LTZ Z95 to KYB or Monroe etc. Experiences Needed

[Drew1987]

Hey all,

I hope this is welcome here... Wife's Suburban, 2013 1500 LTZ is still her dream vehicle, so I maintain it with no regard to miles or cost, just simply to keep it going forever. Great little truck.

The z95 magnetic suspension is just about done, and I VERY much am hoping to hear from people who have gone from it to plain old KYB struts and shocks, keeping their 20"/32" wheels/tires, that can tell me what I would expect in ride quality. It's a difference of almost $1500 in parts. z95 is cool, but we'll be driving on mostly smooth roads and occasionally offroad.

I am looking to hear specifically from people who experienced the truck - specifically a 900 suburban/Yukon XL/Escalade ESV both BEFORE AND AFTER deleting the fancy stuff for regular suspension. Someone who deleted it for offroad suspension wouldn't be able to give me a good idea because we wont be doing that, her truck rarely goes off road but going 25-30k per year on highways. Folks who never had z95 cant help here either.... I need to hear about the exact scenario before me if at all possible. If I have to buy new factory z95, then so be it, but I want to know about it if the truck still rides nice with KYB/Monroe/OEM LS or LT regular stuff etc. Thanks a million!


THANK YOU!

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

Well, you went into a bit of detail on what you don't want to see in replies. Not a great start, but I'll try to abide by what you don't want to see.

I've had my 2007 Yukon XL Denali both WITH (GM OEM Z55) and WITHOUT (KYB) the Z55 active suspension, and I can tell you that there is a significant difference between the two. Note that the Z95 active suspension you are referring to is actually an improvement over the Z55 active suspension (4 millisecond versus 20 millisecond response time on shock stiffness changes). IMO, the truck feels and reacts completely different with a passive suspension, versus an active suspension, and I would never convert back to a passive suspension on my truck. The ability to almost instantaneously change shock stiffness independently on each shock, to respond to differing road conditions, curves, slopes, etc, allows complete control of these ~6000 lb. beasts. The use of an active suspension supports the widely used term of 'land yacht' for these SUVs.

In full transparency, there are members on this Forum who prefer a passive suspension system, and Bilstein shocks are popular with them, but in many cases, their use cases for their trucks are different than yours.

You can purchase GM OEM Z95 shocks for about $350 each at RockAuto.com and GMPartsDirect.com, which will be substantially cheaper than purchasing them through a local dealer.

One last point that you made clear in your post...... "Wife's Suburban, 2013 1500 LTZ is still her dream vehicle, so I maintain it with no regard to miles or cost" IMO, this statement should drive your decision much more than any other factors. I believe that your wife will definitely notice the difference in the feel of her dream vehicle, and not in a positive way. Happy Wife = Happy Life

Good luck!

 

[Doubeleive]

Not sure what "just about done" means but
either leave it OEM style
or switch to Bilstein with the rear springs being replaced with moog springs which will give you a hair more rake
in which case you may as well level the front. A rough country kit is not that much and should provide a 1" 1 1/2" & 2" option in one kit.
then use resistors to keep the service suspension message away.

 

[SpareParts]

Why would you post your password?

Mine is Z55. You will feel the difference converting to passive suspension. I switched to passive Monroe and this spring i will be swapping back to active suspension. Passive does not compare to how much better active suspension is on paved or gravel roads.
For light to moderate off road active suspension has not held up for me but i think i figured out why.

 

[Fless]

I don't see a posted PW -- did you get it edited out? If you didn't, contact one of us mods by "conversation."

 

[SpareParts]

He deleted the pic as it is gone.

 

[Drew1987]

Ok the password post was an accident paste - i thought i was pasting this entire topic's text but instead I posted the screenshot I took of my password so I can save it. This is NOT the worst copy and paste mistake I ever made. I was born in the 80's and sometimes I think I still live there or at least am meant to.


Thanks all, vey much.

Joseph, thank you for the welcome, and thats a nice list of mods you have. I have thought about swapping a 6.0 into this one, but not while the 5.3 is still so happy. I appreciate the advice.

Spare parts that helps a lot. The two of you gave me 90% of what I need to hear to just order new z95

Doubelive thank you for the assistance. There will be zero lifting of modification so it its just z95 vs Monroe/KYB etc.

By "just about done" i mean I can feel the unsprung weight... going around a curve and hitting a decent bump, I can feel the steering wheel jerk. Her Micellin Defenders (that get roated every 5k) have a little choppiness on the inner most tread row... just all signs that she needs struts. And at about 165,000 that sounds about right.



Spare parts, the off road comment has me curious. We're moving to NE Georgia and she WILL be offroad sometimes, but not often and never fast. There are a few places we take the kids swimming that are dirt roads, a little rough. We go slow. When we finally live there, we have my tundra for ripping through the woods.... but what is the reason you thnin k you found that ofroad hurts your z95? 99.9999997% of her driving is on smooth roads

 

[Drew1987]

This is her truck by the way. I just pray it stays looking like this. Sadly it went through 2 Western NY winters, and in the country where the roads are terrible. We did get it oil coated (in the frame, in the panels etc.) both falls before both winters. And I will again before it leaves for good measure. And anytime it comes up here in winter, it will get oiled. But I am going to be so frustrated if it rusts. These dont hold up to salt. I own an online car dealership so I can always get another one but this one is her baby and I know how it's been cared for.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Ok the password post was an accident paste - i thought i was pasting this entire topic's text but instead I posted the screenshot I took of my password so I can save it. This is NOT the worst copy and paste mistake I ever made. I was born in the 80's and sometimes I think I still live there or at least am meant to.


Thanks all, vey much.

