New coil springs to make life easy?

[michaelkellett]

My truck: 2012 GMC Yukon Denali 2WD, Z55 Air Ride suspension, 285K miles and counting

My issue: Need to replace rear shocks/compressor (blown and burnt out) and want to replace fronts to restore ride quality.

My question: I'm going to replace the front/rear shocks with factory AC Delco Z55 units to restore original ride, but unlike aftermarket "delete" struts, nobody sells the factory fronts with the coil springs installed, which means taking the old ones off, taking them to a shop to have the springs swapped, then completing the repair.

I would like to avoid the downtown of having to depend on someone else to do the spring swap, but I'm not interested in wrestling a spring compressor to do that part myself, so I'm debating buying a pair of new springs and just having them built up before I start the repair process, so that everything is in-hand and ready to go.

Here's the shopping cart I created with all of the parts I think I need. If any of these are not the correct application or if I'm missing something, please chime in.

Any help/advice on what I need would be appreciated.

 

[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.

I don't see the shopping list of parts that you refer to.

Definitely remove and take the front strut assemblies, along with the new springs and shocks, to a local repair shop with a high strength spring compressor. I strongly recommend that you do not attempt this yourself with typical car spring compressors.

The front OEM springs on my 07 Yukon XL Denali are no longer manufactured, so I used a Moog spring with compatible cross reference part numbers when I changed out my front shocks. They have worked out just fine.

The rear springs/shocks changeout is easy peasy, and the OEM rear springs were still available when I changed out my rear shocks. The top bolt on the rear shocks can be a bit challenging, due to frame space limitations, but it is absolutely possible with a bit of wrenching tool substitution tries. Be careful not to dislodge the electrical wheel sensor electrical connection that sits on top of the frame near that shock bolt (common mistake item, and just make sure that the electrical connector is tight when you complete the shock changeout).

On the rear, be sure to disconnect the bolt holding the brake lines to the rear end axle tube/differential before dropping down the rear axle to change the spring, so that you don't stretch/tear them.

 

[petethepug]

RockAuto currently has all the parts you need to make a completely new z55 loaded spring assembly for the front and rear.

It’s one of these two…

More Information for GM GENUINE 19420493

More Information for GM GENUINE 19420490

Add the parts in below less the z95 struts listed …View attachment 454992View attachment 454993

Sent you a pm regarding a few more parts.

 

[OR VietVet]

Welcome to the forum, from Oregon.

I really love my GMT800.

 

[michaelkellett]

RockAuto currently has all the parts you need to make a completely new z55 loaded spring assembly for the front and rear.

I found a local shop that can build up the new fronts using my original springs. If I go this route, do I need to replace the upper strut mounts for any reason? I can't tell if these have rubber bushings in them or not.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=7259292&cc=0&pt=7600&jsn=899

 

[OR VietVet]

I found a local shop that can build up the new fronts using my original springs. If I go this route, do I need to replace the upper strut mounts for any reason? I can't tell if these have rubber bushings in them or not.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=7259292&cc=0&pt=7600&jsn=899

The upper strut mount has bearings in it that turn when you do. Replace them.

 

[petethepug]

Yup, like @OR VietVet mentioned, rubber bearing inside the z55 & z95. Same bushing part # for autoride & magride (below)

 

[mrkev]

The upper strut mount has bearings in it that turn when you do. Replace them.

Hi, I Don't think there are bearings in the shock mounts. Only Struts like Macpherson type have bearings. you should replace them if they seem damaged or collapsed.

 

[OR VietVet]

Hi, I Don't think there are bearings in the shock mounts. Only Struts like Macpherson type have bearings. you should replace them if they seem damaged or collapsed.

If you have front struts with plates at the top, there is some sort of bearing for it to turn, unless it has an upper ball joint. If the bearing is not part of the plate, then there is a separate part. It may be called something other than a bearing but it has to turn somehow at the top.