I have a 1994 GMC YUKON 4X4. This is a very nice custom truck, however I
have had back problems and the rough ride of this truck is taking it's toll.
I am now engaged, and I need to do something about this suspension, because
I really hate to get rid of the truck.

I had Monroe Refelx Shocks added and the old shock were shot, would not even
compress. The truck rode good for a while, but have noticed a rougher ride.
I was wondering if it possible for even new shocks to go out in a thousand
miles? I doubt it, but just curious.

The main problem is the suspension is very stiff, the truck jars very hard
on any little bump in the road. I rode in a friends Bronco of the same year,
and even though his suspension was stiff (4X4), it was still smoother than
mine.


Is there anything I can do or look for to smooth out the ride? I do want to
keep the 4X4 capability for winter and flood areas, it helps get through
them.

Could I put softer springs in the truck?

A local custom shop said they could lower the truck 3 inches, and put new
shock and springs on it and it would ride as smooth as a car. 3 Inches is
not that much, and I think $1200 is very reasonable considering the Reflex
shocks cost me $400.

Any help would be appreciated..


--
remove _NOSPAM to Reply

You might consider the Rancho 9000/9000X adjustable shocks. They are 5 or 9 way adjustable and go from very soft ro very firm
depending on the setting. You can set them up with an in-cab controller for fine tuning the ride as you drive.

http://www.gorancho.com/

--
Roger

On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 08:43:41 -0500, "Magnum"
<Magnum164@_NOSPAMComcast.net> wrote:

>I have a 1994 GMC YUKON 4X4. This is a very nice custom truck, however I
>have had back problems and the rough ride of this truck is taking it's toll.
>I am now engaged, and I need to do something about this suspension, because
>I really hate to get rid of the truck.
>
>I had Monroe Refelx Shocks added and the old shock were shot, would not even
>compress. The truck rode good for a while, but have noticed a rougher ride.
>I was wondering if it possible for even new shocks to go out in a thousand
>miles? I doubt it, but just curious.
>

In my experience, new shocks "break in" in the first several hundred
miles and feel a bit softer then they do the very first day.


>The main problem is the suspension is very stiff, the truck jars very hard
>on any little bump in the road. I rode in a friends Bronco of the same year,
>and even though his suspension was stiff (4X4), it was still smoother than
>mine.
>

I think your stiff springs are your main problem. No shock is ever
going to really change that all that much.

>
>Is there anything I can do or look for to smooth out the ride? I do want to
>keep the 4X4 capability for winter and flood areas, it helps get through
>them.
>
>Could I put softer springs in the truck?
>

Yes.

>A local custom shop said they could lower the truck 3 inches, and put new
>shock and springs on it and it would ride as smooth as a car. 3 Inches is
>not that much, and I think $1200 is very reasonable considering the Reflex
>shocks cost me $400.
>

I don't see why they would need to lower it or replace the shocks to
put softer springs on unless there just aren't any softer springs that
can be used as it's currently set up, especially front springs. I'd
ask at a couple more shops.

>Any help would be appreciated..

Thanks for the info Roger. I had computer problems so I am just now back
online.


I considered the Rancho and also the Edelbrock.

I may switch springs and shocks all together.


"Roger Brown" <r.c.brown@ieee.org> wrote in message
news:3F1A03F1.1E0B582C@ieee.org...
> You might consider the Rancho 9000/9000X adjustable shocks. They are 5 or
9 way adjustable and go from very soft ro very firm
> depending on the setting. You can set them up with an in-cab controller
for fine tuning the ride as you drive.
>
> http://www.gorancho.com/
>
> --
> Roger

>
>
> In my experience, new shocks "break in" in the first several hundred
> miles and feel a bit softer then they do the very first day.
>

I have about 2000 miles on these shocks, I put them on before a a couple of
400 mile trips to Florida. I did have someone tell me that I may be noticing
the difference becasue I had the shocks put on when it was cooler, and the
hotter temperatures could be affecting the shock material causing them to
behave a little stiffer.

>
> >The main problem is the suspension is very stiff, the truck jars very
hard
> >on any little bump in the road. I rode in a friends Bronco of the same
year,
> >and even though his suspension was stiff (4X4), it was still smoother
than
> >mine.
> >
>
> I think your stiff springs are your main problem. No shock is ever
> going to really change that all that much.
>

I agree, I just couldn't remember if any other components on a 4x4 would
also effect it.


> >
> >Is there anything I can do or look for to smooth out the ride? I do want
to
> >keep the 4X4 capability for winter and flood areas, it helps get through
> >them.

