2017 Chevrolet Tahoe shocks, struts, handling questions

Totally not a chevy person anymore. Or light duty stuff.

My daughter got backed into, I loaned her my spare car, today finally took her tahoe to the body shop.

I do believe this is the worst driving vehicle I have been in for many years now and that is saying something.

like 107K miles. It was not like this when she bought it at around 50k miles. It was a solid SUV then.

Guessing it is time for at least shocks and struts.

Which ones?

This is not an active suspension.

The front felt like it was still moderately okay, but I see both sway bar links are broken off and gone.

the rear bounces around like there are no shocks at all. Bottoms out.

Figured I would do it all. But she is trying to pay a shop to fix her stuff now instead of bothering me. Looks like they are failing her.

I want to put something on there that is budget friendly, she will only have this another year or two and whatever I spend I doubt I will get back. Which is part of being Dad right?
But it needs to be better than it is.

Front quick struts, Monroe is $80, FCS I have never heard of at $120, KYB at $175, and delco at $220.
would imagine anything an improvement, but very disappointed in monroe lately. What is FCS? Decent? Kyb I think are decent, Delco I am sure is good but as always I doubt we need something that good.
The last couple of times I put monroes on it seems like it was worse than when I started.

Rear shocks, FCS $32, Delco $68, KYB $67

KYB better than Monroe? Will anyone notice?

FCS? What is that?

Thanks,

Whatever is cheapest. AFM will eat the lifters and cam shortly.....

Stix said:

Whatever is cheapest. AFM will eat the lifters and cam shortly.....

Click to expand...

Had to google it.

So should I get a tuner and disable? Sounds like you are saying yes.

For street driving stick to regular shocks, rock auto sometimes has deals. I would also check the balljoints and tie rod ends. Pretty normal for 100k vehicle to need front end parts.

Norm said:

For street driving stick to regular shocks, rock auto sometimes has deals. I would also check the balljoints and tie rod ends. Pretty normal for 100k vehicle to need front end parts.

Click to expand...

I'll check it, but I hope not. I am spoiled, last 2 F250's I had made it over 180k miles still tight. Kids F150 is at 130k and still tight.

But I am sure it could be. Tires are wearing nice and even though.

I like KYB because they firm up the ride. Some might not like that. I recently bought a set of Monroes off RA for my daughter's Ranger and they improved the ride compared to the worn out OEM stuff. Replacing the sway bar links will improve the ride significantly. I think OEM are plastic. You can find steel replacements on Amazon or eBay for cheap.

BDK said:

I like KYB because they firm up the ride. Some might not like that. I recently bought a set of Monroes off RA for my daughter's Ranger and they improved the ride compared to the worn out OEM stuff. Replacing the sway bar links will improve the ride significantly. I think OEM are plastic. You can find steel replacements on Amazon or eBay for cheap.

Click to expand...

Already have front sway bar links in my cart on rock auto. I have selected the KYB, I like what you are saying, firm it up would be great.

Bounce test the corners, if the front struts are still doing the job leave them alone. So that saves half the $ and work right there. Do the sway bar links and rear shocks. Yes KYB is better than monroe. I know a couple cars that warranty out the monroe struts every year because they're leaking again. If it was more than 3 bolts to change they'd be money ahead to buy something better just to skip the labor hassle.

If you are putting time and $ into it, new struts/shocks all around.

KYB is solid product, last time used I put 4 new KYB struts on ex wifes Impreza wagon.

I would also replace swaybar links/bushings and check the balljoints.

KYB all the way. FCS is a decent budget option.

Monroe has gone way downhill, even on the commercial application side. We couldn't get more than a few months out of them before they would leak all their oil out.

Mevotech TTX for the end links. If BJs are worn, Mevotech TTX can't be beat.

Tiha said:

I'll check it, but I hope not. I am spoiled, last 2 F250's I had made it over 180k miles still tight. Kids F150 is at 130k and still tight.

But I am sure it could be. Tires are wearing nice and even though.

Click to expand...

Broken swaybar end links an indication that it’s being overdriven? Is she used to driving it like a small car and pushing into corners, etc.? How’s the tie wear in the front?

Etyler2 said:

Broken swaybar end links an indication that it’s being overdriven? Is she used to driving it like a small car and pushing into corners, etc.? How’s the tie wear in the front?

Click to expand...

She bought it salvage ***le. The front links were missing when we test drove it and bought it, but it never drove like this.

Never the less, they are getting replaced now.

But I am sure she is an aggressive driver.

Kind of leaning towards KYB all the way around, new links. Then just have to see what else it needs when I get it back from the body shop.

Your plan sounds good.

If the afm hasn’t killed it by now it’s probably ok. If she’s keeping it any length of time I’d delete it.