Here's Why You NEVER MESS WITH Your FACTORY INSTALLED SHOCKS!!

[@troyhuntley1]

I have a White 2004 GMC Yukon XL that I have owned since 2008. The Nivomats worked great for a long time. Two weeks ago I replaced all shocks/springs with the Bilstein 5100. The truck ride is stiffer but I like the ride. In addition to the shocks/springs I also replaced every component of the front and rear suspension, including brake pads/rotors/calipers. Had a problem with death wobble, that problem is gone. A little more about the Truck; has 240,000 miles and it has spent most of its life in Arizona. Transmission was rebuilt last year and the engine still purrs like a kitten. This is a forever truck for me, my son has had the truck for the last couple of years. Not sure if he will want to keep or return to me. Watch all your videos, nice to compare notes and see what your working on. Cheers

[@rocketcityfourxfour]

My Expedition came with them when I bought it with a little over 90k miles. They were blown. Driving at night, my headlights didn’t seem to work because the back was sagging so the headlights were pointed up. But after a few miles the Nivomats would level it back out and I could see. I replaced them with Bilstein 5100s because the Nivomats clunked bad over bumps- and they leaked down when parked. I’ve got nearly 100k miles on the 5100s and I am thinking they need to be freshened up.

[@jeffstallman9407]

Nivomats rock. I switched to bilsteins shocks and springs on my 04 Tahoe due shocks age and watching vids that declared save your money, buy Bilsteins. Big mistake. Simply hauling 400- 500 lbs in mulch, my truck looks like its popping a wheelie now. Before, i could pull a trailored bobcat and 6 fat guys, Nivomats kept height near factory. Unless your lifting your Tahoe with autoride suspension 2+ inches, stay with factory Nivomats, worth every penny spent

[@Alex-d8p3i]

We talked about this in my auto tech school. We even watched a presentation on them. Pretty cool

[@jewllake]

I think once you stop and the shock is not oscillating, they bleed down some. Also perhaps, like you said, maybe they are not expected to go to the empty weight ride height, but a level ride while preventing bottoming out. I'm still rocking my stock Nivomats on my short wheel base 4x4 yukon from 2006. I don't have the flares but with 275 70 17 tires the rear sits at like 37" from the ground to the bottom of the wheel opening.

[@zoefaith120]

Now, I am thinking about what shocks I got on mine 1992 s10 2wd. Base can short bed. I don't tow with the truck. But I I may get under the truck and see what under there.

[@chuckyfreebirdking8709]

I have a 01 Tahoe and just this past weekend I swapped out my Nivomat shocks and stock springs for Moog 81069 springs and Bilstein 5100 shocks, I haven't hooked up any trailers yet but it seem to ride softer.

[@BushcraftQuebec]

Ram 1500 owner here :) I got the 1 inch raise ;) rear suspension 5100 :)

[@botting_made_ez]

So when the truck is unloaded we could pop the old spring right now or do we need to take the shock off first?

[@happygarage6310]

Perhaps the old nivomat shocks are worn. There are valving and gas accumulators that could fail and not necessarily give a ride quality concern, but the pumping action no longer takes place. Not much tongue weight to that trailer, so according to how the shocks should work and their specs, theoretically, they should have gotten back to unladen ride height.

[@theoutsider8024]

Great video, What is the parts number for the front and rear aftermarket shocks? My 2005 suburban has those big shocks can't find them, I like to try some aftermarket ones, thanks

[@johnhutchison9782]

Anything to be out of the house for the day.😂

[@thebitesbetween]

lol, right?

[@alfs8]

I think what they meant is they have a mechanism that the inside valving can pump up back to prevent further sagging in the rear end under the heavy load working condition, to my point of view, it compensats or jacks up on both the compression & rebound and proportionate to the loads.

[@dcfgarage]

Very scientific test! I love it!😂

[@ED-ti5tc]

I love my Bilstins on my 98 k1500. Which you like the best out of the 2.

[@1RoadGarage]

My favorite shocks are the Bilstein 4600 (the blue and yellow ones). Have them on all three of my vehicles.

