Rough Ride! Bilstein 5100 and KO2 help

[clamport]

Hello Everyone!

 

So I drive a 2018 Silverado double cab which is currently sitting on Bilstein 5100’s (top setting) and BF Goodrich KO2’s load range C (285/70r17) and the ride is very very rough. Potholes and bumpy roads are absolutely jarring to the point where I can see my bed shaking. Now my question is where to I start in terms of finding a solution? Tires or shocks? Haha I went with load range C on the KO2’s since they were 6 ply as opposed to 10 ply on the load range E. I know a truck is supposed to ride like a truck, but this is a little much... any help is appreciated!

 

Thank You!

[Snowcamo]

Been saying this and catching flak for it. Dudes should stop recommending bils as a comfy solution. They just dont pogo like factory struts and shocks.

Only thing I will suggest is lengthy ride time more bumps on the road the better. They need break in time. Mine were stiff af till I drove hour long drives on crappy roads. Still a bit stiff but meh screw it. Nothing not air pressure or tires( unless P rated) will cure that.[emoji17]

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[amxguy1970]

^ This. They stop the pogo on large bumps but aren't rough road smooth, especially when you put them on the top setting. You did right by skipping the E-rated tires which many do then complain, but those tires in general aren't smooth riding and combined with the the top setting make it rougher than stock. You can always lower it down a setting or two. I set mine at 1.25, stiffer than before but not horrible, then again I am on a -rated tire.

 

Tyler

[2kwik4u]

Agreed. I have the 5100's and Load Range D KO2's on my 2015 quad-cab short bed 1500 Sierra

 

The 5100's were NOT an upgrade from the Ranchos that came on the truck. They are over damped on high shaft speed (square edge bumps), and on the edge of under damped for low shaft speed (large whoops and dips) conditions. VERY similar to the Ranchos as best I can tell. They're silver and look nice, so I guess that's worth something.

 

The KO2's are HEAVY tires with STIFF sidewalls. They are both too heavy (unsprung weight) for the shocks to accurately control, and too stiff to give the ride any compliance, or feeling of comfort. I'll be moving to Continentals this fall (even derated "P" tires will carry enough load to exceed the axle ratings of the truck). If that doesn't smooth the ride a bit, then I'll be donating the 5100's to whomever wants them, and going with some sort of adjustable coilover/bagover setup.

 

I get it's a truck, it's not supposed to ride like luxury comfort sedan, but WOW is the ride bad in this configuration.

Edited April 9, 2020 by 2kwik4u

[Snowcamo]

Ride so bad...

 

If a guy came from ford or dodge and put them on he'd sell the chevy...[emoji23]

 

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[truckguy82]

put 2k lbs in the bed, it rides like a dream

 

figure the rear axle is 2k lbs unloaded and 4k lbs max load. Lol at the engineers designing a leaf spring suspension to perform well at both weights in that range. It’s impossible.

 

the only way to make the trucks comfy is to reduce the spring rate.

 

If i felt like spending more money I’d simply replace the rear leafs and add airbags. Surprisingly curved metal sticks aren’t cheap.

Edited April 9, 2020 by truckguy82

[Snowcamo]

Idk ferd and doge seem to have it figured...

[2018GMC]

Hello Everyone!
 
So I drive a 2018 Silverado double cab which is currently sitting on Bilstein 5100’s (top setting) and BF Goodrich KO2’s load range C (285/70r17) and the ride is very very rough. Potholes and bumpy roads are absolutely jarring to the point where I can see my bed shaking. Now my question is where to I start in terms of finding a solution? Tires or shocks? Haha I went with load range C on the KO2’s since they were 6 ply as opposed to 10 ply on the load range E. I know a truck is supposed to ride like a truck, but this is a little much... any help is appreciated!
 
Thank You!

What air pressure you running?


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[truckguy82]

29 minutes ago, Snowcamo said:

Idk ferd and doge seem to have it figured...

Dodge has airbags...

[2kwik4u]

28 minutes ago, Snowcamo said:

Idk ferd and doge seem to have it figured...

Dodge gave up and went coils awhile back. Ferd still has the metal sticks though.

 

Read a story years ago.....like early '00's.....was a review on the big 3's latest pickups. The comment that stuck with me was that the Ford rode the best unloaded and the GM rode the best loaded. Ram was consistently in the middle. Seems like it still holds true.

 

My truck does ride considerably better when loaded, either cargo or trailer.

[Snowcamo]

Agreed guys load er up eh! Lmfao

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[truckguy82]

You’d think a truck, with the same frame and suspension from 1999-2018, which represents a solid 5% of all vehicles sold in north america, would have some sort of cost effective aftermarket solution for a better ride.

 

but nope

[lovecars]

On 4/9/2020 at 1:38 PM, truckguy82 said:

Dodge has airbags...

And regular coil springs

Edited April 10, 2020 by lovecars
repeated someone's message

[typ0]

I also have a 18 double cab (Z71). It came with 20" low profile SRA's. I took them off before the truck had 4k miles. I was pissed at myself for buying a truck with low profiles wheels, but they do look pretty. I now have the factory 17" rims on it.

 

You're still using factory springs with factory wheel travel and an after market shock manufacturer has to work with those. Everything is a trade off. As someone posted already, it's hard to get a truck to ride the same empty and loaded. Just need to find the setup where the trade offs least effect you and how you use your truck. But if you only change the shocks, it limits what the end result can be.

 

I don't mind the stiffer ride from 5100's for the benefits I get. I usually have 3-400 lbs of stuff in the bed too. I didn't like the ride from the factory, it didn't work for me where I drive. I don't want to spend the money on new springs so I made due with the springs I have. Made sense for me. But I'm on the second from top setting and I'm not using BFG KO's either. I run Mickey Thompson ATZ P3's in the same size you are. I think they ride better on the highway than the low profile SRA's I had before, they were hard.

 

What air pressure you running? With my regular load I'm usually at around 40psi with the ATZs. I just had the tires rotated and with over 11k miles they said there wasn't enough wear to measure. So I'm staying with 40. I ran BFG AT's (pre KO) for many years. I never ran them at the factory recommend pressure because of the stiff ride. I had them on a full size Cherokee and usually ran 33-35 psi.

[Bikemobile]

2017 GMC Sierra Crewcab 4x4 5.3 non-z71. 
 

Is anyone running the 5100’s on the 3rd from the top setting? 
 

I’m thinking about this setting for a few reasons: 

 

1. I have stock size 275/55-20 Falken wildpeaks on. I got 55’sseries because they were rated for more weight than the 60 series. 55’s are 6 ply vs 4 ply on the 60’s. They look a tad bit puny. 

 

2. I tow a 6000 pound travel trailer a few times per year. This trailer squats the truck 2-3 inches with a WDH. So I would like to see this thing level when completely loaded. 
 

3. The non-z71 rides like a cadillac. I would like to prevent the rancho ride. Ive driven 2 k2xx trucks on factory ranchos and they ride like ******. 
 

So, anybody running their 5100’s on the second setting? I’m considering the 3rd setting also but I’m not trying to get a big lift just a little lift and better control when towing. 

Edited April 20, 2020 by Bikemobile