Rough Rider!!! Shocks help please.

[Hummbo]

Here is the story. Feeback appreciated.

I love the smooth ride of the stock H2. Thinking nothing of it I wanted to switch from the BFG all terrains to a mud terrain. I went round and round on which mud terrain to blow my money on. Having had several Toyos in the past including the MTs it was kinda like the safe bet because I knew what I was getting or thought so.

Bought the 35x12.5.17 Toyo MTs and had an alignment done at the same shop. Drove them home the first day and they handled well along with being the quietest mud terrain I have heard. But what a rough ride. Did some reading online and dropped the air pressure from 60psi to 45psi. Helped a bit but still seams to ride rougher then I remember with the BFGs.

So among other things I am now looking at shocks and potential a steering stabilizer since there appears to be alot of chatter in the front end that I dont remember before either (bad alignment job?).

My goal is to have the smoothest ride possible. From my little research I am looking at:
1) Bilsteins 5100 front 4600 rear (fyi I have the air ride in the rear)
2) ProComp MX6 adjustables
3) Rancho 9000 adjustables
4) Bilstein steering stabilizer

Any feedback would be much appreciated. Any first hand experience? Should I replace the bumpstops? One local shop said the Ranchos would be to rough. One said the Bilsteins would be rougher. One said the smoothest ride would come from the Ranchos or Procomps (they also own procomp). Thats why I am hoping to lean on your guys again.

Thx.

 

[Zach]

I'm running BFG KM2's, 37's. my air pressure is at 40. Any higher and it's rough. When I first got them, they were set at 50. Have the Bilstein 5100's front and rear and have the air suspension and happy with them. Steering stabilizer is Rancho. Bilstein didn't have one out at the time.

 

[Hummbo]

Thanks Zach, running a 45psi makes a big difference. The shop recommended the 5100 up front and 4600 for the year, is that correct? Should I replace the bump stops at the same time? I am a bit torn between an adjustable like the procomp MX6 even though I will likely never adjust it once I found the setting I like.

Thanks for the feedback and nice ride by the way! I am pecking away slowly but surely.

 

[Zach]

Thanks Zach, running a 45psi makes a big difference. The shop recommended the 5100 up front and 4600 for the year, is that correct? Should I replace the bump stops at the same time? I am a bit torn between an adjustable like the procomp MX6 even though I will likely never adjust it once I found the setting I like.

Thanks for the feedback and nice ride by the way! I am pecking away slowly but surely.

Really haven't heard of anyone running anything but the 5100's front and rear.

 

[Fish]

I have the same BFG KM2's 37" as Zach. I keep mine around 38 psi and the ride is smooth and nice. At 60 psi I can see why your ride was rough, that's pretty high air pressure.

 

[carlossi]

Bilstein, for sure, is a good choice. Have them, and I do a lot city driving and some off-roading. Smoother ride compared to oem.

 

[Savethereef]

You guys running 38 / 40 psi what's your mpg? Me personally I run 50 psi. But the again mine are 35 tires

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[Zach]

You guys running 38 / 40 psi what's your mpg? Me personally I run 50 psi. But the again mine are 35 tires

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Mpg? Really? Lol. I originally got 12ish. Now, I'm around 10. 37's, rack, front up higher etc. Going to Moab last year, I got 13. Driving 55 behind two H1's.

 

[LoJac963]

I get upwards of 13mpg and that's with my stock 35's at 35psi. Nice smooth ride that low. If I go up to 40psi I can tell a huge difference in the ride and it doesn't improve mpg at all.

 

[GreyGhost]

I'd trade ya my km2's for those toyo mt's any day. If your torsion bars are cranked up it's really make it ruffer riding too. I ran 35 psi in my last set of toyo mts "35 tall" made for a much smoother ride and the wear was even.

 

[MessiaH2]

I would have first went back and asked to watch the tires be balanced... by today's standards and we pay for radial tires i would not expect that kinda ride. Bias ply, yea OK

the stock BFG's were a dream tire for me. All around performance, not great at any one thing but a good general tire as made. balanced, and 70K miles out of both sets so NO complaints at all.

I just started running the 38" mud grapplers that are 15.5 wide and I was expecting to get a much worse ride then stock. I was shocked at how awesome the tires balanced and ride. I am NOT exaggerating by saying it rides better then it did stock. Now consider I also went with a 6" Fabtech lift but still the tires, NO ISSUES. only 5000 miles but so far so good.

As per PSI. I am running what was listed on the tire and truthfully have not checked them once (NOT Good on my part) I do have a huge rack and lights so i am getting about 9 MPG... I am also NOT in anyway shape or form saying I do not run it like I stole it. Lets just say MessiaH2 is not babied ...LOL

 

[2007HummerH2]

I have the Nitto Trail Grapplers and a set of goodyears that came on an extra set of rims that I bought. The Nittos run a lot harder than the Goodyears, but it is still a nice ride. Air pressure makes all the difference in the world on how your rig will ride. I set the Nittos at 37psi. Still a firm ride but stock ride. I know the 2003-2007 recommended 37 psi and the 2008-2009 recommended 42psi. I much rather run less air so that it doesn't wear out the middle of your tire. As far as gas mileage is concerned it doesn't make much difference on the H2s.

 

[Hummbo]

Thanks to all the reply's. I just arrived home from my trip. I lowered the psi to 40 and its not to bad. Next time will likely go to 35-37 considering the 13ply walls the toyos have. Next on the list will be the shocks! Ok, lots on the list so maybe not next but soon anyhow.

FYI: At 55-60psi road rough and average mileage went up a whopping .1 to 11 mpg. Drop down to 40 psi and appears to average 10.9 again as when I bought it!

Thanks for the feedback.