put Bilsteins on my old 3/4 ton 2500HD pickup truck and loved the ride after that. My truck was old and abused when I got it so almost anything would have been an improvement but the Bilsteins kept it under control for years.

 

[iamdub]

Hello everyone. I'm an owner of a 2011 Suburban LT with 115k miles, plain jane suspension. I've been buying suspension parts lately to replace shocks, and i can't decide whether to go with KYB from Rockauto, or the more expensive brand Bilsteins 4600's. My truck is usually a family hauler, and have only towed a small trailer filled with bricks, and about 80 cement bags from Lowes to fix my house. The rear sagged a bit, but performed fine.

Also, what i am looking for as well is to reduce some of the roll and excessive lean/squattage from my ride. Will a set of aftermarket Jounces work on reducing body roll and squat, or will i have to buy stiffer springs (maybe both)?

I am also going to add Hellwig front and rear swaybars.

I'd like to keep it stock height. Thank you beforehand for your advice and input!

I, and a few other members have learned the hard way that the cheap KYBs SUCK. They do have a quality line, but their entry-level line is a disgrace to the brand. I can't think of the name of the crappy ones at the moment, though. They have a red sticker, IIRC. The Bilsteins are always a safe bet. You'd regret wasting the money on the cheap shocks and struts and worse, the labor to replace them again when you're fed up.

To reduce lean/roll, you'd need either polyurethane sway bar and end link bushings. You can get all for about $20. Better yet, aftermarket sway bars (larger) would be even more effective.

For squatting under load, a simple set of helper bags for the rear coils would be perfect. I'd advise against stiffer springs since that would make it ride harsher when not loaded, and that's just not necessary. Stuff a set of bags in there and air 'em up when you're towing or carrying a load and air down when empty. You might find that a few psi in the bags at all times strikes a balance between good ride and firmness, which would further reduce roll and squat. I have springs that are a little softer than stock, and I keep about 10 psi in my load bags to compensate.

 

[Fless]

Avoid KYB's Excel-G models; the Gas-A-Just version is much better. As @iamdub noted, helper bags are a good idea for ride versatility and adjustment.

 

[Pyramid_Head]

I was thinking more of these KYB's

Front: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=503589&cc=1431156&jsn=1493

Rear: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=503668&cc=1431156&jsn=1495


But, if the $220 premium price is worth skipping these, then i'll buy the Bilsteins for sure! Thank you for all the feedback!!!

 

[iamdub]

Avoid KYB's Excel-G models; the Gas-A-Just version is much better. As @iamdub noted, helper bags are a good idea for ride versatility and adjustment.

Excel-G! That's the name I was trying to think of. I put a full set of struts on Jenn's car and they're STIFF. I think it was @Tonyrodz that put their shocks on one of his vehicles and had the same results, and he mentioned it in a thread where others had the same complaints.

 

[Fless]

I was thinking more of these KYB's

Front: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=503589&cc=1431156&jsn=1493

Rear: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=503668&cc=1431156&jsn=1495


But, if the $220 premium price is worth skipping these, then i'll buy the Bilsteins for sure! Thank you for all the feedback!!!

Yes, the Gas-A-Just are okay from my experience. But don't you have struts on the front?

Might want to get the right part numbers from KYB's site so you have apples-to-apples comparison.

Find the right, shock, strut or strut assembly for your vehicle.

Find the right shock, strut, or assembly. Select your year, make and model, or search by V.I.N., License Plate or by KYB Part Number.

www.kyb.com

 

[Tonyrodz]

Excel-G! That's the name I was trying to think of. I put a full set of struts on Jenn's car and they're STIFF. I think it was @Tonyrodz that put their shocks on one of his vehicles and had the same results, and he mentioned it in a thread where others had the same complaints.

Those Excel's were terrible! Waste of money imo. Made the Tahoe handle like garbage.

 

[Pyramid_Head]

Yeah. I've bought those kind of shocks back in the days when i had my old iroc z.... useless shocks.

I'll keep looking for the right part number for the front.

