Hello,
So the air spring suspension on my 2003 Voy is leaking. If left for more than about 3 days, it starts dropping, and within a week it's down on the axle. The compressor has no trouble filling it back up though. It also seems to droop towards the passenger side, I measured once, I think it was about an inch lower at the wheel well on the passenger side, front and rear.
I've been planning to replace the air springs with coils, and since I use my voy to go fishing a lot on old potholed logging roads, and take it out on the river bank (I scraped the oil drain plug once last year on a rock), I thought it would be a good opportunity to add some lift as well. I also use it to tow a 1965 airstream at 3300lbs, and about 300lbs tongue weight. The air springs have been nice for that, so I need springs that can handle the load. In 2010 when I first got this truck I replaced the shocks and struts with Sensa-Tracs at 120,000kms. It currently has 165,000kms (100,000 miles) on it. Feels crappy to be swapping them out after only 45,000km. In the summer I am running Firestone Transforce AT LT245/70/R17 tires. Winter I use stock size tires with studs.
I've done a fair bit of reading, so I understand I can use Z71 springs from a 2007+ Avalanche or Tahoe. I'm not as clear if I can use standard shocks then, like the Bilsteins, or if I have to go with something else like Skyjackers or BDS in the rear. I'd also like to get a bit of lift in the front, so upgrade to the XL springs, and maybe add a 2.5" lift from Liftmeister.
Looking on Rockauto and places I found some variable rate springs from Raybestos that look good. Has anyone tried them? I'm curious if the HD Raybestos springs would be as stiff as the GM Z71 springs? Comparing them to the Raybestos springs for the Envoy XL, they have an additional load capacity of 330lbs, and a spring rate of 229 vs 210 for the XL springs, as well as slightly longer free height. Below is the setup I was thinking of going with.
Rear - Raybestos HD springs for Avalanche
Front - Raybestos springs for Envoy XL
Bilstein shocks all around.
Potentially add the 2.5" lift from LiftMeister.
I may go in stages, replace the air springs with coils and new shocks and see how it looks. If needed add new springs, shocks, and lift to the front.
Does this seem like a reasonable set-up? Or would you recommend going with the true Z71 springs, different rear shocks, the 88 or 87 springs in the front (haven't found the full part numbers for those yet)?
So the air spring suspension on my 2003 Voy is leaking. If left for more than about 3 days, it starts dropping, and within a week it's down on the axle. The compressor has no trouble filling it back up though. It also seems to droop towards the passenger side, I measured once, I think it was about an inch lower at the wheel well on the passenger side, front and rear.
I've been planning to replace the air springs with coils, and since I use my voy to go fishing a lot on old potholed logging roads, and take it out on the river bank (I scraped the oil drain plug once last year on a rock), I thought it would be a good opportunity to add some lift as well. I also use it to tow a 1965 airstream at 3300lbs, and about 300lbs tongue weight. The air springs have been nice for that, so I need springs that can handle the load. In 2010 when I first got this truck I replaced the shocks and struts with Sensa-Tracs at 120,000kms. It currently has 165,000kms (100,000 miles) on it. Feels crappy to be swapping them out after only 45,000km. In the summer I am running Firestone Transforce AT LT245/70/R17 tires. Winter I use stock size tires with studs.
I've done a fair bit of reading, so I understand I can use Z71 springs from a 2007+ Avalanche or Tahoe. I'm not as clear if I can use standard shocks then, like the Bilsteins, or if I have to go with something else like Skyjackers or BDS in the rear. I'd also like to get a bit of lift in the front, so upgrade to the XL springs, and maybe add a 2.5" lift from Liftmeister.
Looking on Rockauto and places I found some variable rate springs from Raybestos that look good. Has anyone tried them? I'm curious if the HD Raybestos springs would be as stiff as the GM Z71 springs? Comparing them to the Raybestos springs for the Envoy XL, they have an additional load capacity of 330lbs, and a spring rate of 229 vs 210 for the XL springs, as well as slightly longer free height. Below is the setup I was thinking of going with.
Rear - Raybestos HD springs for Avalanche
Front - Raybestos springs for Envoy XL
Bilstein shocks all around.
Potentially add the 2.5" lift from LiftMeister.
I may go in stages, replace the air springs with coils and new shocks and see how it looks. If needed add new springs, shocks, and lift to the front.
Does this seem like a reasonable set-up? Or would you recommend going with the true Z71 springs, different rear shocks, the 88 or 87 springs in the front (haven't found the full part numbers for those yet)?
