STIFF Suspension

[Ultim8SVT]

Ok guys, plain & simple. I've noticed that our Yukon sits extremely high from the rear in comparison to the front. Worst yet it's SUPER stiff. When I go over bumps the truck bounces like it's sitting on hydraulics. It's not noticable in the pictures but definitely noticeable in person & worst when you drive it. I'll put it to you this way. I have 22's on the truck, yet out back they look like 18's from the HUGE gap between the tire & fender. It's disgusting!

The truck glides over the road but as soon as I go over a dip in the road or bumps, I feel like I lost a part of the truck back there. I've done my search on the forum & so far only found a recent thread about sagging, not stiffness. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

[Sasquatch]

Do you have autoride?

 

[Ultim8SVT]

Do you have autoride?

I don't know............. Oh, FML... Please tell me this is just a nightmare... By autoride, do you mean air ride suspension like on my Lincoln? I hate air ride.



Here are a couple pictures I snapped of the rear of the car right now. I don't see anything air ride related. Let it be known, I don't ever hear a compressor running so I don't think I have air ride.

 

[Goodinblack]

I would get the 2 inch belltech springs. They will drop the truck and they are softer than the stock springs. Hit tony NorcalSS

 

[Ultim8SVT]

I would get the 2 inch belltech springs. They will drop the truck and they are softer than the stock springs. Hit tony NorcalSS

I found Tony's thread.

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16757

Question is, what if I spend the money on springs & the shocks are bad? I'm trying to find out if anyone else on here has had this issue & what they've done to solve the problem. I'm starting to realize why I got my SUV for dirt cheap. Yeah, motor & tranny are solid but I think I have to spend about $2k between suspension & paint to get it back to par again.

 

[JochenWoern]

I found Tony's thread.

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16757

Question is, what if I spend the money on springs & the shocks are bad? I'm trying to find out if anyone else on here has had this issue & what they've done to solve the problem. I'm starting to realize why I got my SUV for dirt cheap. Yeah, motor & tranny are solid but I think I have to spend about $2k between suspension & paint to get it back to par again.

I have a similar issue with my '04, 128K miles on the clock. I think it is the shocks on mine, yours look similar "bad/aged" in the pics.

Not too long ago I had an '06 and TONY/NorCalSS installed a rear drop kit and BELLTECH shocks all around and it made a huge difference.

I do not want to drop the rear again, but will definitely invest in some new shocks soon. Tony recommends to replace shocks around 80K, I have the original shocks with a 128k.

This time I will go most likely with a set of BILSTEINS, as some here on the forum have used and seem to be happy with it.

(you know, good old foreign stuff, not American made. JUST KIDDING. ;-)

 

[Ultim8SVT]

I have a similar issue with my '04, 128K miles on the clock. I think it is the shocks on mine, yours look similar "bad/aged" in the pics.

Not too long ago I had an '06 and TONY/NorCalSS installed a rear drop kit and BELLTECH shocks all around and it made a huge difference.

I do not want to drop the rear again, but will definitely invest in some new shocks soon. Tony recommends to replace shocks around 80K, I have the original shocks with a 128k.

This time I will go most likely with a set of BILSTEINS, as some here on the forum have used and seem to be happy with it.

(you know, good old foreign stuff, not American made. JUAT KIDDING. ;-)

Thanks for your pointers dude. I really need help guys. Don't know where else to turn. Problem is I really don't know if I have air ride or not. Last night I took my family out to a Marlin's baseball game & they were riding out back. The stiffness was so bad out back that every time I went over a speed bump or a small pothole on the road, they would all grunt or groan. We ate at the park just about an hour prior to leaving. In fact my step dad was joking & said; "One more bump & we're going to decorate your interior!" Anyway, how can I find out if '02 SLT's all came with air rides? Where's the air compressor located? I'm not even getting a check air ride message either. I have to fix this issue by end of week this week coming up.

 

[Sasquatch]

From your pictures you have regular shocks so you don`t have air ride.

