z71 springs or Bilstein Springs?

[Adam OJ]

I am in the process of getting rid of the air-ride Autoride stuff on my 01 tahoe. Compressor is making all kinds of racket and the right rear shock looks like it's blown. I already have bilstein 5100's up front, and have the rears on order.

Since the autoride springs don't work without the shocks, I ordered the bilsein 199021 springs to replace the autoride springs, but they are still backordered.

I found Z71 springs on ebay for basically the same money:
Ebay Link

Does anybody know the difference in ride height/stiffness between the Z71 and Bilsteins?

I'm taking this one step at a time. Getting the suspension riding nice (get rid of annoying rattles and harsh ride) and then I'll do keys and spacers, and then (hopefully similar timing) probably put on some 285's. So I'm not afraid of spring height. I do put a decent amount of gear in the back and tow a loaded utility trailer quite often.

Thanks in advance!! I can't wait to smooth out the ride. This thing rides like a tank right now.

-Adam-

 

[03Dnasty]

I'm not sure on the Bilstein springs, but I have Z71 springs and they give you +2" in the rear. They do ride a little more stiff over stock replacement springs tool. I'm not sure if you are wanting to lift your truck or not. If so you would need some +2" keys for the front to make it look right with the rear. If you are just wanting to go with stock height springs the Bilsteins would probably be what you want.

 

[RedRocker]

If you go with the Z71 springs, that is a good price. I just paid $46 just to ship a pair of springs UPS ground - sounds like for $70 these could be delivered to your door. Let me know if you decide on Z71 springs and dont find any readily available - I have a used set in my garage off my '07 I'd let go fairly reasonably.

 

[Adam OJ]

I'm not sure on the Bilstein springs, but I have Z71 springs and they give you +2" in the rear. They do ride a little more stiff over stock replacement springs tool. I'm not sure if you are wanting to lift your truck or not. If so you would need some +2" keys for the front to make it look right with the rear. If you are just wanting to go with stock height springs the Bilsteins would probably be what you want.

i guess I didnt' realize they gave that much. I am planning to lift it... So this might save a little $$ on the rear blocks. I think I would rather have the lift be in the springs rather than block anyway. I would just need the keys and can level from where the rear ends up sitting.

Thanks for the info.

---------- Post added at 10:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 PM ----------

If you go with the Z71 springs, that is a good price. I just paid $46 just to ship a pair of springs UPS ground - sounds like for $70 these could be delivered to your door. Let me know if you decide on Z71 springs and dont find any readily available - I have a used set in my garage off my '07 I'd let go fairly reasonably.

That ebay ad has a good number of them, and I'll be ordering this next week, so I should be good. The bilsteins from Shockwarehouse are $35 a piece, free shipping, so same price shipped. Main difference is that the bilsteins are still not available...

thanks for the offer on the springs.

 

[jESse]

are the springs the same between the 07+ and the 00-06's?

 

[TheFuzz]

If you're planning on lifting it anyway, I'd agree that the Z71 springs are probably the way to go. Great price, too - I'd scoop them up, provided you don't mind a little bit of increased spring rate. They will be stiffer than OEM/Bilstein...but that being said, if you're running a blown shock in the rear then throwing the new shocks/springs on will make a night and day difference in ride quality. I think you'll be pleased.

 

[Adam OJ]

are the springs the same between the 07+ and the 00-06's?

I was under the impression they were interchangeable, but hadn't noticed that the eBay springs were from an 07. Anybody else know? I'll try to do some more research on that one. If they don't fit my 01, I could always slip them on the wife's 07 LT burb. See if she notices


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[03Dnasty]

Just go to Rockauto.com search MOOG Part # 81069 They are just under $70 shipped for the pair.

 

[Adam OJ]

Just go to Rockauto.com search MOOG Part # 81069 They are just under $70 shipped for the pair.

Good find.

Are those the stock springs or Z71 springs?

Still leaning toward the Z71 since I know I want to be lifted.

This does answer the other question about fitment. Looks like 2000-2010 are all included.

[From description of above mentioned springs on Rock-Auto site]
CHEVROLET AVALANCHE (2007 - 2010)
CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 (2002 - 2006)
CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2500 (2002 - 2006)
CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 (2000 - 2010)
CHEVROLET TAHOE (2000 - 2010)
GMC YUKON (2000 - 2010)
GMC YUKON DENALI XL (2001 - 2004)
GMC YUKON XL 1500 (2000 - 2010)
GMC YUKON XL 2500 (2000 - 2006)

Interesting though, I thought all of the 2500 burbs had leafs in the rear? My 2003 K2500 did...

---------- Post added at 11:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:54 PM ----------

Good find.

Are those the stock springs or Z71 springs?

