Suspension rubber bumper

CASHFLOW50$

MEMBER
2003 GMC YUKON
4.8L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
180,000 MILES

I recently did my brakes and noticed these on the front and rear end suspension area. My question is how to remove them, because sometimes It feels like I am bottoming out when I go over speed bumps. I am thinking these are the culprit. Feels like a big thump when I go over speed bumps at about five to ten mph. I felt around the area of the so called bumpers and I could not feel nuts or bolts holding it in place. Is it a twist off maybe? I am attaching photos so you know what part I am talking about.

*actually disregard the first photo. I uploaded it by mistake.*

Images (Click to make bigger)

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,871 POSTS

You are looking at this backward. You are feeling the suspension bottom out because the rubber bump-stops are deteriorated and partially missing. They cushion the impact, but you have another issue. To be chewed up that badly indicates the truck is bottoming out way too much, and that is due to weak springs.

If you visit any tire and alignment shop, they will have a small book to show you where to take the ride height measurements, front and rear, and what they should be. If your springs are sagged, it changes the geometry of the suspension parts, and that has a serious negative impact on handling, braking, steering response, and comfort. It will also be impossible to maintain good tire wear even when the alignment computer says all the numbers are good. When the suspension is sagged, the front wheels tip in and out on top more than normal as the truck bounces up and down. That is what leads to the poor tire wear, and no alignment will help that.

Two-wheel-drive trucks should have torsion bar springs similar to what Chrysler used for many decades. Those are adjustable, so you do not need to replace them.

The bump-stops should have a bolt in the center hole to replace them.