<SNIP>

> I don't see why they would need to lower it or replace the shocks to
> put softer springs on unless there just aren't any softer springs that
> can be used as it's currently set up, especially front springs. I'd
> ask at a couple more shops.
>

Oops. Should have given a little more info there. The main reason for
lowering it was to eliminate some back problems climing in and out. Lowering
it 3" would still leave plenty of ground clearance, level the truck and with
steps allow me and my new wife to be to get in easier -)

But, if I can get softer springs then I may not have to worry about lowering
it, which I really don't want to do, since I like riding higher than
everyone else-)

I'll find a few shops that customize, if I can find the softer springs
myself, I can install them myself with the help of some friends.

Thanks for the info.


> >Any help would be appreciated..
>

What air pressure are you running? You can typically go down a few lbs
all around with no problems. And if they are LT type tires they will
ride rougher than P type ... regardless, you could probably find a
more compliant tire.

I have the P type set at 35PSI where the MAX is 44PSI.




"Markeau" <please_reply@news.group> wrote in message
news:1sKdnRAEAZsqWLSiXTWJkQ@giganews.com...
> What air pressure are you running? You can typically go down a few lbs
> all around with no problems. And if they are LT type tires they will
> ride rougher than P type ... regardless, you could probably find a
> more compliant tire.
>

I guess I should have asked the size, too. I've been mucking with
tire pressures since 71 ... to me tires are the #1 most adjustable
thing that can significantly improve (or degrade) ride and handling.
My strategy has been to buy high quality, high performance tires which
I believe can tolerate running a few less psi without any problems.

Of course our vehicles are different, but since you said you had P
tires then that puts us in a similar league even though our vehicles
are way different. My 01 Tahoe came with P265/70-16 Firestone
Wilderness AT on 16x7 alloys. At the gm recommended pressure of 35lbs
they rode nice but were sloppy feeling. I replaced them with Pirelli
Scorpion Zero 285/65-16H (116 load index which is slightly higher than
my suv needs, 44psi max) which were identical in height to stock.
After experimenting starting at 35, I found them to ride and perform
best at 30lbs all around, any higher and they would get jittery/bouncy
on the rough roads on which I travel a lot. They were great for 3
years, wore fine, and looked and handled fantasticly wet or day.

However, I just replaced them with Yokohama AVS S/T 285/70-16H (116
load index, 44psi max) and after experimenting with them starting at
35, I have again found 30lbs all around to be best so far. And, there
is no tire flop/roll in turns (some cheaper/less well constructed tire
sidewalls might not take it though). I have done similarly with over
15 other cars and suv's with similar results. Overall, the only tires
that have blown out or disintegrated on me were factory tires running
at factory pressures.

So basically, if the tires were well constructed I would go down 2lbs
all around to start, test, then maybe go down another 2. But if
towing or carrying large loads I would probably pump back up to 35.

fwiw this is a pretty good site on tires:
http://4crawler.cruiserpages.com/Diesel/Tires.shtml#SIDEWALL

"Magnum" <Magnum164@_NOSPAMComcast.net> wrote in message
news:_NGdnUY_wpYRtbGiXTWJkA@comcast.com
> I have the P type set at 35PSI where the MAX is 44PSI.
>
> "Markeau" <please_reply@news.group> wrote in message
> news:1sKdnRAEAZsqWLSiXTWJkQ@giganews.com...
>> What air pressure are you running? You can typically go down a few
>> lbs all around with no problems. And if they are LT type tires
they
>> will ride rougher than P type ... regardless, you could probably
>> find a more compliant tire.

Just thought I would send a rply.

Turns out whoever owned the truck before me had the Torsion bars cranked to
tight. At the advice of a local 4x4 shop I turned them down and the truck
now rides as smooth as the newer trucks. A little spongier than before, but
not the teeth shattering jarring it was before.


"Magnum" <Magnum164@_NOSPAMComcast.net> wrote in message
news:RzWdncviGO5m14SiXTWJhw@comcast.com...
> I have a 1994 GMC YUKON 4X4. This is a very nice custom truck, however I
> have had back problems and the rough ride of this truck is taking it's
toll.
> I am now engaged, and I need to do something about this suspension,
because
> I really hate to get rid of the truck.
>
> I had Monroe Refelx Shocks added and the old shock were shot, would not
even
> compress. The truck rode good for a while, but have noticed a rougher
ride.
> I was wondering if it possible for even new shocks to go out in a thousand
> miles? I doubt it, but just curious.
>
> The main problem is the suspension is very stiff, the truck jars very hard
> on any little bump in the road. I rode in a friends Bronco of the same
year,
> and even though his suspension was stiff (4X4), it was still smoother than
> mine.
>
>
> Is there anything I can do or look for to smooth out the ride? I do want
to
> keep the 4X4 capability for winter and flood areas, it helps get through
> them.
>
> Could I put softer springs in the truck?
>
> A local custom shop said they could lower the truck 3 inches, and put new
> shock and springs on it and it would ride as smooth as a car. 3 Inches is
> not that much, and I think $1200 is very reasonable considering the Reflex
> shocks cost me $400.
>
> Any help would be appreciated..
>
>
> --
> remove _NOSPAM to Reply
>
>