Elevating the ride quality of your Duramax ensures a comfortable ride that even your wife will appreciate. It’s all about combining performance and comfort on and off the road.
Whether you are navigating backcountry roads or just cruising on the highway, making the right modifications to your suspension and even your tires can enhance your driving experience. After testing countless setups, we are here to guide you through the correct suspension setup for your Duramax.
Choose the Right Tires
Tires are the first part that connects your truck to the ground, and choosing the proper tire is paramount to ride quality. When searching for tires, note that tires with more aggressive tread patterns are going to have more road noise on the pavement but better traction if you are taking your truck off-road.
Regardless of the style of tire you choose, tire pressure is a key factor; different size tires, wheels, and use cases require different pressures.
If you are driving your truck unloaded most of the time, there is no reason to run the tires at the max pounds per square inch (PSI) rating. In fact, this can lead to premature wear in the center portion of the tread. For example, if you are running a 35” tire on a 20” wheel, we will usually run them around 40-55 PSI when unloaded. Note that the weight rating is calculated at the max PSI, so when towing, air up the tires to the appropriate range.
Good To Know:
As far as tire choice goes, we recommend sticking with a well-known manufacturer such as BFG, Toyo, Nitto, or Michelin.
Balance and Align Your Wheels
Imbalanced wheels can cause vibrations that resonate throughout the vehicle. Meanwhile, improper alignment can lead to uneven tire wear, poor handling, and stress on suspension components. Regular checks and adjustments will keep your truck riding smoothly and help you maintain contact with the road.
Upgrade Your Suspension
One of the most comprehensive ways to improve ride quality is to upgrade your diesel suspension parts, and having the right combination is key.
Torsion Bars
First of all, if your torsion bars are cranked up, you’re essentially increasing the spring rate and removing droop travel. If you are unsure of this, the easiest way to check is to look at the CV axles. They are supposed to be flat; if they are angled down toward the tire, then the torsion bars are likely turned up.
When removing droop travel from your suspension, it leads to harsh bottom outs because the control arms contact the frame stops and can lead to premature wear or even catastrophic failure. We recommend upgrading the weak factory components and going with a set of Dmax XD tubular UCAs or Kryptonite UCAs.
Shocks
After addressing the control arms, the next step is to check out the shocks. With some of the older trucks getting into the higher mileage or even the low-quality factory-installed shocks, an aftermarket shock is a very welcome upgrade.
Our Bilstein 5100 and Fox 2.0 Performance shocks are our most popular shocks; the Bilsteins offer a slightly softer ride, while the Fox offers more support. If you really want the best of the best, then a 2.5” shock will offer the best control, though it comes with a hefty price tag. The KING 2.5 OEM series or the Fox 2.5 Performance Elite are two examples of the 2.5” shocks.
Checking for Wear and Tear
Lastly, it is important to check all suspension components for wear. If the parts are wearing out, they will take away from the ride quality and can lead to more wear on other components and even the tires.
Upgrade your Steering Stabilizer
Starting in 2016, General Motors actually discontinued the installation of a steering stabilizer on the Duramax platform. Why they did this is beyond us, but luckily it was an easy fix.
Kryptonite Products released their Steering Stabilizer bracket for 2016-2024 Duramax trucks. The bracket lets you install a steering stabilizer to reduce steering wheel vibration and provide a smoother, more controlled steering experience. This is a must-do upgrade if you are running larger wheels and tires.
Wrapping Up…
Elevating the ride quality of your Duramax truck ensures a comfortable ride that combines performance and comfort on and off-road. Whether navigating backcountry roads or cruising on the highway, making the right modifications to your suspension and tires can significantly enhance your driving experience.
With our extensive testing and expertise, we can guide you through the correct suspension setup for your Duramax. With these mods, you can transform your truck into a smooth and enjoyable ride. Invest in these improvements, and you'll notice the difference in ride quality, handling, and performance, making every journey a pleasure!