Lowered Tahoe

[Edwardnavalo]

I have a 2003 Tahoe 2wd I just bought , according to previous owner it was lowered on the rear , and Tahoe rolls side to side on freeway really bad , any one have that problem before ?

 

[LordWayback]

Swaybar bushings are a known problem but it could be something else especially if it’s really bad I would go to a place like big brand tire and Atleast mine will give a free or cheap inspection you could be in for as little as sway bar bushings or all new rear suspension.

 

[Edwardnavalo]

Swaybar bushings are a known problem but it could be something else especially if it’s really bad I would go to a place like big brand tire and Atleast mine will give a free or cheap inspection you could be in for as little as sway bar bushings or all new rear suspension.

Thank you , previous owner told me it was lowered 1 up front and 4 in the rear

 

[Joseph Garcia]

As @LordWayback stated above, get it checked out by a local quality repair shop, just to see if there are any suspension-related issues (particularly bushings and links conditions) that exist that can be identified and repaired/replaced.

If everything checks out as OK, consider purchasing a set of Hellwig sway bars for your truck. They are pricey, but they will eliminate any and all body roll.

Many folks on this Forum have lowered their trucks, and they will chime in regarding handling characteristics changes after lowering the truck.

 

[Edwardnavalo]

As @LordWayback stated above, get it checked out by a local quality repair shop, just to see if there are any suspension-related issues (particularly bushings and links conditions) that exist that can be identified and repaired/replaced.

If everything checks out as OK, consider purchasing a set of Hellwig sway bars for your truck. They are pricey, but they will eliminate any and all body roll.

Many folks on this Forum have lowered their trucks, and they will chime in regarding handling characteristics changes after lowering the truck.

Thanks I took it to a shop and was told that my sway bar needs to be parallel to the floor and mine at the moment is towards the floor

 

[89Suburban]

View attachment 378724

Thanks I took it to a shop and was told that my sway bar needs to be parallel to the floor and mine at the moment is towards the floor

@Rocket Man @Tonyrodz

 

[Tonyrodz]

2nd part of your problem are those shocks. I had them on for maybe a week or 2 then tossed them in the garbage. They suck. Do you have ZW7 in your rpo codes?

 

[Edwardnavalo]

2nd part of your problem are those shocks. I had them on for maybe a week or 2 then tossed them in the garbage. They suck. Do you have ZW7 in your rpo codes?

Yeah I do have the zw7 , what shocks did you go with ?

 

[Edwardnavalo]

The part number for these is 344045 , and when I look them up on autozone it gives me a different one . If it has shock extenders can I still use the Oem length shocks ?

 

[Tonyrodz]

Yeah I do have the zw7 , what shocks did you go with ?

I have Bilstein 4600. ZW7 comes with the Nivomat shocks, which are really firm, so the springs are a little soft. You can't use non Nivomat shocks with the Nivomat springs, if you do then you'll be experiencing the exact conditions you're having now. Same thing happened to me until I used lowering springs. It was really scary driving on the highway. It was like someone was pushing it side to side in the back.

 

[Edwardnavalo]

I have Bilstein 4600. ZW7 comes with the Nivomat shocks, which are really firm, so the springs are a little soft. You can't use non Nivomat shocks with the Nivomat springs, if you do then you'll be experiencing the exact conditions you're having now. Same thing happened to me until I used lowering springs. It was really scary driving on the highway. It was like someone was pushing it side to side in the back.

Ok so the bilstein 4600 would go good with the 4 inch lowering spring my Tahoe has in the rear ?

 

[iamdub]

View attachment 378724

Thanks I took it to a shop and was told that my sway bar needs to be parallel to the floor and mine at the moment is towards the floor

Getting shorter end links in the rear to level the bar would increase its effectiveness. How about the front? That's where the rear story lies when it comes to excessive sway. But, also with the rear, the springs could be too soft. When driving straight and you hit a bump, does the rear feel cushy?

 

[Edwardnavalo]

I appreciate it , I didn’t know any of this and just trying to get it to ride well on the highway

 

[Tonyrodz]

Ok so the bilstein 4600 would go good with the 4 inch lowering spring my Tahoe has in the rear ?

Worked on my 3" drop. Make sure you use the drop brackets for the shocks.

 

[Edwardnavalo]

Getting shorter end links in the rear to level the bar would increase its effectiveness. How about the front? That's where the rear story lies when it comes to excessive sway. But, also with the rear, the springs could be too soft. When driving straight and you hit a bump, does the rear feel cushy?

Worked on my 3" drop. Make sure you use the drop brackets for the shocks.

I appreciate it , im going to look into those bilsteins . Did you use the shorter rear sway bar links as well ?

 

[Tonyrodz]

I appreciate it , im going to look into those bilsteins . Did you use the shorter rear sway bar links as well ?

I use an adjustable set that came with my Hellwig swaybars.

 

[Edwardnavalo]

Getting shorter end links in the rear to level the bar would increase its effectiveness. How about the front? That's where the rear story lies when it comes to excessive sway. But, also with the rear, the springs could be too soft. When driving straight and you hit a bump, does the rear feel cushy?

Getting shorter end links in the rear to level the bar would increase its effectiveness. How about the front? That's where the rear story lies when it comes to excessive sway. But, also with the rear, the springs could be too soft. When driving straight and you hit a bump, does the rear feel cushy?

The front doesn’t feel bad , the front is lowered an inch . In the rear it feels as if there is no shock , it makes sense now that tonyrodz explained it to me , how the shocks that are on it right now are no good , I’m going to get the bilsteins.

 

[Fless]

Check the front sway bar links and make sure they're in place and in good condition. Also the front jounce stops need to be contacting the lower control arms.

Lots of people make the mistake of changing the ZW7 suspension by replacing the Nivomat shocks (the G65 RPO code) with standard shocks, and without going to a firmer spring. Makes things really squirrely.

@Tonyrodz that driver's side parking brake cable should be under the sway bar (same as the passenger cable there). Like this:

 

[Edwardnavalo]

I use an adjustable set that came with my Hellwig swaybars.View attachment 378811View attachment 378812

Ok thank you , I’m looking at some bilstein 4600 , there’s a couple different part numbers , which ones do you have ?

 

[Edwardnavalo]

Check the front sway bar links and make sure they're in place and in good condition. Also the front jounce stops need to be contacting the lower control arms.

Lots of people make the mistake of changing the ZW7 suspension by replacing the Nivomat shocks (the G65 RPO code) with standard shocks, and without going to a firmer spring. Makes things really squirrely.

@Tonyrodz that driver's side parking brake cable should be under the sway bar (same as the passenger cable there). Like this:

View attachment 378820

Ok I recently bought this Tahoe , it has a 4 inch drop in the rear , do you think as long as I get the correct shock it would get rid of the moving side to side when I’m at around 65 mph