anw7405 wrote:
intheburbs wrote:
anw7405 wrote:
kevden wrote:
I suggest upgrading the rear suspension with air bags, timbrens, or sumosprings. The suburban will certainly tow without them, but they will make it much more enjoyable.
just a question. Does this just help with absorbing bumps a little better? I don't think the springs need any help on the burb. My tongue weight is probably around 900-1000lbs loaded and the springs seem to be fine.
The springs on a 2500 Burb need no help. No need to replace them with any of those products. A half-ton? Maybe. But not a 3/4 ton. See how flat and level mine is sitting? Stock suspension, 1100-lb tongue, no WD hitch. Perhaps the previous poster needed it because his quadrasteer Burb has more unsprung weight on the rear.
Now, on the other hand, the right shock absorbers will make a big difference. I installed Bilstein 4600s on all 4 corners on my Burb and the difference was like night and day. Wonderful, controlled ride, no porpoising at all.
Did you see a big difference loaded or unloaded with the 4600s? I think all the 8.1's had the autoride right? IMO my autoride sucks.
Biggest difference in ride was when towing heavy. I bought the truck used, and have no idea about how old those shocks were. Lots of bouncing/porpoising when towing. The 4600 shocks just about eliminated it.
anw7405 wrote:
mkirsch wrote:
Too bad GM didn't offer the Suburban with the 8.1 / Allison combination. Having that 5th gear is real nice, though I rarely ever drop below 4th as that puts the engine at maximum torque output at 65MPH.
I don't know if it's true or not but I read somewhere that it takes more torque and hp to turn the Allison than the 4l80. So an Allison would in theory have less hp and torque to the wheels.
The HD pickups got the Allison with the 8.1, but not the Suburbans. Reason was simple - the pickups were lifted and the body could clear the Allison bell housing. The non-lifted Suburbans didn't have the clearance, so the 4L80 was used instead.