Want to Upgrade Shocks/Struts on SSV, Not trying to lift/lower...Preferred Options?

[jmm121783]

09 Tahoe SSV 4x4
119k miles, ALL/EVERY Fluid changed out two months ago.
Stock springs, US Govt. did replace all shocks with "Union" brand? Not bad just wanting to upgrade

Id love to have a slammed Tahoe, but the whole reason I bought this truck was to have a go anywhere, drive in mud, two tracks, fire trails and tons of snow without worry of breaking stuff. My HHR is my summer go-kart, 3" off the road. I love dropped big bodies but I don't want to do that here.

I do not want to do any fabricating or lift kits, I am open to swapping other compatible GM truck suspensions/parts onto my Tahoe. I do a lot of highway driving, will have separate sets of Summer and Winter rims and tires and do want to try and have improved MPG, looks and function. I like to keep close to the stock ride quality, slightly stiffer and lower to help with center of gravity and MPG would be nice.

A couple of the "upgraded" struts I've seen like the Ranchos say they lift 1.2"-2.0". That's alright but I would rather drop an inch than go up an inch.

Looking on Rock Auto at the Struts there are A TON, 90% say "without police package" and I assume that is wrong in a bunch of circumstances, they are indeed interchangeable?

Looking at the following

Rancho Loaded quickLIFT #RS999928
Bilstein 5100 (adjustable!)
Bilstein 4600
Rancho 5000/9000
KYB?
ACDELCO Stock?

What do you all think? Suggest? I've seen people mention the Bilstein 5100 series, lets see some pics!!
Thanks!!

 

[jz57]

Only Monroe or AC-Delco makes police package strut and shock for Tahoe. I believe Monroe is the original supplier to AC-Delco for the strut and shock.

Rear: Monroe 907942
Front: Monroe 39106

 

[spectralen]

I'm thinking Belltech and Eibach also make replacements for the small fee of one arm and one leg.
If your not changing coil springs and the shocks are not the air shock type, new shocks should not change the ride heighth.

 

[jmm121783]

Yea I was thinking about buying the AC delco Z71 Shocks for all four corners....I do see that monroe seems to be the only listed true supplier of the the "Police Package" but it blows my mind they dont have seperate part numbers for the SSV vs. the PPVs, the shocks should be different you would think for the different suspension packages.

NO ONE HAS ANY FEEDBACK ABOUT THE Bilstein 5100 Series Adjustable???

 

[jmm121783]

bummer.....need some help here....maybe should post this in the suspension section?

 

[jmm121783]

bought Bilstein 5100 series for my Tahoe...

 

[jkssv08tahoe]

bought Bilstein 5100 series for my Tahoe...

Did you ever get these on. Did they fit without any issues. This summer I want to redo all the Struts and shocks to make the ride better on my SSV. I am at 128k on my truck.

 

[jmm121783]

I'm having a HELLUVA time getting lower strut springs seats, according to tech support at Bilstein "we made these to use the stock part". YET EVERY aftermarket or even AC Delco replacement has the seat welded on. Bilstein REALLY REALLY REALLY dropped the ball here, all for what $10 in stamped steel and four screws??? Ridiculous

 

[balln2k11]

I’m really trying to upgrade my suspension. I’m brand new to the PPV and hate the harsh ride. I’m not trying to make it into a Denali (even though that would be nice).

Whate shocks/struts and coil spring options well make it drive like the civian models without changing the ride height of the PPV? I’m going nuts feeling every bump in the road and feeling like my truck is falling apart.

I have a 2009 PPV with only 110k miles.

 

[balln2k11]

I’m really trying to upgrade my suspension. I’m brand new to the PPV and hate the harsh ride. I’m not trying to make it into a Denali (even though that would be nice).

What shocks/struts and coil spring options will make it drive like the civian models without changing the ride height of the PPV? I’m going nuts feeling every bump in the road and feeling like my truck is falling apart.

I have a 2009 PPV with only 110k miles.

 

[balln2k11]

I’m really trying to upgrade my suspension. I’m brand new to the PPV and hate the harsh ride. I’m not trying to make it into a Denali (even though that would be nice).

What shocks/struts and coil spring options will make it drive like the civian models without changing the ride height of the PPV? I’m going nuts feeling every bump in the road and feeling like my truck is falling apart.

I have a 2009 PPV with only 110k miles.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

I’m really trying to upgrade my suspension. I’m brand new to the PPV and hate the harsh ride. I’m not trying to make it into a Denali (even though that would be nice).

What shocks/struts and coil spring options will make it drive like the civian models without changing the ride height of the PPV? I’m going nuts feeling every bump in the road and feeling like my truck is falling apart.

I have a 2009 PPV with only 110k miles.

Look at Bilstein 4600.

 

[balln2k11]

Look at Bilstein 4600.

Do i purchase new coil springs for the front or rear with these Bilsteins to help improve the ride?

 

[balln2k11]

Look at Bilstein 4600.

Do i purchase new coil springs for the front or rear with these Bilsteins to help improve the ride?

 

[balln2k11]

I’m still looking for help. Is the Bilstein 4600 the way to go on improving the ride comfort of a 2009 Tahoe PPV, without changing the ride height? According to their website, it wont work on a “police edition”. do I reuse my old coils with the 4600?

I see the Monroe 39106 is designed for the factory fit.

 

[kbuskill]

I’m still looking for help. Is the Bilstein 4600 the way to go on improving the ride comfort of a 2009 Tahoe PPV, without changing the ride height? According to their website, it wont work on a “police edition”. do I reuse my old coils with the 4600?

I see the Monroe 39106 is designed for the factory fit.

Here is the best I can tell you... I have an LTZ and not a PPV but have done a fair bit of research because I was thinking of going the other direction.

The strut body on the PPV are slightly bigger in diameter and therefore take a slightly bigger diameter lower spring perch... that is to say the hole in the spring perch has a slightly bigger hole to fit around the 39106 strut.

As long as the new strut you are using comes with its own spring perch you should be fine. If it doesn't then you would need to source the lower perch elsewhere as I believe your factory one would be a little too big around.

I lowered my Burb with the Belltech spindles and struts and am looking to firm up the front suspension some... which is why I was looking into PPV struts.

I already gifted my original lower perches to the OP so I can't help there.

Also from what I understand the front end of the PPV is not actually lowered at all.... only the rear is lowered slightly (about 2 inches).

The lowered look comes from the fact that they run the 17" wheels. There are a few guys on here running the factory 20" wheels on PPVs and it looks just like a stock Tahoe in the front as far as height is concerned.

With all that being said you should be fine to swap an entire strut assembly out of a non-PPV into your truck without it "lifting it up"... IMO

 

[RichardCranium]

Also from what I understand the front end of the PPV is not actually lowered at all.... only the rear is lowered slightly (about 2 inches).

This is true, the front is lower than a civy Tahoe because of the low profile PPV tires. The rear has a different spring all together than a civy Tahoe.

 

[jmm121783]

I would go with Bilstein anything or the stock GM high end OEM parts, I think some are Bilsteins others are a red color and I'm forgetting who AC Delco private labelled them from....but those would be my first options. I also was looking for a slightly higher ride height and some stiffness.