Joseph, thank you for the welcome, and thats a nice list of mods you have. I have thought about swapping a 6.0 into this one, but not while the 5.3 is still so happy. I appreciate the advice.

Spare parts that helps a lot. The two of you gave me 90% of what I need to hear to just order new z95

Doubelive thank you for the assistance. There will be zero lifting of modification so it its just z95 vs Monroe/KYB etc.

By "just about done" i mean I can feel the unsprung weight... going around a curve and hitting a decent bump, I can feel the steering wheel jerk. Her Micellin Defenders (that get roated every 5k) have a little choppiness on the inner most tread row... just all signs that she needs struts. And at about 165,000 that sounds about right.



Spare parts, the off road comment has me curious. We're moving to NE Georgia and she WILL be offroad sometimes, but not often and never fast. There are a few places we take the kids swimming that are dirt roads, a little rough. We go slow. When we finally live there, we have my tundra for ripping through the woods.... but what is the reason you thnin k you found that ofroad hurts your z95? 99.9999997% of her driving is on smooth roads

When the Z95 shocks fail, they tend to get stiffer, and not softer. If you see choppiness at a tire edge, that would suggest that both the tire balance and front end alignment should be checked.

 

[Drew1987]

the truck feels like it has concrete wheels. Same as my tundra did (20"/33" very close to the 20"/32" here), new struts/shocks=new truck. It's got that "heavy wheel" shudder over bump, steering wheel jerks if one side hits a pothole or cornering over an expansion joint. Shocks for sure

You'll think I am over the top but every 5k when I rotate her tires, I balance the two that move to the front.... and obviously the ones that move the back did 80 that same week without a vibration so I know they are good. I have a Coats spin balancer and a small case of OCD


$1350ish for the parts I need. Just gotta tripple check her RPO sticker (and learn what it is I am reading) and order. It will be a while. Money and time are commited to other things... but def. before we move to GA because I dont own a wallmount spring compressor and my friend here does. I am NOT doing this job with a set of the screw type, they dont lock over the coil like they do with a sedan spring

 

[SpareParts]

My Situation is probably unique.
With all GM parts installed at full extension the upper a arm does not contact the bump stop. The strut is bottoming out doing all the stopping work the bump stop should be doing.
I got tired of replacing the Z55 front struts pretty fast and with winter close i just went with Monroe loaded struts. In a couple more month's im going back to Z55 active struts after i fix the bump stop problem.

 

[petethepug]

Phew …
Z95 = 09-14 Esky, 09-13 Yukon Denali Hybrids - not gassers

Z55 = 07 & 08 Esky, 07-14 Yukon Denali and all others who opted for it on LTZ & LTS trim levels.

You’ll need 4x$250 ea autoride z55 struts and 2x$99 front strut top mounts with rubber inside from Rock Auto.

Struts are guaranteed for life by GM. Your (very nice) truck has a z55 suspension module from the factory and won’t communicate with z95 struts. More precisely, your wife will tell you after z95 are installed.

My wife went goofey over the z55 on our 08 Denali YXL. She called it the nap mobile. Especially after they were replaced at 165k mi. On our 09 Esky XL w/ factory 22” and z95, NOT so much.

The z55 gives these vehicles a ride 2nd to Range Rover but with an extra 5 feet at the end. It’s currently a coordinated suspension that communicates, tuned and active. Take that away and all four corners stop holding hands and do their own thing or … turn into 4 angry wives.

 

[Drew1987]

Hey I am grateful for that Pete! But I am so confused now... everything pointed to z95... is there a way, on her truck, I can know for sure?

What did your wife mean "nap mobile?" like its so soft it inspires sleep? goofy in a good way? you're saying it's smoother than an escalade?

I was going to get 2x struts and 2x shocks (shocks have air, too, in the back) and send it. I want to try to get this done before I loose access to the wall mounted spring compressor at the friends shop (I am moving) because 1/2 ton springs and little compressors seems like a stupid way to ruin or end my life..

Thanks again very much - looking forward to your next reply

Thanks all of you

 

[petethepug]

GM was fuzzy on rolling out Z95 / Magneride. Vendors like Arnott now refer to z55 & z95 as mutually compatible because it suits their needs to sell z55 hydraulic filled struts to 09-14 z95 mag fluid outfitted Esky trucks that are incompatible. That’s sucky.

z95 was 1st put on Esky in 09 with new software to 1) apply power to the mag fluid for viscosity changes and, 2) control the flow of mag fluid through the valves.

z55 software and its active hydraulic struts rolled out on Gen 2 trucks in 2000. GM went 100% to z95 as the only option beginning 2015.

 

[Drew1987]

Thank you! So how am I able to tell which I have? By the way I can tell it’s special. But also, it’s worn out. You all have graciously helped me to see it’s worth keeping

 

[SpareParts]

Look at the RPO sticker in the glove box. It will have Z55 or Z95. There are two other RPO codes to check also. Look at Rock Auto and match them to your RPO label.

 

[Drew1987]

Well I guess I was wrong lol here it is. Z55. What, please, are those other codes?


The amount of choices on rock AUTO is overwhelming… With my truck there are only two choices… TRD and no TRD lol


I appreciate you all! This seems like a very friendly and very helpful community. I’ll be sure to try to contribute. I have a YouTube channel where I show people how to fix things, and I’ve shot some content for the suburban. I will post it here and also try to answer questions

 

[SpareParts]

Z55 and these two codes here. Match all the codes on Rock Auto and you will have your struts/shocks.

 

[Drew1987]

Man I’m grateful thanks

 

[Scrappycrow]

You’ll need 4x$250 ea autoride z55 struts and 2x$99 front strut top mounts with rubber inside from Rock Auto.

Unfortunately, those prices have gone up a good bit. Now it's $1,575 for all of that.