Answering my own question. That part number is the moog Z71 spring. Pricing it out, with the current 5% off rock auto coupon code (google rock auto coupon code, they always have one..) it's actually only $62.90 shipped to me (Denver area). Looks like I'll be going the Rock Auto route.

Thanks again!

 

[03Dnasty]

Stock replacement OEM springs. No prob!

 

[Adam OJ]

Following up on my post...

I ended up getting the Z71 springs from Rock auto and the bilsteins from shockwarehouse. They were able to cancel the bilstein springs.

Got about 1.5" lift from the springs, cranked my stock keys and still down about 3/4" in the front. I can live with it for now. Still running stock tires so I don't need clearance until I get new tires. Then I'll look at swapping keys and maybe adding a small spacer.

The ride with these new shocks is night and day.. One of the rear shocks will not compress at all. I put all of my 235lbs on it and it wouldn't budge. The other one compressed and rebounded all day long. I think the 'blown shock' diagnosis was correct

Thanks everyone for the help!

 

[cfleek]

Following up on my post...

I ended up getting the Z71 springs from Rock auto and the bilsteins from shockwarehouse. They were able to cancel the bilstein springs.

Got about 1.5" lift from the springs, cranked my stock keys and still down about 3/4" in the front. I can live with it for now. Still running stock tires so I don't need clearance until I get new tires. Then I'll look at swapping keys and maybe adding a small spacer.

The ride with these new shocks is night and day.. One of the rear shocks will not compress at all. I put all of my 235lbs on it and it wouldn't budge. The other one compressed and rebounded all day long. I think the 'blown shock' diagnosis was correct

Thanks everyone for the help!

Adam, it's been a while since you posted this but I find myself in a similar situation. I have a stock 2001 Yukon 2500 XL. Autoride shocks are worn so I ordered some 4600 Bilsteins to replace. By the looks of your post I need to swap the springs as well. Are there springs in the front as well, or just the rear? How did you disable the Autoride feature? Would love to know if you have run into any issues since doing this swap? My Yukon has leaf springs in the back and no springs in the front.

 

[01Konvict]

You have 2500 rear leafs so you don't swap any springs. Remove the auto ride and get 5100 shocks. Pull compressor fuse under hood and drive.

 

[cfleek]

You have 2500 rear leafs so you don't swap any springs. Remove the auto ride and get 5100 shocks. Pull compressor fuse under hood and drive.

Thank you,
I swapped out the shocks this weekend but the computer is giving me an error of course. It was expected. I need to pull the Body Control Module out to have it re-programmed. Does anyone know where to find it on the 2500HD? I looked under the center console but it wasn't there. Did find an old mouse nest though.

 

[01Konvict]

Did you pull fuse under hood for compressor? Also BCM is under driver dash behind steering wheel

 

[cfleek]

Did you pull fuse under hood for compressor? Also BCM is under driver dash behind steering wheel

Found It! Mine doesn't have a compressor, just electronic shocks. The error light didn't come on right away but it on today. Once I found it I was able to get the exact part number I need and then found one on ebay. When this arrives I'll send it to westersgarage.com and have it reprogrammed leaving out the Z55 code. This "should" remove the error.

 

[01Konvict]

Yeah when its reprogrammed without that code it should not look for it. Let us know how it works out for you! I will end up deleting my autoride stuff and going to normal shocks planning on reprogram the BCM if possible.

 

[cfleek]

Yeah when its reprogrammed without that code it should not look for it. Let us know how it works out for you! I will end up deleting my autoride stuff and going to normal shocks planning on reprogram the BCM if possible.

I will certainly post how it goes. It will be at least a couple of weeks it not more as I have to wait for the replacement to arrive and then be shipped to Canada.

 

[gtptyler]

.

 

[cfleek]

Yeah when its reprogrammed without that code it should not look for it. Let us know how it works out for you! I will end up deleting my autoride stuff and going to normal shocks planning on reprogram the BCM if possible.

Well, I finally got my BCM back from Wester's in Canada. I swapped out the BCM with the original and for a split second I thought all would be well. Unfortunately with the replacement BCM installed when I cranked the engine over it kicked like it was going to start and then didn't. I put the original in a it fired back up. Re-installed the replacement and tried again, no go. :-( So far I have about $225 invested in this so I really hope Wester's can figure out what went wrong. I have a feeling that I'll be shipping the replacement BCM back to Canada. Last time I sent it, it cost me $50!! That was priority mail. If it goes back then it's going as cheap as possible, no matter how long it will take. My guess is that at this point they probably didn't remember me telling them that this was a replacement BCM and not my original and probably didn't put in the correct VIN or something. It's just a guess. I'll let you know what they say. With my original BCM installed everything works as expected. You just have this blaring message to service the autoride. I can live with that for now.