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Got bored this weekend so made some improvements!

digglesworth

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,789
Location
illinois
Where does the wire go? Looks like an antenna for a satellite radio. I always thought the stubby antenna next to it was for satellite radio but I didn't have satellite radio on my truck when I got it. Couldn't even switch to XM... I guess that stubbys for onstar.
 

Bananatank

Well-Known Member
Messages
731
Location
Hammond,la
It look like it goes underneath that little black corner piece on the roof and probably goes down to the glove box if i had to guess. Idk though. Anybody else have an idea as to what this is?


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Bananatank

Well-Known Member
Messages
731
Location
Hammond,la
Okay guys I have noticed some serious changes in the driving condition of my h3 it used to ride very smooth and I did realize the h3 would be a little stiffened when I cranked the tbar and I was ok with that but I have now noted that when I hit a small bump the h3 just jerks to a side. I also noticed that the vehicle is pulling to the right a little but not bad. Is this what happened after cranking your t bar also. I haven't yet got an alignment but am soon so it could be that idk.
 

digglesworth

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,789
Location
illinois
You're alignment is very critical. You should get that done as soon as you crank the t bars and give it a little time to settle. Are you running stock shocks? If so, they aren't long enough for the increased height of the t bar lift. There's been threads posted on different mods to work with stock shocks (hunner nut trick)... Do your research. But first, check the measurement from the hub nut to fender and go get an alignment.
 

Bananatank

Well-Known Member
Messages
731
Location
Hammond,la
I checked from the h to the fender and we stayed safe and stopped at 23 we r going to get an alignment soon. I thought i understood that you can run stock shocks and be okay as long as you don't go past recommended height.


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digglesworth

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,789
Location
illinois
You technically can. I had stock shocks on mine when I got it but it had these 2" extensions on the bottom mount. 23" is well below the max. How many miles are on your shocks? Could they be blown? I'd say most of your issues are alignment based. Get that done and see how it does.
 

Bananatank

Well-Known Member
Messages
731
Location
Hammond,la
You technically can. I had stock shocks on mine when I got it but it had these 2" extensions on the bottom mount. 23" is well below the max. How many miles are on your shocks? Could they be blown? I'd say most of your issues are alignment based. Get that done and see how it does.

The shocks right now are original haven't changed 104k on them. What are these two inch extensions? They smooth the ride?


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alrock

El Diablo
Staff member
Messages
10,667
Location
Scottsdale
At 104K miles your shocks are more than likely done. It's not an issue of length, extenders, etc. but that they simply are not recovering well. BTW, those 2" extenders aren't necessary as they extend way beyond the capability of the shocks and might even give you issues on the compressed end, where the shock stops the suspension travel and not the bump stop. Look at the Hunner nut extension on the shocks - it's right on target for "extending" shocks.

Now that your front end is raised, your bump stops aka progressive dampeners are not doing as much work right away. Before leveling, your truck was nearly sitting on them or within 1/4". Now you're probably 1/2" or more away from them. They do help control the ride a bit and the ride is probably much worse because of the worn shocks doing more work before the progressive dampeners can assist.

Your bump steer may also be due to worn steering components like the passenger side bushing. It tends to wear out, allowing movement of the rack and promoting bump steer - a vibration throughout the truck when hitting bumps. Your whole steering rack shifts position and the truck's wheels shimmy over bumps, giving you the shakes.

Minimum recommendations:
New shocks, whether OEM or Bilstein
1/2" extended bump stops from trailduty.com
New OEM steering rack bushing, or if you're ready to upgrade, a new steering rack bracket from PreferredChassisFab. That will be a more permanent solution.

In my opinion, the Trail Duty bump stops degrade the ride a bit. They do reduce the nosedive since they reduce the gap between the bump stops and the lower control arms, but they are not nearly as progressive (soft) as the OEM ones, thus they transmit more of the harshness of the road. It's a worthwhile upgrade, but there are some downfalls too.

At 104K miles, it's also time to check all of the other suspension pieces. You could have worn upper or lower control arm bushings; worn ball joints; worn tie rod ends; worn inner tie rod/steering rack ends.

But the first things I said will likely go the furthest for you.
 

Bananatank

Well-Known Member
Messages
731
Location
Hammond,la
These oem or bilstein shocks, what do people usually get? Anybody know where I can find a pair either?


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Bananatank

Well-Known Member
Messages
731
Location
Hammond,la
I understand that after 104k miles theyre pretty worn but previously before me cranking the tbar i noticed nothing. Soft smooth ride but it's changed for the worse so im kinda tempted to just drop it back down now. I really like the new look tho. Just wasn't expecting to be buying things immediately.


