Rear Air shock
- Thread starter ali saleh
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Sasquatch
Full Access Member
Yes just order shocks for a non autoride truck, They bolt right in place of the air shocks.
Does it cause any dashboard lights or beeps ? I have 01 denali
Yes unless you disable Autoride. Disconnect battery, pull fuse under hood labeled RTD, reconnect battery. Done.
Thank you
Yes but ive read you need different coil springs or the rear will sag a bit.
Sasquatch
Full Access Member
I have the stock autoride springs with billstein 5100 shocks, It sits slightly lower but certainly no sag.
I can have two passengers 300 pounds of dogs and a few hundred pounds of other stuff and it sits level. Unless you plan to haul more weight or tow a trailer with a lot of tongue weight you won`t have a problem.
I can have two passengers 300 pounds of dogs and a few hundred pounds of other stuff and it sits level. Unless you plan to haul more weight or tow a trailer with a lot of tongue weight you won`t have a problem.
Regardless the spring rate is less. Bilstein says to get the matched springs from them for the 5100 shocks. The stock ones will not do.
Sasquatch
Full Access Member
Well as i said before they work perfectly and do just fine but thanks for the input. Now billstein wouldn`t be saying that just to make more money by telling people that they need them would they?
It's actually well-known that you should change to Z71 springs or similar if you go to non-autoride shocks on a vehicle originally equipped with autoride shocks because the airbags in the shocks contribute to the stiffness of the suspension. I wasn't aware that Bilstein recommends it but others here on the forum have.
Sasquatch
Full Access Member
As i said before if you`re not loading the truck with a thousand pounds you won`t have a problem. I can have 500 pounds in the back and tow 3-4 thousand pounds and still stick my foot between the tire and the wheel arch. It actually handles much better with the 5100`s than the autoride junk. I`m not disputing that they say you should replace them it`s just my opinion that there is no need.
The autoride feature is a function of the bi-level state shocks. The shocks are monitored 200 times a second to provide the best dampening for the road conditions. It's actually quite a nice feature and has nothing to do with load carrying capacity.
The auto-leveling feature which utilizes the air compressor and air bags actually comes in handy when you are towing. Like red Rocket said it acts like you added a Z71 spring for towing but deflates and acts like a more forgiving spring when you are not towing.
They make Arnott air bag shocks with the bi-level autoride feature bypassed. So in effect you keep the stock coil springs and shocks while at the same time bypassing the Autoride feature.
If you don't upgrade to the Z71 coil springs then you are limiting your load carrying capacity and the vehicle will porpoise and likely not track as it should when towing. if your not towing then you may be ok as you said. But it sounds like you are towing so...eh... your call.
The auto-leveling feature which utilizes the air compressor and air bags actually comes in handy when you are towing. Like red Rocket said it acts like you added a Z71 spring for towing but deflates and acts like a more forgiving spring when you are not towing.
They make Arnott air bag shocks with the bi-level autoride feature bypassed. So in effect you keep the stock coil springs and shocks while at the same time bypassing the Autoride feature.
If you don't upgrade to the Z71 coil springs then you are limiting your load carrying capacity and the vehicle will porpoise and likely not track as it should when towing. if your not towing then you may be ok as you said. But it sounds like you are towing so...eh... your call.
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Sasquatch
Full Access Member
Not to sound like a broken record but i`ll say it again for the third time, Without the autoride junk the ride is more firm and shock absorption is much better. I no longer have the rear end hopping around when you hit a bunch of small potholes in the road, Now the tires actually stay in contact with the ground like they`re supposed to.
Towing and loaded down it handles better than the autoride and has zero sway. If i ever need to haul more weight i`ll just spend a hundred dollars on some air bags to compensate instead of installing z71 springs and having the ass end of my truck in the sky and look ridiculous.
Towing and loaded down it handles better than the autoride and has zero sway. If i ever need to haul more weight i`ll just spend a hundred dollars on some air bags to compensate instead of installing z71 springs and having the ass end of my truck in the sky and look ridiculous.
You got something crazyy wrong with your stuff. It sounds like the autoride shocks weren't any good to being with. I don't experience anything remotely like that and I tow an 8000 lb travel trailer a's well. You realize when your towing you press the tow button on the shifter and all the shocks stiffen up..right?
The details about your autoride system seems wrong to the highest degree. Hopping around, feeling potholes, sway, able to haul more??? Wth
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I agree. I'm running on 26's lowered with Arnotts premium Bilstein air shocks and Belltech springs and my truck rides and handles great. And when I tow the system adds air and my tires don't rub even though J don't have much clearance at all.
D is for DENALI
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This is all really good to know,
From looking at autoride shocks it's not cheap, but I tow often enough that I'll pay the extra bucks so it's doesn't give up on road feel...
I was debating gas shock replacement but Now I might not.
From looking at autoride shocks it's not cheap, but I tow often enough that I'll pay the extra bucks so it's doesn't give up on road feel...
I was debating gas shock replacement but Now I might not.
Thank you sir, I needed a good laugh this morning! Lord these forums......
Sasquatch
Full Access Member
Shocks were fine when removed with no leaks. The only reason i got rid of autoride was the second compressor dying. I`m not sure why you think i`m lying about my current setup working perfectly but i`m done repeating myself, I don`t need autoride nor do i want it.
