Need new shocks - best recommendations

[UmmScott]

Hey everyone. Happy new year.

We are wanting to replace the shocks on our 00 yukon. Ride is getting kinda bouncy. Whatever is on it now is what the previous owner put on. They are not OE.
I'm currently running 275/65R18s on her. Nothing else as far as mods for the most part.

We take it on family road trips with very light off roading.

So... what would be the best shocks for us?

Thanks [emoji106][emoji106]

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[OR VietVet]

Personally, I don't think you can go wrong with either KYB or Bilstein shocks. Other members will chime in.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Personally, I don't think you can go wrong with either KYB or Bilstein shocks. Other members will chime in.

Just don't waste your money on KYB Excels, waste of money imo.

 

[OR VietVet]

Yea, the ones I bolted on are the Mono Tube ones, called MonoMax. I could feel the difference immediately.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Yea, the ones I bolted on are the Mono Tube ones, called MonoMax. I could feel the difference immediately.

KYB's?

 

[wjburken]

If I didn’t have AutoRide & AutoLevel, I’d go with Bilstein’s myself. Put them on the rear of my truck and have been very happy with them. Need to do the fronts soon.

 

[Gtir007]

Bilsteins get my vote, truck is very firm

 

[UmmScott]

Thanks guys. Can someone elaborate a bit on all the options I'm seeing? Specifically on the Rockauto website.
Example: premium ride, smooth ride, etc.
Autoride and electronic suspension I do not have on my truck

What do those mean exactly? How can I tell what my truck came with?

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[wjburken]

Thanks guys. Can someone elaborate a bit on all the options I'm seeing? Specifically on the Rockauto website.
Example: premium ride, smooth ride, etc.
Autoride and electronic suspension I do not have on my truck

What do those mean exactly? How can I tell what my truck came with?

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Post a picture of your RPO sticker in your glove box. Then we can see what your vehicle came with from the factory at least.

 

[OR VietVet]

KYB's?

Yea, sorry I did not post the maker, KYB.

 

[UmmScott]

Heres the sticker

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[OR VietVet]

When I see that ZW7 RPO code that is a self leveling rear system and as I look thru all the options at RA, it only lists this as an option for the rear: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1298060&cc=1440055&jsn=955

Not saying there isn't something else out there but I don't see it listed at RA. I know that some guys here eliminate that system and use different rear springs and standard rear shocks of some sort to bypass all that but I cannot pretend to know all about that like others will.

 

[Tonyv__]

I did bilsteins on my 2000 Tahoe. Solid choice eliminated the “boat” like feeling

 

[OR VietVet]

I think I did see where the Bilstein shocks are used, unsure which part #, and that the rear springs are Moog part #81069, like is used in the Z71 package. Again, this is not an absolute choice but it seems I remember where I saw that in a thread.

 

[Askold_JB]

My Tahoe had original Autoride shocks at the front, and GM shocks from Hummer at the rear when I bought it.
Previous owner tried to switch car from Autoride to Z71, but did it wrong (even coils were original - too soft without pneumatic).

Now I replaced front with KYB Gas-A-Just KG5040 and rear with KYB Gas-A-Just KG54341. These series Rockauto recognized as Increased Handling/Performance group of goods.
Really happy with that choice, especially about the front.
Hummer shocks at the end was good enough, but I lost one (loosen bolt, it just felt on the road literally - boom - and became L-shaped).
So I needed new pair and pick same KYB series.

 

[Fless]

Not sure if you've done anything on this yet, @UmmScott, but since the truck came with the ZW7 Premium Smooth Ride the OE rear shocks were self-leveling Nivomat style. If the PO installed standard shocks back there and didn't change the springs, then that could be an issue. Your problem may be trying to figure out if the springs were changed. Here is the Bilstein pick for the rear of a 2000 Yukon (I didn't look at Yukon XL; not sure what you have):

Incidentally, you should be able to use any standard (good quality) shock on the rear if the springs have been changed to the stiffer Z71 type.

 

[OR VietVet]

My Tahoe had original Autoride shocks at the front, and GM shocks from Hummer at the rear when I bought it.
Previous owner tried to switch car from Autoride to Z71, but did it wrong (even coils were original - too soft without pneumatic).

Now I replaced front with KYB Gas-A-Just KG5040 and rear with KYB Gas-A-Just KG54341. These series Rockauto recognized as Increased Handling/Performance group of goods.
Really happy with that choice, especially about the front.
Hummer shocks at the end was good enough, but I lost one (loosen bolt, it just felt on the road literally - boom - and became L-shaped).
So I needed new pair and pick same KYB series.

I already did the KYB Gas-A-Just shocks on my rig and I will be doing the rear springs, Moog 81069, when I do the rear sway bar kits that are on order. I like the new KYB shocks a lot.

 

[Askold_JB]

Oh, sorry, as well mentioned by @Fless - you better check what coils you have at the rear.
Original Autoride coil is left - 16mm bar diam, and it is higher - because of it is softer.
Z71 coil is 17mm bar and shorter but harder.

 

[Fless]

Oh, sorry, as well mentioned by @Fless - you better check what coils you have at the rear.
Original Autoride coil is left - 16mm bar diam, and it is higher - because of it is softer.
Z71 coil is 17mm bar and shorter but harder.

Does that mean that the Autoride springs are the same as the Premium Smooth Ride springs?

 

[Fless]

I already did the KYB Gas-A-Just shocks on my rig and I will be doing the rear springs, Moog 81069, when I do the rear sway bar kits that are on order. I like the new KYB shocks a lot.

The KYB Gas-A-Just shocks (KG5040) I got for the fronts on my ZW7 suspension are great. The performance improvement in my truck is very noticeable compared to the OE shocks that went 106K miles, especially over speed bumps and when I pull into the driveway. Faster recovery.