 

[swathdiver]

Hello everyone. I'm an owner of a 2011 Suburban LT with 115k miles, plain jane suspension. I've been buying suspension parts lately to replace shocks, and i can't decide whether to go with KYB from Rockauto, or the more expensive brand Bilsteins 4600's. My truck is usually a family hauler, and have only towed a small trailer filled with bricks, and about 80 cement bags from Lowes to fix my house. The rear sagged a bit, but performed fine.

Also, what i am looking for as well is to reduce some of the roll and excessive lean/squattage from my ride. Will a set of aftermarket Jounces work on reducing body roll and squat, or will i have to buy stiffer springs (maybe both)?

I am also going to add Hellwig front and rear swaybars.

I'd like to keep it stock height. Thank you beforehand for your advice and input!

I prefer what came with the truck, they lasted 165K miles.

Whatever you do, don't just replace the struts/shocks, replace the associated parts as well. On the 900s, the front jounce bumpers are in the strut assembly.

 

[Pyramid_Head]

Yes! I already bought 2 OEM front strut mounts. Next up are Jounces.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

You have already received sage advice from the knowledgeable folks on this Forum. Don't buy cheap stuff, as you won't be happy with the ride, and you will be replacing them again in the not too distant future.

Lots of folks here have used Bilstein shocks with great success. And, there is nothing wrong with using genuine GM replacement parts.

If you want to reduce/eliminate roll, get yourself a pair of Hellwig sway bars, and your roll will be eliminated. They are not cheap, they are well worth the price for the improved ride performance. Myself and @PNW VietVet have put these Hellwig sway bars through the paces on our test cloverleafs, and they really perform.

 

[Pyramid_Head]

I've been buying parts here and there lately, decided to bite the bullet and buy Bilstein 4600s, Hellwig front/rear seay bars, moog front and rear end links, new oem front and rear uca, lca, oem panhard bar, moog 81069 rear springs, but a little stumped which fronts to get: the 81246, or 81248... any help/input will be appreciated. Took me a while, but had to get my gallbladder removed. Getting up there in the age bracket sucks.

 

[Doubeleive]

the Bilsteins should serve you well I never had any issue's with them even many years down the road, the Hellwigs work great as well, can't comment on the springs I always kept mine stock

 

[91RS]

I've been buying parts here and there lately, decided to bite the bullet and buy Bilstein 4600s, Hellwig front/rear seay bars, moog front and rear end links, new oem front and rear uca, lca, oem panhard bar, moog 81069 rear springs, but a little stumped which fronts to get: the 81246, or 81248... any help/input will be appreciated. Took me a while, but had to get my gallbladder removed. Getting up there in the age bracket sucks.

You're going to be super happy with this. New springs make a massive difference as do the Hellwig sway bars. I also think the OEM control arms are of significantly higher quality than even the best aftermarket replacement. You won't need the Moog rear sway bar links since the Hellwig rear bar comes with adjustable ones.

 

[Rocket Man]

All great advice here. You’ve made the right choices. I can’t help with the front part numbers, I’m sure you’ll get it figured out.

BTW you can change the thread title. At the top right of any of your posts here there’s 3 dots and a triangle next to the word “unwatch”. Hit the triangle and a drop-down menu appears. Under there you’ll see the option to edit the thread. There you can change the title.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I recently used Moog 81250 front springs on my 07 Yukon XL Denali, when I replaced the stripped down shocks and resistors installed by the previous owner, and put back the OEM Z55 suspension. According to Rock Auto, they were exact replacement for the OEM front springs, which are no longer manufactured.

 

[Pyramid_Head]

Thanks for all the help guys. I've already bought all the items i need for a complete overhaul. I decided to go with the Moog 81250 front springs. They might be too soft, but the wife occasionally drives it. So far, i'm almost $2500 down the hole with all these OEM parts, but i know it's worth the extra $$$ for a decent, long-lasting ride.

 

[Pyramid_Head]

So.... i was installing my Hellwig sway bars today. The front sway bar was a breeze to install, but the rear one is giving me trouble. It looks like the U bracket mounting holes do not line up (they're farther apart than the body's mounting holes). I've read a few threads that installating was a breeze, yet i dont know if i have to order new mounting brackets that fit my 11 Suburban rwd. Has anyone encountered this problem?

Update: I just slightly bent the brackets just enough to line up the mounting points. It got too cold, so had to call it a day. I'll deal with end links tomorrow.