I have an 09 LTZ That rides like Crap.

[OHSIXX]

34 PSI, I heard of someone having one of their shocks freeze up on them which made the whole Tahoe ride like a dump truck. I checked my shocks today, which seem fine, and am getting new tires put on tomorrow with an alignment check. Hope that helps. If not... Down the road she will go. Its bad enough that I'm embarrassed to have people ride in it. Knowing that they are thinking that it rides like a dump truck. I'm truly hoping that its just a tire issue. After so many heat cycles those things have to be getting hard. Ill let you know more tomorrow, should be done by 4pm CST tomorrow.

One of my favorite qualities about these trucks is the ride-speaking NBS style anyways-never been in a NNBS. Hopefully those tires make a diffrence for ya

 

[KMeloney]

OP -- Have you had the truck since new, or did you just buy it? I'm trying to see if you think the ride has deteriorated over time, or if you expected it to be one way, got in it for the first time, and found that it rode like crap.

Incidentally, if you haven't lowered the truck, why is this in the "street suspension" section?

 

[Speedy188]

OP -- Have you had the truck since new, or did you just buy it? I'm trying to see if you think the ride has deteriorated over time, or if you expected it to be one way, got in it for the first time, and found that it rode like crap.

Incidentally, if you haven't lowered the truck, why is this in the "street suspension" section?

It is a new truck to me... I have had it for about 6mos. Like I posted earlier I do have many other rides in tahoe's to compare to and none of them ride like mine. But none of them have the autotrack air ride suspension either. They are all just standard LT suspensions. Obviously this thread is not the best way of gathering data... This is purely speculative, what one guy thinks is a rough ride may be nice to another. I would have loved to have some kind of feedback mechanism that would gather data to tell you exactly what G-Forces are felt in the cab, but I dont. I was more so wondering if anyone has comparisons from the LT Suspension to LTZ Air ride and if they think the ride is rougher? I don't know this to be the norm. I would think that a vehicle manufacturer would charge more for a certain suspension if it "worked" better. I may be wrong in my thinking.

As for being in the "Street Suspension" section? I didn't mean to tread on your turf homie. Personally didn't even know what Street suspension section meant, but I do drive on the street and It was a suspension question so I thought what the hell, Ill post it there. What section could I have posted it in that you wouldn't have made a comment?

 

[yates ™]

I think they ride virtually the same.

 

[Blazed]

I think this is your preference.
I hate the premium ride suspension and love the auto ride and I've seen people hating the auto ride its all preference.

 

[KMeloney]

As for being in the "Street Suspension" section? I didn't mean to tread on your turf homie. Personally didn't even know what Street suspension section meant, but I do drive on the street and It was a suspension question so I thought what the hell, Ill post it there. What section could I have posted it in that you wouldn't have made a comment?

First of all, this isn't my turf, and I'm not your homie. I'm trying to help. If you had a general suspension question, then I would have thought you'd put it in the "general" section, and not in the "street suspension" section, which clearly says "Discuss lowering suspension from leveling, static drop to air ride drop here." Perhaps I should have just assumed that you lowered your truck instead, and that that's why you posted here -- not because you don't have a clue. Using your logic, why not just have only one big "truck" section, since we all have a "truck" to discuss? BTW, my "tone" right now is me doing my best to match yours (which wasn't warranted).

I recommend trying to get your post in the correct forum where you might get more views and more responses. Folks with old trucks mistakenly post in the newer truck forums (and vice versa) all of the time when they'd get better help from people who have their same issues. You either have a lowered truck and didn't mention that part, or have a stock truck but are suggesting that it's lowered by posting in the Street Suspension section. I don't think my question was out of line.

Now, as for your initial question, which you may or may not want my response to...

I think that these autoride trucks ought to ride much better than they do, too. I've been through almost every stock/lowering/leveling combo out there; and when I was back to stock in between, the truck just didn't ride well. Too bouncy, to firm... No smoothing out of the road surface. Conversely, I felt every dip and rise in the road. I'd think that with a truck this heavy, and with air-adjusting shocks, the ride should be a lot better.

What I've found is that the Belltech springs actually ride better than the stock springs. But, also, I think you have to mess with the autoride links to get things exactly the way you want them. If you like a firmer ride, then you should keep the links on the longer side so that the truck pumps more air into the shocks. If you would like a smoother ride, then you'll want less air in the shocks so that the truck rides more on the springs. Like with anything, there are trade-offs in each scenario.

Of course your shocks may not be airing up at all (your compressor may not be working), or they are airing up and never releasing air, or your shocks are wearing, or the previous owner DID alter the suspension.

Either way, I tend to agree that these trucks (at least the autoride ones) do not ride like luxury vehicles.

 

[Goodinblack]

I have had the pleasure of having MANY loaners when my Suburban or Yukon XL go in......

My Suburban is Beltech drop 2 inch rear and Yukon XL is stock..........

I have been in a Z71 Suburban, LTZ Tahoe, and a normal LT Suburban from my Dealer........

The LTZ Tahoe felt verryy close to the non-auto ride to me. I actully looked to see if it had the air shocks.....I knew it did.......just looked anyway.

The ride I prefer the BEST is the Z71 Suburban....... I like a stiff ride. I just wished it was "lower" and rode the same.

Also, as far a carrying passengers and having them embarrassed...... you may thinking it, not them......

I carry a lot of folks all the time. No one has gotten out because it was too bumpy in my Suburban.......

Hope this helps some..........

 

[07whitetahoe]

If a shock or strut locks up, it is more than likely due to it leaking oil at the shaft seal. Otherwise the chances of it being frozen are very unlikely. They do wear out however.

On the tire note, you will be surprised the difference new tires will make on ride quality. It can completely change a vehicle.

 

[felixgun]

Both my avalanche and escalade both have AutoRide and I personally love it. I rented a suburban LT without autoride last year for a trip and it rode a lot stiffer even though it only had 17's on it. I guess it's all personal preference. If you are experiencing bounce I'd suspect its your shocks.

 

[Blazed]

Funny you say that Felix.
I went from a autoride Tahoe with 22 to a premium ride with 24 and I have to say the premium ride felt like I had kick balls instead of springs.
Kick ball equals bouncy!
I hated it.
I really enjoyed how the autoride rode on my old car and I wish I still had it on the new one. Much more responsive.