Remove Autoride or Rebuild it

[Deephaven]

Just over 100k on my truck, has Tony's 2/3-4 kit on my truck. My shocks are shot. Seems my options are overpay for Monroe replacements, buy a complete Arnott air ride kit or delete the air ride altogether.

Makes me wonder what will give me the 'better' ride. Used quotes since it is subjective I am sure, but wasn't sure what the subjective difference might be either.

Will one allow the truck to turn/handle better than the other and if so is the tradeoff in ride quality a lot?

No matter what I choose at this mileage I'd like to replace/rebuild/refresh all four corners.

 

[Ben]

First ask yourself how long will you have the truck? Will you be selling it anytime soon or plans to get a new ride? I replaced mine with the Arnotts just for that reason so it will be completely stock when I upgrade. However, with my belltech 2-3 I am not running the autoride. The fuse is pulled; I also run helper bags because I tow which I can adjust infinitely.

 

[NORCAL SS]

if you want best and keeping truck id keep autoride

 

[Deephaven]

First ask yourself how long will you have the truck? Will you be selling it anytime soon or plans to get a new ride? I replaced mine with the Arnotts just for that reason so it will be completely stock when I upgrade. However, with my belltech 2-3 I am not running the autoride. The fuse is pulled; I also run helper bags because I tow which I can adjust infinitely.

My truck will be parted out when it gets "sold" and not sold whole. I will probably keep it at least another 5 years as well....maybe longer.

if you want best and keeping truck id keep autoride

Is that a vote for the Arnott kit then? If it handles the best and is the most compliant with the least trade-offs I am more than happy to spend the money. Cutting corners on this pig isn't in my priority list.

 

[emilime75]

Just an FYI, Arnott's front shocks bypass the Autoride system via resistor modules. For the rear, they've got 3 choices...

1. a stock replacement that maintains both Autoride and self leveling, I'm pretty sure that's a Suncore product.
2. A shock that keeps self leveling but bypasses Autoride and
3. Rebuilt OEM shocks that aren't rebuilt, just painted and new air bladders installed. Everything inside the shock is the same old worn out crap that was traded in when someone else bought one of their "completely rebuilt" replacements...what a joke.

In other words, I wouldn't go with Arnott.

I'm assuming you've got an 07+? You can go OEM cheaper than Arnott... Double check to make sure this is the right part http://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-580-451-Original-Equipment-Absorber/dp/B00EDQ19EI

They've got the front struts as well.

 

[Deephaven]

Crap.

Does the autoride actually do something?* I am real close to just going with the Belltechs. Seems I either replace what I have or remove all auto everything.

*I only ask because other sports sedans I've owned/driven with suspension settings don't seem to do anything you can feel

 

[Rocket Man]

Arnott's stuff is quality in my opinion. Lifetime warranty. I have it on my Denali and it rides great with a 3/4 belltech drop (spindles and springs) and DJM shock relocators and endlinks. I did the new compressor and air dryer rebuild kit with all 4 shocks. Very reasonable price for the complete kit. My rears are actually Bilsteins. The only part of the autoride it bypasses is the auto damping part of it which I've heard is the most troublesome. So the front shocks are just shocks and the rear shocks have the autoride self-leveling function. The auto damping supposedly senses cornering forces and adjusts the shocks individually via electronics. I run lowered on 26's and at the same time when I tow or have 7 people in it, the compressor kicks in and raises it up so I don't rub. If I didn't have the autoride working I'd have to use air bladders and manually adjust them. It depends on what you want to do but don't let misinformation guide your decision. I will admit I had trouble with their front bypass resistors which triggered the " service ride control" light so I just soldered in 3.9 ohm wirewound resistors from EBay and now it's all good.