Parts Life for OEM Front Struts on 2016 Denali with MagnaRide??

[WillieFlo]

How many miles have you all been experiencing before you've needed to replace the OEM front struts on
your Yukon Denali's with the MagnaRide suspension? We've had our Denali since February 2016 and it has 48,000 miles on it, and just saw one is leaking plenty of fluid from the top seal....

Shop is quoting me almost $900 to replace with aftermarket equivalent parts, not even OEM. Anyone else had theirs don recently to tell if that's a reasonable price with labor included?


Thanks for any assistance.
William

 

[olyelr]

No but I am following this thread. My wifes ‘16 just hit 78k miles and it is starting to ride like complete shit, which I believe to be from the front.

I thought rock auto had the oem units for under $400 a piece.

 

[WillieFlo]

Wow, I would rather buy aftermarket from Bilstein or a reputable shock company instead of buying OEM. I’ve seen Monroe preassembled struts for a little over $200, and also KYB replacement struts for $200 that work with the Denali ride system.

 

[olyelr]

Wow, I would rather buy aftermarket from Bilstein or a reputable shock company instead of buying OEM. I’ve seen Monroe preassembled struts for a little over $200, and also KYB replacement struts for $200 that work with the Denali ride system.

I was not aware of these... I will check them out. But they do work with the magraride system?

Thanks!

 

[WillieFlo]

I was not aware of these... I will check them out. But they do work with the magraride system?

Thanks!

Haven’t confirmed, but that’s what came up for 2016 Yukon Denali 4x4.

 

[the blur]

The electronic shocks are very expensive. My truck is riding like a harsh dump truck now.

 

[gsd1019]

68,000 miles 15’ LTZ had both magnaride struts replaced under extended portfolio warranty
$1950 job cost me $100 deductible

 

[Oh Kee Pah]

The plague of MRC!
I have been working on getting my "full post" together regarding the work I've done to my 2015 Tahoe LTZ (with Magneride and Max Towing package). New Nitto tires just went on last week.
I worked with a company called X-ineering, based in FL, to help "delete" my MRC. Max there develops track cars, Corvettes in particular, but he created the GM Shock Sim for the magneride system. http://www.xineering.com/shocksims.html

I have about 2,750 miles so far with the GM Shock System in place. Basically, Max has developed electronic circuits that "tell" the on-board computer that the MRC is working and functioning properly. When, in fact, you have disabled the MRC system completely!!!

I am running the Fox 2.0 Front Coil-over full assembly (set at +1-5/8" ride height; arrives set at +2") https://www.ridefox.com/product.php...evrolet&model=Tahoe+&year=2015&position=Front
AND
Bilstein B8 5100 series rear shocks (shocks for 0-1" lift; I have the rear on a 1" coil spacer). https://www.bilstein.com/us/en/product/bilstein-b8-5100/

Since I do get off the beaten path once in a while and the idea of this entire Tahoe project was to make the truck more capable off-road, I purchased new rear coil springs (z71 version) and installed those when the rear shocks and spacer went on. Did you know there are 5 different rear coil springs for the Tahoe? The pair cost me $95 on eBay.

THE RIDE IS AMAZING! The rear end of my Tahoe used to slam hard and just the smallest of bumps and holes in the road and the beast would ride like I was driving through craters.
Now I am able to be aggressive with bumps and not worry about passengers complaining in the rear. You can feel the improved balance and control with the Fox shocks up front and they just eat up bumps like nothing I had before. FYI - running 275/60r20's now. Gained just over 1" on overall tire diameter and a sidewall increase of just over 1/2". Between the new tire size and the adjustable leveling Fox coil-over assemblies, the front fender now measures 3.5" higher than original and with the 1" spacer in the rear has a very level stance with just a slight rake forward still. -Picture is after the suspension but before my new tires...I SAY GO FOR THE MAGNERIDE DELETE! Well worth it in the long-run I think compared to replacing the MRC. ALSO - my front MRC struts were leaking at 36k miles when I purchased the 2015 LTZ certified Pre-Owned. They replaced the front struts after I called them on the leak. That story is a whole other animal though...SAFE RIDING!

 

[keg97]

How do you know the fluid is leaking? What color is it?

 

[YukonXLMan]

Clear, slightly yellow, or oily and packed with dirt, depending on where you've driven and how long it's been leaking. if you see something that looks wet or like oil and get some on your fingers and rub between your finger and thumb and it feels a bit slick or oily - you're leaking.