[@jkash56]

I just bought and received the 4600 for my 04 Tahoe z71 4x4 but I’m thinking I made a mistake, stock height currently but I’m starting to think I made the mistake because now I want to put leveling keys and have the adjustable 5100 to level only the front to match it. Probably not a good idea to use shock extenders right? I am still in the return window for the 4600’s. I don’t absolutely need to level it but do you think I should go through all that and get the 5100’s? Can you level the front with 4600’s? I don’t tow at all and mainly used as a freeway commuter to work

[@ED-ti5tc]

@@jkash56 Honestly don't know. Better reach out to the pro's. My 98 is in stock form.

[@jackpitts5561]

The Niovmat shocks were stopped for a reason, and probably that reason is they don't hold up well. If you have a vehicle, for instance, that only gets ridden half the year and spends some time sitting, I've heard the Nivomats fail under that condition, as perhaps they need to be constantly charged to work. This could be why no OEMs use them anymore? In your case, your Nivomats sat for 5 years, so my guess is the pumping action doesn't work anymore, as there's probably a fluid or gas malfunction (leaked out at some point, perhaps software got brittle without being primed?). Hard to say, without doing an INTENSE study of how they were made. But I've heard at least TWO stories of the Nivomats no longer working, specifically in instances where car wasn't used often-enough. You're probably better off going back to the other non-factory shocks. They probably aren't optimum for your ride, but at least they were made without consideration for load-levelling and also weigh less.

[@amramjad888]

I have yoken denali 2005 i want to change the air susp to the regular one ( black one ) so need to change springs!?? Springs size for denali it will be deferent size ?

[@aaronyork6173]

I have a 2003 suburban LS with the same shocks i had to replace them a few years ago they were $300 a piece off of Amazon the chevy dealership wanted $600 a piece.

[@1RoadGarage]

What is your impression of the new shocks? Are they the same ‘Sachs’ brand?

[@jewllake]

what was the need for replacement? Leaking, bouncy ride?

[@ElCalla0]

Can you put the link might need to replace mine

[@aaronyork6173]

@1RoadGarage yes they are sachs brand and I think the truck rides great I don't tow alot and when I do it's just a motorcycle trailer so it's not that heavy.

[@andreasboe4509]

I had a similar system on a Ford Mondeo without really knowing what it was. When one of the shocks were shot I exchanged them with a high quality brand shock intended for the same car model, and the car sat lower when I loaded it up. I should have used OEMs instead.

[@saultube44]

SumoSprings/SuperSprings & Sorbothane Patches comes to mind

[@JG-yd8so]

At what mileage / age did you replace rear OE shocks and coil springs? OE shocks lifetime is about 30K miles.

[@alejandrotudonmanriquez7702]

What tire size do you have on the 03 suburban?

[@Jason1fromNYC]

2004 YukonXL here w/ 159k miles. Replaced original Sachs/GM Nivomat rears a few years ago. Did the springs at the same time with GM 'HD" spec springs. These days there's a slight sag on the driver side. I can only see the springs aren't as good as the original grade stuff. I do try to get OEM / NOS parts when it comes to GM steel. The later stuff and the current Chinese stuff just isn't up to par. I should have held on to those old springs. But since one of the Nivomats was leaking I figured I'd do them both. Currently looking for an OEM / NOS early 2000s GM spring. There are people around the country with NOS parts. But it's getting harder to source from the internet. Ever do a search and then click on page "10" pf the search results only to find it doesn't exist? And there's only a few pages of items for sale (new Chinese soft steel) but nothing from the old internet. None of the great websites with all the info and knowledge, all gone, scrubbed from the internet. What Michelins are those? Defender XLT in 265/6518?

[@Noahslawncareandrepairservices]

I put cheaper plain black master craft shocka on my 92k1500 silverado will that effect it

[@andrewbarclay6573]

Brand new car oil change at 500, 3000, 8000 and every 5-6k after that . I would say you it’s okay to go 7k after it’s broken in if you just forget one time but every 5-6k is ideal after the break in.

[@JohnPaulRichardson-uq1nx]

Where's the OBS? Great job on the videos.

[@1RoadGarage]

Thanks! OBS was right behind the camera helping me film. 🤙

[@JohnPaulRichardson-uq1nx]

I just wanted to say I found your hub replacement video really helpful. I have two 99' suburbans, one GMC, one Chevy.@@1RoadGarage

[@craigsager9329]

Example....if you put 10000 pounds in the back...do you think it will still sit at 36 and a half inches? and when you drive it will pump itself up there?

