I'm considering changing shocks on my truck. My 2015 Chevy 4x4 Z71 rides harsh. I get too much feedback from the road. It may be the stock shocks are just too stiff.
Any shock suggestions?

I like the Bilsteins that I put on my Ram a couple years ago. They're actually a little stiffer than the whimpy factory shocks, but do a much better job soaking up the hits.

On my Dodge Ram, if I run the tires at max air pressure, it rides like a buckboard. Lowering the tire pressure 15 or so pounds helps quite a bit. Different shocks may help also.

That's a good point. There's a vast difference in ride quality in my empty 2500 between the max pressure at 60/70 psi (front/rear) and my "comfort" pressure of about 50/45.

How aggressive is the tire tread?

My old Ford rides and tracks a lot smoother when it has a few hundred pounds of weight in the back. And as stated tire pressure can make a big difference.

quote:

How aggressive is the tire tread?

The tires are more like street tires. The shocks I think are Rancho 42mm piston

+1 on the Bilsteins

I also run bilstien on my f250. Seems to ride a little rougher than the stock ones did but recovers fast from a hard hit. Which is every road here in Michigan.
Don

My 2500HD Duramax came with Bilsteins. I replaced them with Bilsteins at about 250,000. I watch tread wear and get my best ride with reduced air pressure.

I had similar problems to yours but found one change that had two positive elements resulting in a satisfactory ride. I changed tires. First, I went up one aspect ratio which gave me a higher and consequentially softer sidewall allowing for more flex and secondly, I purchased "softer sidewall" tires at the same time. Michelin is noted for this and the results of the two factors were enough to avoid further changes. Good luck...

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Originally posted by eddiel4:
First, I went up one aspect ratio which gave me a higher and consequentially softer sidewall allowing for more flex and secondly, I purchased "softer sidewall" tires at the same time. Michelin is noted for this and the results of the two factors were enough to avoid further changes. Good luck...

I did something similar earlier this year with the same results.

To fix the stock suspension on my 4Runner, I swapped all the shocks out with Bilstein 5100's (which are amazing) and took the tires up an aspect ratio (65 to 70 series) and used a lighter load range. With truck tires, people sometimes get carried away with toughness when it's not necessary. I don't haul much or tow anything, so it wasn't necessary for E load rated LT tires. Ride is much, much more supple and controlled now.

I have Bilsteins on my Ford Ranger supercab my only complaint is the soft rubber bushings that tend to self destruct in a couple years..

Rancho and Energy suspension both sell replacement "Hourglass" shaped bushings in urethane that hold up much better....

Given a choice in high end European shocks I'd rather have Koni's, because on any of the vehicles I've run both on, it was my impression that the bilsteins were too firm on jounce but a bit too soft on rebound...

This means the Edid a better job of keeping the suspension from shoving a tire down into a hole that the shock would then resist the tire coming back out of...

Basically Konis rode better in rough conditions...

This is from back to back comparison on basically identical Eurpoean performance sedans.

Unfortunatly for my truck the Konis are LONG discontinued...

I was sure this was a Dodge thread, before I opened it

Jason P, Same as I did. The Dodge is the only truck that I have ridden in that can knock your teeth out drinking a brewski on smooth pavement.

I have been driving a '91 Dodge deisel 4x4 for 25 years and have trouble understanding when people call any other truck rough riding. Regards, Bill

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Originally posted by Bill Leeper:
I have been driving a '91 Dodge deisel 4x4 for 25 years and have trouble understanding when people call any other truck rough riding. Regards, Bill

Because you have been driving a dodge for 25 years and do not know what you are missing just kidding

Bill knows rough riding. You can lower tire pressure, install worn out shocks, install softer springs, and a Dodge will still knock your teeth out drinking a beer.

You whimps Need to put a little weight in that Dodge. Then it rides like a Cadillac.

And I guess it still gets 30MPG?

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Originally posted by butchlambert:
And I guess it still gets 30MPG?

A steady 12 MPG with the stock 12 valve diesel and almost 2,000 pounds over GVW. I've beefed up the suspension. I plan on upgrading the brakes and hopping up the motor a bit this year.

131,000 miles. Just did 8,305 miles over 8 weeks this summer.

Cheers
Jim