I`ve never heard of bad shocks getting stiffer when they get old and worn. It`s always the opposite.

You said you have 22`s on your truck. I can`t say from experience but i would imagine that has something to do with the stiffer ride. I have 20`s on mine and it rides great so i could be wrong.

 

[Ultim8SVT]

From your pictures you have regular shocks so you don`t have air ride.

I`ve never heard of bad shocks getting stiffer when they get old and worn. It`s always the opposite.

You said you have 22`s on your truck. I can`t say from experience but i would imagine that has something to do with the stiffer ride. I have 20`s on mine and it rides great so i could be wrong.

I thought that the first 3-4 days I owned the YUKON but I have 22's on my F-150 & it rides like a dream. She's got 129k & she's smooth as the day I bought her with 39k in 2002. Definitely something is wrong on the YUKON's suspension. When going over those yellow standard parking lot speed humps you should feel a small bounce when going over them, I don't , I mean, NOTHING. I go over them & it's SUPER STIFF. It feels horrible. There's a nice bounce on the front. Feels ok but the rear is like I'm riding on a couple cement cylinders for springs. There's been bad weather here in Miami but tomorrow I'm going to attempt to pull out a wheel & take a good look at everything back there. I will take pictures & post them as well.

 

[magicbus]

Have you checked the pressure in your tires? My burban rides completely different with 40 pounds in the tires than it does with 35. I'm not on 22's but I would definitely check that before throwing a bunch of money at it.

 

[yates ™]

Find the model number of the shock it could be the incorrect shocks or just buy different shocks.

 

[Ultim8SVT]

Have you checked the pressure in your tires? My burban rides completely different with 40 pounds in the tires than it does with 35. I'm not on 22's but I would definitely check that before throwing a bunch of money at it.

Well, today I did what I used to do when I was a kid. I climbed on the back bumper & started bouncing on it. It's insanely ridgid. Car's not moving there si it can't be the tires.

Find the model number of the shock it could be the incorrect shocks or just buy different shocks.

Defintely gonna have to go this route. I want to take a trip with the wife in 3 weeks so I want to get this done ASAP!

 

[magicbus]

Find the model number of the shock it could be the incorrect shocks or just buy different shocks.

he's right, it could have ZW7 shocks with normal springs, that would definitely make it more rigid. I can pretty much stand on my ZW7 shocks and not get them to compress.

 

[Ultim8SVT]

he's right, it could have ZW7 shocks with normal springs, that would definitely make it more rigid. I can pretty much stand on my ZW7 shocks and not get them to compress.

Interesting. It makes perfect sense. I really need to get under there... Today it rained most of the day so I wasn't able to investigate. Weather's been nasty all through the East of the US. I will keep everyone posted.

 

[JochenWoern]

Interesting. It makes perfect sense. I really need to get under there... Today it rained most of the day so I wasn't able to investigate. Weather's been nasty all through the East of the US. I will keep everyone posted.

As previously mentioned, most likely the shocks need to be replaced.

 

[Ultim8SVT]

Well, just as expected, the truck had HUGE shocks to begin with but to make matters worst, the driver's side was frozen solid. That's why I noticed the rear was higher than it should. It froze about 2 inches higher than standard height. Needless to say, I went with Sensitracs. The truck drives like a beauty. I'm in love with the smoothness of the ride!

 

[JochenWoern]

Yup, just as expected. Glad it all worked out for you.

Still need to get some fog lights. ;-)

 

[Ultim8SVT]

Yup, just as expected. Glad it all worked out for you.

Still need to get some fog lights. ;-)

Already ordered those 4 days ago.

 

[JochenWoern]

already ordered those 4 days ago.

well done!

 

[Ultim8SVT]

well done!

Just got the fog lamps today in the mail. Anyone know what screws I can use for the pre-set location on the bumper?

I checked down there thinking I'd be able to install them today & it turns out the screws that were sent with the lamps do not work on the pre-set holes on the bumper.