[@ToyManFlyer1100]

😂😂😂!!!... _A l'il penetrating oil would've been nice_ ...Let the crude jokes begin...😂😂

[@timothyproksch2915]

Do the factory shocks say made in America? On my 93 c1500 I think mine do or maybe Canada one of the two. Enjoyed it

[@1RoadGarage]

Yes, I believe they say USA

[@timothyproksch2915]

@@1RoadGarage thank you from Abbeville sc

[@billluzius3778]

Did you activate them pump them up and down 10 times before you put them in

[@1RoadGarage]

That’s literally impossible. Very difficult to push them in.

[@AaronBilger]

by the time i get the vehicle they are already worn out and rusted out too cuz Ohio. Bilstein shocks are pretty good I try to opt for them if i can, but only on pickup trucks as they see the abuse more than the suv's

[@KevinPDunn]

Please buy a GMT900 Suburban 2500 so I can watch you replace everything on it and know what I should or should not do. Thanks in advance!

[@botting_made_ez]

Can I buy the old spring

[@1RoadGarage]

Keeping them! 👍

[@alanmerritt860]

He needs them to change them back in 6 months.

[@KendrasEdge757]

@@alanmerritt860 lol yep

[@leveluplife8585]

Those shocks start out a bit shorter than the bilsteins as well for reference

[@alanmerritt860]

Why did you think you needed to change them in the first place?

[@dadgarage7966]

Yeah, my first thought.

[@KendrasEdge757]

Content

[@daleswitzer1387]

I have a 2002 sub.. I should check mine

[@Mikey-wf9py]

400 vs 800?? Do video on a platform comparison... I understand the 400 technically has 88-95 and 96-00 versions but essentially the same... Considering you have both almost identical for the respectable vehicle

[@JimthegreatHD]

I have a 01 suburban and 94 suburban

[@1RoadGarage]

Nice!

[@HappyHands.]

The Title is misleading. and NOT an Absolute truth. Every truck is different and people have different applications and needs

[@Shad0wBoxxer]

First like and comment!

[@1RoadGarage]

Thanks!

[@jeyweb4236]

Marketing tricks. How they explain versus what they actually do. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@danhambrick6331]

What the hell Jimmy....😲😲

[@KendrasEdge757]

This dude changing shocks every other month for content smh

[@1RoadGarage]

Shocks are important. 🤷‍♂️

[@KendrasEdge757]

@@1RoadGarage lol yeah, but there’s no need to swap parts out just for the sake of swapping parts. I get it though….more videos, more comments, more views, more clicks, more money.

[@MrBmxbrawler]

I'll watch happily

[@Ninjasraynonu3]

Lol

[@AgentLokVokun]

Just some guy shilling for content. This video also bombed in metrics. Go figure.

[@99dsm1]

Worried about 5 year old shocks, puts used factory ones back on... The definition of insanity is ...

[@itz_real_notch9813]

Im not the one with a youtube channel bro but you have to change it up buy another cheap car fix it up do what you do to the other cars on a new car and also if you really want self leveling they have to have a reservoir

[@heffedirte6243]

Actually, why change it up and get a cheap car? If you watch his videos, he made his intentions very clear and made a fan base doing it. He is rebuilding that vehicle while rebuilding it. This also isn't his first. He had a GMT-400 SUV before this GMT-800

[@Kenny-bj2zq]

London has Fallen

[@Shad0wBoxxer]

Unlondon shall accept all

[@frankr8271]

You never mention which you prefer??

[@toyotabrony]

Yeah one u go better quality aftermarket shocks. U never want to go back to stock. This is truly unexpected.

[@13612]

you've lost your mind.

[@johnf6267]

so basically you wasted all that money going after market

[@1RoadGarage]

I don’t see it that way at all. I used the Bilstein for 5+yrs. I love testing and learning and I still have the Bilstein if I need them.

[@ProGamerLeague]

This content is getting old now

[@darianthompson5975]

Yeah, i think he's replaced everything and doesn't like performance notifications. Testing and installing an air ride suspension would be cooler.... but it's his style and channel

[@Floridabreeze2]

I am dumber for watching this

[@dadgarage7966]

At least it's not TFL.