Nivomat?

[polobuds]

Can anyone tell me if these are nivomat/autoride/self leveling OEM shocks?

2003 Tahoe LS

Thanks!

 

[PUGLIA]

It looks like nivomat Oli. I tried to look up pics to compare but I didn't find any. I did find descriptions that match what your showing. I have never delt with nivomat shocks but Nivomat and autoride are 2 different systems though and these are not autride shocks. You can tell because they have no wires running to them. Auto ride is electronic dampening. So that's a good thing for you.

I did see the prices for the nivomat shocks and for the price of one replacement you can get zcoils, load assist bags and better shocks. These things are every bit as expensive as the autoride shocks if not more!!

 

[redemn93]

thsoe are nivomats. look just like what i took out of my tahoe.

 

[polobuds]

Thanks Joe and Jason!

Damn, so I have nivomats. I read up a little on nivomats and it sounds like they are self leveling and shock absorbers rolled into one.

So what are my options if I want to do bils 5100 in the rear and maybe 1" spacers? Joe, I would prefer not to get nivomat shocks as I want to put bils 5100 all around. Do I have to get the z71 coils that everyone talks about? And will I need those load assist bags, or is that just an extra mod for towing. I do have a boat I tow, but not a lot. Maybe once or twice a year.

Thanks!

 

[redemn93]

you will need coils. spacer will give you stock ride height back but it will be horrible. bouncy and bottom out alot on speed humps, etc. the nivomats take some of the payload therefore the springs arent as strong as the bils replacements or z71. i have the bils. wish i had the z71s.

 

[polobuds]

Got it. That makes sense. Are the load assist bags that Puglia mentions necessary, or is that for added ride comfort?

Edit: Anyone selling their z71 coils?

 

[redemn93]

i just installed bags. i like them cause i tow often and often have payloads for long trips. make the ride much more comfortable once you find the ride air pressure to use.

 

[polobuds]

so it's not necessary unless you tow a lot and want that ride comfort? Would I be ok with just putting in the z71 coils and bils 5100?

Thanks

 

[PUGLIA]

Oli, You will be fine with z-coils and bils shocks if you don't tow a lot or really heavy stuff. I use the bags cause I tow a 14' 5000lb box trailer with my pressure washing and recovery rig in it and it stiffens the rear end when not towing. Even if you don't tow I think there worth the money for the improved ride but you don't really need them. Jason is right on the money about payload and nivomats. If you don't get the coil springs you'll have a sloppy hoe, lol, even if you put the bils on!

 

[polobuds]

Got it. I think I'll stick with z71 coils and the bils for now, and if I can scrape some more money together down the road, I'll consider it. Just found a pair of coils from another member on here. Saw a video on youtube of an airbag install and it looked solid.

Thanks for your help Joe & Jason!

 

[Lutha]

Model : 2000 tahoe lt, 5.3L, 4wd. So I bought the nivomat replacement shock from the dealer at a decent price. I am planning to do the truxx lift kit using the supplied extensions. Truxx told me not to do the bilsteins because there has been sooo much R&D that the kit they supply (extension vs. bilsteins) is best. I don't want to modify the stock feel much. It rides good, sways a bit for my taste, but overall good. I do plan on towing a bit (less than 2 ton) and it has to be able to do mountain trails (unpredictable forest and county road... not jeep trails) My questions are: 1) does the bilstein 5100 provide anything special over the stock setup with truxx "lift"
2) would the Z71 coils add anything to the situation I have described above and if so what?

Still haven't seen any part numbers on those zcoils. Where would you look for these?
Thanks all,

 

[PUGLIA]

-How high are you going?
-Is truxx supplying extensions for all four shocks, or just the front?

The reason I ask is because if they are only supplying extensions for the front you'll run into dampening problems in the rear with your nivomats. You might even get less effectiveness with counter resistance to payload if you lose an 1" or 2" out of them with out extensions.

If you've already got the nivo's and their shipping extensions all around you should be fine. Use the load assist bags to stiffen the rear up. That will stop the sway you don't like. Switch the rest out when the nivo's wear out.

Bils are just a really good hd shock, they do nothing for payload. The zcoils are rated 750 lbs more each than the z55 LT coils and probably well over 1000lbs each than the weak ls springs. That's why ppl replace the coils when they replace the nivo's with bils shocks.

 

[Lutha]

Thanks for the reply. The Truxx kit lifts the rear 1.25" and 2-3" in the front. The kit only includes extensions for the front. What would you do with your rigs considering only the lift kit and not the nivos I already have?

I am leaning towards just installing the kit with the nivomats and standard GM shock in the front (with extensions). Then monitoring the ride. Do you have a link for the load assist bags?

 

[redemn93]

http://roughcountry.com/chevy_4wd_99-06_tahoe-2.html

get that kit and z71 springs. thats everything you will need. you will spend the same if not less than that truxx kit. then save up for bilstein 5100s and you are done.

 

[PUGLIA]

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