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H

H3Ray

Guest
No offense bro, but plasti-dipping anything is a very cheap and miserly way to improve any vehicle, and it says something about the owner.
That said, do it right and Powdercoat the part or have a reputable Body Man re-paint it ... Geez !!!! :roll:
 

digglesworth

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,789
Location
illinois
Trailduty.com sells the shocks and bumpstops. Those 2" extensions are commonly sold as part of a "leveling kit" that is unnecessary. One of the first things I did was change out shocks. I didn't add the bumpstops right away but after driving around leveled for a while, I broke down and bought a set. I kept the original ones since they were brand new. I may swap them out if I head out to wheel.

PS... It's a hummer. Buying stuff is pretty much par for the course. At over 100k miles, Alrock nailed it on the head. Check the other things too.
 

Bananatank

Well-Known Member
Messages
731
Location
Hammond,la
No offense bro, but plasti-dipping anything is a very cheap and miserly way to improve any vehicle, and it says something about the owner.
That said, do it right and Powdercoat the part or have a reputable Body Man re-paint it ... Geez !!!! :roll:

I think the plastidip looks great so I'm not really worried about that. Multiple other people on this forum have done it and it turned out to look great also. I'm going to keep it cheap doesn't have to be a bad thing lol.
 

Bananatank

Well-Known Member
Messages
731
Location
Hammond,la
You make the payments.... Do what you want. It's all a personal preference. That's what sets all of our trucks apart.

Well put. I'm really liking the h3 leveled now. It looks much better. Will look better when I take the running boards off. So I'm going to get that alignment very soon see if that fixes anything and then will try to find some bilstein 5160's. So these bilsteins smooth out the ride a bit? Do they also lift it a little? Not too bright with all this stuff.
 

Big Mike

Well-Known Member
Messages
214
Location
The Republik of Upstate New York..
I got a pic guys. Is this on y'all's h3 also? Or is this aftermarket?
e5aby8y5.jpg
2ypate6u.jpg
dupumy7e.jpg



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Looks like a really old XM or Sirius antenna possibly a Terk from back in the day, antennas are much smaller now..
 

Big Mike

Well-Known Member
Messages
214
Location
The Republik of Upstate New York..
Well put. I'm really liking the h3 leveled now. It looks much better. Will look better when I take the running boards off. So I'm going to get that alignment very soon see if that fixes anything and then will try to find some bilstein 5160's. So these bilsteins smooth out the ride a bit? Do they also lift it a little? Not too bright with all this stuff.

The Billsteins do not smooth out your ride they are stiffer that's why sports car guys love them !

Shocks do not lift your vehicle..

Keep asking questions that is why we are here, learn and help..

If you go with Billsteins check here for best price..

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/

or

http://www.autoanything.com/

It varies week to week who has best deal..
 
Last edited:

Bananatank

Well-Known Member
Messages
731
Location
Hammond,la
The Billsteins do not smooth out your ride they are stiffer that's why sports car guys love them !

Shocks do not lift your vehicle..

Keep asking questions that is why we are here, learn and help..

If you go with Billsteins check here for best price..

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/

or

http://www.autoanything.com/

It varies week to week who has best deal..

Okay so what will help with the jerking when hitting the bump it also just started pulling to the right now thats probably gonna be fixed by the alignment tho. I love the outside look of it lifted just the ride has gotten rougher. It's started pulling to the right and the sudden jerking on small bumps so what should I get to stop that jerking? Or will the alignment also help that and the pulling?


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Big Mike

Well-Known Member
Messages
214
Location
The Republik of Upstate New York..
Okay so what will help with the jerking when hitting the bump it also just started pulling to the right now thats probably gonna be fixed by the alignment tho. I love the outside look of it lifted just the ride has gotten rougher. It's started pulling to the right and the sudden jerking on small bumps so what should I get to stop that jerking? Or will the alignment also help that and the pulling?


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Shocks and alignment first is what I would do and see how it feels then......Tell the mechanic or shop that does your alignment that the bars are set where you want them and don't touch them..
 

Bananatank

Well-Known Member
Messages
731
Location
Hammond,la
Shocks and alignment first is what I would do and see how it feels then......Tell the mechanic or shop that does your alignment that the bars are set where you want them and don't touch them..

Alright thx so what shocks do you recommend? Was also wondering do i need four or ...?


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Bigunit

Hammer Down!
Staff member
Messages
6,561
Location
Arizona
I ditched the Bilsteins. Never liked the firm/harsh ride - not much dampening as compared to the OEM shocks it seemed. So, recently installed the OEM off road/adventure red-colored shocks that were spec'ed for the H3 CE and also replaced the base model torsion bars with a set of Alpha t bars. I am back to loving the ride of my T.

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digglesworth

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,789
Location
illinois
The 5100s will be fine. Run 5160s in front of you want but they're just extra fancy and cost more $$... I got mine from shockwarehouse as well. If you don't mind the way it nose-dives now under braking, you can skip the extended bumpstops.
 
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