2006 GMC Sierra aka “granopy”

[Smileyshaun]

Searched for a while to find a lower miles , pnw owned in good shape Silverado or Sierra . In all honesty I was looking for a 3/4 ton but couldn’t find in good shape with low miles that wasn’t a rust bucket east coast rig . Ended up finding this one owner 140k miles Sierra . Having a truck is so nice again I can throw all sorts of normal life stuff in the bed .

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Looks like a nice set of wheels! Nice comfy ride, I bet.
At first I took umbrage at the "rust bucket east coast rig" comment, but then, even us in the Northeast prefer not to buy rust bucket, New England beaters. So, what can I say

I always lamented that there wasn't a Havana brown during those years.

Maybe that's it: Golden Girl

 

[Smileyshaun]

Looks like a nice set of wheels! Nice comfy ride, I bet.
At first I took umbrage at the "rust bucket east coast rig" comment, but then, even us in the Northeast prefer not to buy rust bucket, New England beaters. So, what can I say

I always lamented that there wasn't a Havana brown during those years.

Maybe that's it: Golden Girl

unfortunately the ride is absolutely garbage due to having and I don’t know why the same torsion bars that come in a 2500 hd diesel so it just rides like a brick

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I had some Chevys with torsion bars that were quite comfortable. Check stock height to see if the keys are dialed in a bit too much, which would leave the truck a little tall.

At that age, it could need springs and theres a good chance the shocks are toast

 

[Smileyshaun]

I had some Chevys with torsion bars that were quite comfortable. Check stock height to see if the keys are dialed in a bit too much, which would leave the truck a little tall.

At that age, it could need springs and theres a good chance the shocks are toast

Already did shocks the problem actually is the bars . Going off the rpo codes and tags on the bars they are rated at 7600lbs a piece and normally 1/2 tons are in the 3-4K range depending on what packages where added from the factory . So just to make it ride reasonably comfortable even with the lift keys in it I have the suspension dialed back to stock hight . I just need to spend the time at the junkyard to find the right poundage Torsion bars but just been to lazy .... I mean busy to do it .

 

[Smileyshaun]

First couple months I owned it I just left it alone and drove it , got rather good mileage at 20/16 but the tires where just garbage on anything other than dry roads .

 

[ThundahBeagle]

First couple months I owned it I just left it alone and drove it , got rather good mileage at 20/16 but the tires where just garbage on anything other than dry roads . View attachment 179543

I wonder if the rear springs have more leaves than normal and this one was ordered as a "heavy half".

Beautiful and beautiful!

 

[Smileyshaun]

Like I said the tires where crap so a upgrade was needed, kinda klever in a 35x10.50 r17 .

 

[Smileyshaun]

I wonder if the rear springs have more leaves than normal and this one was ordered as a "heavy half".

Beautiful and beautiful!

who knows it’s the last year of torsion bar suspension in the 1/2 tons so maybe they ran out of the normal bars and just said “ screw it toss in whatever we have laying around “

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Like I said the tires where crap so a upgrade was needed, kinda klever in a 35x10.50 r17 . View attachment 179559View attachment 179560

How are those Kenda tires treating you. What's the fuel economy and noise trade-off like? They sure seem aggressive. Just saw some in person the other day

 

[Clrussell]

Not to be a smart a$$ but I don’t get the problem you’re having with your torsion bars.

can you further explain the problem you think you’re having?

I’m very savvy in these trucks so just trying to help

 

[Smileyshaun]

How are those Kenda tires treating you. What's the fuel economy and noise trade-off like? They sure seem aggressive. Just saw some in person the other day

So far really impressed with them , they balanced easy , fairly quiet , seem to work very well in the snow so far . I took a 3mpg hit but will be swapping to 4.10 gears eventually so it should go back up a bit

 

[Smileyshaun]

Not to be a smart a$$ but I don’t get the problem you’re having with your torsion bars.

can you further explain the problem you think you’re having?

I’m very savvy in these trucks so just trying to help

The bars are way too thick and the pound rating is way too high for the weight of the truck causing it to ride really rough.

 

[Smileyshaun]

Sorry I meant 7200 newtons not pounds

 

[ThundahBeagle]

So far really impressed with them , they balanced easy , fairly quiet , seem to work very well in the snow so far . I took a 3mpg hit but will be swapping to 4.10 gears eventually so it should go back up a bit

I was wondering if they balanced well enough. A 3mpg hit? Well, I plan on 33's, not 35's, so maybe I'll only get a 2 mpg hit. I already removed my front air den and leveled the front. I may get a second air dam and cut it in half lengthwise, so there is still a small dam, just not a plow

 

[Smileyshaun]

My bars are the one highlight
Even a regular gas 3/4 ton has a much lower rating

 

[Smileyshaun]

I was wondering if they balanced well enough. A 3mpg hit? Well, I plan on 33's, not 35's, so maybe I'll only get a 2 mpg hit. I already removed my front air den and leveled the front. I may get a second air dam and cut it in half lengthwise, so there is still a small dam, just not a plow

I was going to go 33s but got the 35s at a killer price

 

[Clrussell]

If you don’t mind post a picture of your front suspension.
The control arms, upper specifically.

your truck should sit level from the factory if it has to heavy of a bar in it.
Because if that’s the case it has preload per say than a stock truck. The same as installing torsion bar keys.

 

[Smileyshaun]

If you don’t mind post a picture of your front suspension.
The control arms, upper specifically.

your truck should sit level from the factory if it has to heavy of a bar in it.
Because if that’s the case it has preload per say than a stock truck. The same as installing torsion bar keys.

Actually having the opposite problem even with a set of lift keys in it it only sits 1/8-1/4” above the jounce joint with the bolt adjusted 3/4 of the way in . The 3/4 ton bars are actually keyed slightly different than the 1/2 ton bars , the 3/4 ton trucks look taller due to having a thinker frame and a slight “ body lift” from the factory to clear a larger radiator.

 

[Vadim]

I love this body style of most GM trucks, can wait to see what you do with it.