What is the best but cheapest way to upgrade the suspension on my truck? I am getting those bouncy rides, and I feel like a bobblehead. Truck bounces like it has hydraulics.
Also, been having play issues still in my Jimmy, had to replace idler arm after I bought it. I just want a smoother ride with better handling!
Also, what is the best performance upgrade for better gas mileage I can do for my truck. I am a diy'er and I want to best for my vehicle that also wont break the bank.
Hey Molson! It's me, Kat!!!
Hi Kat, glad to see your taking good care of your Jimmy. I am using
http://www.monroe.com/products/reflex_default.asp Truck shocks on my Jimmy and the mono reflex shocks on my dad's Yukon. There about the same but i find the truck shock reflex are much more firm link in a Camaro or Vette. Great going around corners with much smaller body roll then the original gas shocks that came with the Jimmy.
You should also think about replacing the front and rear sway bar end link with a Polyurethane bushings and sway bar bushings also.
http://www.energysuspension.com/. This should help you with your bouncing issues you have mentioned. I had the same issues when i would carry friends and family on board with the speaker box in the back, now with the reflex, sway bar bushings and end link replaced. That has gone away and i can go around corners feeling much better that the Jimmy does not lean like is used to.
The tires i am running on the stock 15 inch rims are 255/60-15 and the ones i am running in the summer is the 16 inch 1986 Iroc rims 245/50-15. This way i don't have to get the front end realigned every time i change my rims.
The with of the tires from the stock size will also make a difference in the way the Jimmy handles also and when they replaced your Idler arm, do you know if they placed it back in the same spot and readjusted it to make sure the Track rod is leveled when the Jimmy is on the ground with the wheels pointed straight. It's been a while now so i don't think the garage that did the work will readjust it for you now and you might as well have the front end realigned to get address the issues your having, but bring it to another garage that knows what they are doing and if your not happy with the alignment. Bring it right back to them to make any minor adjustments to your steering components.
As for your gas mileage issues, if your do most of your driving around town. There is not much you can do, the first gear on the 4L60E is very low. The best place where your going to get the best mileage will be out on the highway. I am getting an average 22mpg on the highway running at 72 MPH. I have added a K&N air filter with the stock air filter intake box modified, simply take the stock intake box out (held on by 1 bolt) and then cut out the front intake side of the box where the restrictive tube is located, but make sure you don't cut to high where the filter sits on the lip of the filter box. This will get you better air flow in to your intake and HP.
Also go with a good Cat-back system like
http://www.magnaflow.com/ or
http://www.dynomax.com/ which is less expensive as the Magnaflow. After your done with the intake and exhaust modification. Turn to your PCM and have it reprogrammed with a tuner at a garage. You can buy tuners your self but if your not a tuner junky like me, just find a garage that can tune your Jimmy's PCM for better economy and performance.
http://www.pcmforless.com/ is one of the betters places that can tune your PCM for you and they can make any changes you may need thought out the duration of your Jimmy's life.
Good luck and start with the reflex shocks, (good for life), the sway bar end links and swat bar bushings. Might as well see if you can get the front end realigned the same time so you only pay in labor once
. Then you can work on your intake air filter box and modify that your self and replace your air filter with K&N if you like or just keep the paper filter you have. Then save up more money and work on the exhaust and programing your Jimmy's pcm the same time.
Good luck and please keep in touch, and did you install and band pass bass box in the back of your Jimmy like is did on mine for the added bass???