 

[keg97]

Hmmm- I've found some black drops, several inches in length right inside the passenger side tire. It's not consistent though- only a few times over the past several weeks. I've been watching it- assuming it was a little extra oil coming out after an oil change since it's been pretty black.
This might make sense- it was enough to notice but not enough to be concerned about it- assuming it was engine oil. Perhaps it was the shock leaking though.

 

[WillieFlo]

Clear, slightly yellow, or oily and packed with dirt, depending on where you've driven and how long it's been leaking. if you see something that looks wet or like oil and get some on your fingers and rub between your finger and thumb and it feels a bit slick or oily - you're leaking.

Yep, that's exactly what it is and starting from the top seal on the strut.

 

[Bode316]

So- just took my vehicle in as well... they wanted to replace struts- $2100 .... I found these online- any body try this brand before? It looks to bypass the system- looks like a way to save almost 2grand.

https://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2015/gmc/yukon_xl/suspension/suspension_conversion_kit.html

 

[olyelr]

So- just took my vehicle in as well... they wanted to replace struts- $2100 .... I found these online- any body try this brand before? It looks to bypass the system- looks like a way to save almost 2grand.

https://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2015/gmc/yukon_xl/suspension/suspension_conversion_kit.html

My gosh, those must either be priced wrong or a pile of shit... thats just too good to be true.

 

[RThomasII]

So- just took my vehicle in as well... they wanted to replace struts- $2100 .... I found these online- any body try this brand before? It looks to bypass the system- looks like a way to save almost 2grand.

https://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2015/gmc/yukon_xl/suspension/suspension_conversion_kit.html

Those look a little like the old pair of monroe "coil-over" shocks that I had installed on the rear of my 1980 Camaro Z-28 back in high school in the late 1980's. It was just a shock with a coil spring wrapped around it that was supposed to help with load leveling. I wouldn't think the option above is a good replacement for a modern SUV suspension.

 

[Bode316]

Haha I didn’t buy

 

[keg97]

Just a follow up to this- took it into dealer last week for oil change, rotation, and to address the transmission again. They looked at the front shock (where it was leaking) and told me it was close to seizing. Changed it out and wow- what a difference. We didn't realize how bad it had gotten. My wife drives it daily and said it was like a new truck again. They looked at the other front shock and said it was fine. Surprised they didn't try to switch that one out. Price wasn't bad either- less than 800 parts and labor.

Here is the interesting part- the SA told me part of harsh shifting (1-2, 2-3) was b/c of the poor shock. His hypothesis was that since the front shock wasn't reacting appropriately to the road- it felt like a harsh shift. I will say the shifting is a bit better since the service but still not where it should be.

 

[CMoore711]

Here is the interesting part- the SA told me part of harsh shifting (1-2, 2-3) was b/c of the poor shock. His hypothesis was that since the front shock wasn't reacting appropriately to the road- it felt like a harsh shift. I will say the shifting is a bit better since the service but still not where it should be.

Wow. I'm almost not even surprised anymore at some of the things I've heard come out of the mouths of SA's at GM dealerships...

 

[keg97]

Wow. I'm almost not even surprised anymore at some of the things I've heard come out of the mouths of SA's at GM dealerships...

Agree. But I have to tell you- both the wife and I were saying this weekend....."maybe it is better". The placebo effect in action!!!

 

[olyelr]

Just a follow up to this- took it into dealer last week for oil change, rotation, and to address the transmission again. They looked at the front shock (where it was leaking) and told me it was close to seizing. Changed it out and wow- what a difference. We didn't realize how bad it had gotten. My wife drives it daily and said it was like a new truck again. They looked at the other front shock and said it was fine. Surprised they didn't try to switch that one out. Price wasn't bad either- less than 800 parts and labor.

Here is the interesting part- the SA told me part of harsh shifting (1-2, 2-3) was b/c of the poor shock. His hypothesis was that since the front shock wasn't reacting appropriately to the road- it felt like a harsh shift. I will say the shifting is a bit better since the service but still not where it should be.

Thanks for the follow up.

My wifes denali had the exact same issue. Passenger side shock was leaking and completely locked up. Wanna talk about a ****** ride LOL!? I replaced them with fox 2.0 coilovers. When I pulled the stock struts out, the passenger side was a few inches shorter than the drivers side (locked in that position). Drivers side seemed to be fine yet... but it still went in the trash!