New shocks or something else?

[kbreudi]

Greetings!

I just purchased my 2005 Yukon XL Denali (with auto-ride ) a couple months ago, I am the third owner with 152k on the dash. I have been fixing the little things that I noticed needed to be done and now its time for me to look into the suspension. Since day one I noticed a rough ride, but only when going over bumps/uneven roads. It feels like the suspension is not absorbing the shock like it should. Some larger bumps I can actually feel and hear the gas and break petal assembly vibrate and all the interior plastic panels rattle as me and the passengers are jolted in our seats.. I do not have a service suspension indication or any trouble codes on the dash. So my question is what is most likely the culprit? Since I am the third owner I am unsure what has been replaced. What color/brand are the factory shocks so maybe I can see if there still original? The rubber bladder around the top does not have any air in it, im not sure if this is just a dust boot or the actual air bag? The compressor kicks on every time I cycle the ignition for about 5 seconds. The steering seems tight and no vibration or pull when driving. No rattles or clunking when driving either.

There have been 2 instances were something very odd occurred. I was driving on the highway around 70 mph. All of a sudden the truck started to vibrate in the rear acting like I had a flat tire. I drove for about 5 miles and it didn't get worse or better. Then when I go to slow down and full off the highway it stops. This has happened twice and both times it comes and goes for no reason.

So my main question is, can these "auto dampening shocks" create this bad ride when they go bad and NOT pop out a trouble code or service suspension message?

Thanks for the help!

 

[NathanJax]

Greetings!

I just purchased my 2005 Yukon XL Denali (with auto-ride ) a couple months ago, I am the third owner with 152k on the dash. I have been fixing the little things that I noticed needed to be done and now its time for me to look into the suspension. Since day one I noticed a rough ride, but only when going over bumps/uneven roads. It feels like the suspension is not absorbing the shock like it should. Some larger bumps I can actually feel and hear the gas and break petal assembly vibrate and all the interior plastic panels rattle as me and the passengers are jolted in our seats.. I do not have a service suspension indication or any trouble codes on the dash. So my question is what is most likely the culprit? Since I am the third owner I am unsure what has been replaced. What color/brand are the factory shocks so maybe I can see if there still original? The rubber bladder around the top does not have any air in it, im not sure if this is just a dust boot or the actual air bag? The compressor kicks on every time I cycle the ignition for about 5 seconds. The steering seems tight and no vibration or pull when driving. No rattles or clunking when driving either.!

this stuff did not cause this

There have been 2 instances were something very odd occurred. I was driving on the highway around 70 mph. All of a sudden the truck started to vibrate in the rear acting like I had a flat tire. I drove for about 5 miles and it didn't get worse or better. Then when I go to slow down and full off the highway it stops. This has happened twice and both times it comes and goes for no reason.

Suspension problems would be a constant thing and not something that comes on fast and goes away like that. Can we have a pick of the truck? Is the back higher than the front? With 152,000 you should have new-ish shocks.

 

[kbreudi]

this stuff did not cause this




Suspension problems would be a constant thing and not something that comes on fast and goes away like that. Can we have a pick of the truck? Is the back higher than the front? With 152,000 you should have new-ish shocks.

True, how ever i was thinking that since the suspension has "variable shock dampening" that if a sensor or controler or shock electrical componanet was going bad is would cause the ride do what I described.

I will get a picture, but in the mean time the rear sits about 2 inches higher than the front.

 

[kbreudi]

As requested here are pics of the truck with a half tank of gas and no cargo in the rear.

Also took some close up's of the rear shocks. Do these look to be original?

Is the rubber boot in the middle the air bladder? Should it have pressure?

 

[kbreudi]

Anyone have an idea of what the problem could be?

 

[NORCAL SS]

looks like rear shock is gone the bladder

 

[kbreudi]

Yea I figured that was the case. Any one have information on how long the factory compressor and height sensors / controller usually last? I don't want to spend $1000 on new factory shocks all the way around and then a year later the compressor and other electronics take a dumb.

Is it worth going aftermarket suspension and eliminating the factory autoride at this point?

This is my daily driver as well an occasional tow vehicle for heavy loads.

 

[NORCAL SS]

it could last a year or go out tomm. thats the thing also if you tow its no problem with my kit. I designed the rear springs linear so you can use helper bags and like others have shown on this forum my kit tows fine.

 

[apsoto]

I'm original owner of my 2002 Denali XL. I've felt similar rough ride issues for a while and I have 200K miles on it with the original shocks, etc. Never done any suspension work.


I've taken it to a shop to diagnose the problem, but they couldn't find anything wrong.

However, as the original owner, I know the ride is not as 'nice' or 'soft' as it used to be. It used to eat up rough roads easily, now I feel and hear a lot more as I go over rough patches of road.

Most of the roughness of the ride is up front, but as another data point, the compressor no longer turns on anymore.

Anyone else have thoughts on how to diagnose a harsher ride quality? Since the vehicle has so many miles (200k), something likely needs replacing, but I'd like to diagnose rather than just replace parts as the shocks are pretty pricey.

Thanks

 

[TheAutumnWind]

I'm original owner of my 2002 Denali XL. I've felt similar rough ride issues for a while and I have 200K miles on it with the original shocks, etc. Never done any suspension work.


I've taken it to a shop to diagnose the problem, but they couldn't find anything wrong.

However, as the original owner, I know the ride is not as 'nice' or 'soft' as it used to be. It used to eat up rough roads easily, now I feel and hear a lot more as I go over rough patches of road.

Most of the roughness of the ride is up front, but as another data point, the compressor no longer turns on anymore.

Anyone else have thoughts on how to diagnose a harsher ride quality? Since the vehicle has so many miles (200k), something likely needs replacing, but I'd like to diagnose rather than just replace parts as the shocks are pretty pricey.

Thanks

I am @ 185k, and planning on deleting air ride altogether. Standard Bilstein shocks are ~$70 a pop, and the air ride shocks are significantly more, not to mention the likelihood of a bad compressor (in my case it never turns on), and old air lines, or who knows what else @ this point. I expect a huge improvement in ride and handling.