Need help with a Mystery please...

[DSN46]

So I bought a 2010 Tahoe LT 4WD. It says in the build sheet as well as in RPO codes that I have the "Smooth Ride Package"... ZW7. Also has the "Towing Package" Okay...

I am trying to stiffen up the rear for towing purposes so I looked into replacing the rear suspension. It did not come with Nivomat shocks, just regular shocks. I crawled under and looked at the tags on the springs and they are #2597850 YAK. These are ALREADY the same springs as the Z71!

Question: How does GM sell a vehicle with Smooth Ride Package but has Z71 springs and regular shocks in the rear??? I don't WANT the smooth ride stuff anyway, but I can't figure this out.

Any ideas?

Also, will the Moog 80169 springs give me any more stiffness than the Z71 springs already on it?

PS: I posted this in this sub-forum because this crowd probably knows more about coil springs than the other sub-forums.

Thank you!

 

[NGAneer]

So I bought a 2010 Tahoe LT 4WD. It says in the build sheet as well as in RPO codes that I have the "Smooth Ride Package"... ZW7. Also has the "Towing Package" Okay...

I am trying to stiffen up the rear for towing purposes so I looked into replacing the rear suspension. It did not come with Nivomat shocks, just regular shocks. I crawled under and looked at the tags on the springs and they are #2597850 YAK. These are ALREADY the same springs as the Z71!

Question: How does GM sell a vehicle with Smooth Ride Package but has Z71 springs and regular shocks in the rear??? I don't WANT the smooth ride stuff anyway, but I can't figure this out.

Any ideas?

Also, will the Moog 80169 springs give me any more stiffness than the Z71 springs already on it?

PS: I posted this in this sub-forum because this crowd probably knows more about coil springs than the other sub-forums.

Thank you!

Could be that someone swapped the springs from another vehicle. One way or the other I wouldn't think the Moog springs would make any real difference as they are supposed to be for converting a ZW7/Nivomat truck to a conventional spring/shock set up.

I'd say they are likely the same or negligibly close and if you want to stiffen the rear for towing get some air bags to put in the coils. Then you can stiffen the rear when towing and soften it when not.

 

[swathdiver]

Put some Air Lift bags in your coil springs. Cost about $81. How much weight are you looking to pull?

 

[DStarr02]

You can pick up the nivomat shocks for around $50ea on Amazon right now. I would think that plus a Z71 spring would definitely stiffen up the ride,.

 

[DSN46]

Thank you for the replies guys! I went ahead and installed the Moog coils. They actually feel better than the originals I took off. As for airlift 1000 bags, I had them in the rear of an Excursion I used to tow heavy with... they were good for the first year or so, but then the annoying leaks started and I found I was chasing down a leak about every three months... I swore them off at that point. Thanks again!