Police Tahoe suspension/shocks

[dkwilson16]

I've searched around a lot of threads and am trying to figure out what to do about my police Tahoe's ride quality. Basically when I ride over any type of bump, the whole car bangs like it's falling off a cliff- pretty miserable. Finally I told myself I'd do something about it. I do have 24"s, which of course makes the ride worse, but this is so abnormally bumpy that you get thrown around inside if it's too big of a bump, so I think it's more than just the rims.

I read where my shocks/struts are some kind of electric kind, part #40047 for the front and #40050 for the back, which are pretty expensive. Even on RockAuto I'm looking at close to $1200 for parts.

I was wondering if these are my only option here, or can I go with a different style or brand that may save me some money? I read someone on here say going with Bilstein HD's instead- is this an option, and if so, what would the part # for these be? Or, with this amount of money could I remove the police drop (whatever this is) and go back to stock, or the opposite way (level up for 33"s)? Just trying to get my options here before I drop $1200 plus install price if I don't do it myself.

Thanks ahead of time.

 

[dkwilson16]

Dahhh, guys?

 

[CrashTestDummy]

I'm doubting the electronic shock bit. What year PPV do you have?

 

[dkwilson16]

I'm doubting the electronic shock bit. What year PPV do you have?

2007

Weird... just noticed your 'location'. I live in Midtown Houston and we are building a house in Pearland right now.

 

[04BUCKET]

I WISH MORE GUYS WOULD CHIME IN ON THIS....I JUST BOUGHT AN 08 PPV...THINKING ABOUT SUSPENSION OPTIONS AS WELL...

 

[992dr]

You don't have electronic suspension.

If you're bouncing all around sounds like your shocks are gone.

Did you see my response in the Tahoe PPV (police package) thread?

Regardless, the wheels n tires are going to have an effect on your ride.


04Bucket,

What options are you looking for? What do you want to change?

 

[massivespl]

Yea how many miles are on your truck. Should replace shocks/struts every 75,000-100,000 miles... My buddy has a 2011 police Tahoe and it drives like its on rails. Alittle harsh over bumps but that's expected because it's the lowered police suspension compared to like a Tahoe Ltz or Yukon Denali

 

[FatboyCustoms]

I need help here also guys. I just bought an 07 state patrol Tahoe. I'm wanting to do 22's I found a kit that has 2" spindles in the front and 4" could in the rear so I wondered if that would give me an even 4 n 4. I don't know what the factory drop on a police package is. I called summit racing and they were no help.

 

[992dr]

dk,
Remove the jounce pads and do the free travel mod
I think a lot of the harshness comes from the jounce pads.


Fatboy,
PPVs have a 2" drop all around. Going with spindles and rear coils would get you to a 4/4 drop.
I'd get in touch with Tony in regards to wheel/tire fitment with what drop. He's the man fo sho.

 

[Chip18]

Hmm ... "Check Book" modding can get "Expensive" quick and you can find yourself struggling to get back to where you were ... if things don't work out so well.

Big wheel and tires with short stiff sidewalls ... yeah it's gonna ride hard ... but from what you describe ... that does not sound like the problem??

I think it sounds like "992dr" nailed it. The "Free Travel Mod" if the rear axle is "banging into the frame" on bumps ... your gonna have ... problems.

A couple of ways to figure out if that's the problem?? A "sensible approach" would be to use "Duct Tape" over the bump stop in the rear and drive around ... get home and check the tape if it's scuffed up ... your axle is riding the bump stops.

My approach ... not recommended, is to banazi a corner with a known bad bump! When the back end hits it ... if the rear suspension travel gets "abruptly halted" the back end will move over "unexpectedly" a foot or so and you have a new line out the corner ... again not recommend.

And the tires and rims .. if you have a buddy with smaller rims tires ... you could ask to try them out on your vehicle ... then you'd have a better understanding of what your rims choice is "contributing to the problem.

I have no idea what the "Spring Rate" is on the "PPV???" But if they are the 300 inch pound or more?? They are going to ride pretty hard???

Changing to a softer spring and the "Free Travel Mod" maybe all you need?? Springs and Shocks determine "Ride Quality." They control the wheel, Sway Bars control "Transient Response" and short stiff sideways help to make changes of direction even quicker.


You can go with big sway bars and softer shocks and springs and have a vehicle that turns and ride well or smaller sway bars and stiffer springs and shocks and have a vehicle that handles well or go hog wild and do both!

And I'm not sure of "Coil Over" Prices on these things?? "SUV's" new to the game here, but 2.5 inch coilovers from "Hyper Coil" can be any spring or length you want!

Our new to us "2004" Denali has "Autoride" and I want to keep it. My better half has grown pretty tired of me constantly "screwing up our rides!"

She's not even happy with the Eibach'ed "PT Cruiser" ... not as low as they can get .. but yeah pretty low. So now I have to put "Ride Quality" higher up on my things to keep list. But I like the "PPV's" so getting there with the "Auto Ride" setup will be my goal.

Just my two cents.