03 Denali --- to delete air ride or to keep?

[keegan]

I am dropped 2/3 with a McGaughey's kit on my 03 Denali. It's getting some miles on it and I know my front shocks are toast. It is worth getting the coil spring conversion kit from Arnott which takes away the rear air ride, and using those shocks? or should I stick with new front shocks, and getting new air ride shocks for the rear?

FYI - I have had no problems with the factory rear shocks or air ride system, but i think the rear could ride a little bit better as my shocks may be worn.

 

[z0lt3c]

Although Arnott offers a few different kits, most keep the air based auto leveling features in the rear but loose the electronically controlled dampening on both axles. The electrical dampening is highly effectively at reducing body roll and improving ride quality, and most of this behavior is a result of the speciality front shocks performance. In fact, if there is a problem w/ the SCM and the system disengages electronically dampening, it can feel like the front shocks are blown (it makes that big a difference).

Since there is no aftermarket substitute which maintains electronically dampening on the front axle, I strongly suggest going the Monroe 40044 route here and avoiding aftermarket. The rear axle is less sensitive to the loss of electrical dampening, so I think you are better off using an Arnott kit on the rear to save a few coins. Keep in mind the system consist of 5 sensors, 4 shocks and the SCM... if you decided to loose auto-ride you need to bypass the shocks w/ resistors and effectively your sensors now get ignored (but still must work to avoid service alarms).

I went through a similar experience w/ my Escalade. I originally replaced the rear shocks w/ the Arnott/Bilstein product and the front shocks with a strutmaster product (no more electrical dampening). I am now swapping out the strutmaster front kit w/ the Monroe 40044 shocks as the ride quality is still poor. I am fairly happy w/ the Bilstein/Arnott rear shock and will be keeping these. My vehicle is not lowered however...

Out of curiosity, how does your lowering kit handle the front and rear ride height sensors to keep them accurate when dropped?

 

[NORCAL SS]

I am dropped 2/3 with a McGaughey's kit on my 03 Denali. It's getting some miles on it and I know my front shocks are toast. It is worth getting the coil spring conversion kit from Arnott which takes away the rear air ride, and using those shocks? or should I stick with new front shocks, and getting new air ride shocks for the rear?

FYI - I have had no problems with the factory rear shocks or air ride system, but i think the rear could ride a little bit better as my shocks may be worn.

Ive been doing these swamps for years now and honestly go for it.

With the set up you have now front/rear belltech sp shocks I sell are 230 shipped and will improve ride.

In rear if you do towing all you do is all helper a helper bag kit in rear and will tow and haul items better than the autoride kit.

Onlly thing i would recommened in rear is adding the djm endlink kit which I have for 85 shipped. This will get ride of the horrible swaybar angle you have in rear and make the ride better as well as corner better. Now if you want more travel (if you feel its bottoming out) you can add in my $25 rear bumpstops which bolt to the axle and then cut the bumpstop bracket on the frame and your set to go.

Any other quetsions just shoot em out

 

[keegan]

Ive been doing these swamps for years now and honestly go for it.

With the set up you have now front/rear belltech sp shocks I sell are 230 shipped and will improve ride.

In rear if you do towing all you do is all helper a helper bag kit in rear and will tow and haul items better than the autoride kit.

Onlly thing i would recommened in rear is adding the djm endlink kit which I have for 85 shipped. This will get ride of the horrible swaybar angle you have in rear and make the ride better as well as corner better. Now if you want more travel (if you feel its bottoming out) you can add in my $25 rear bumpstops which bolt to the axle and then cut the bumpstop bracket on the frame and your set to go.

Any other quetsions just shoot em out

I saw the end links on your website. Do you have a link to your shocks?

 

[NORCAL SS]

due to people using different parts I dont because I get their info and set up the correct shock and shoot a custom paypal bill for it.

 

[keegan]

Big thanks to NORCAL SS. He got me fixed up in no time!