Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra May Get New Independent Rear Suspension
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No doubt about it, one of the biggest and most-important upgrades offered by the all-new 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe is the integration of a new independent rear suspension (IRS). Now, it’s looking like this significant design change may be applied to the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, as well.
The news comes courtesy of a recent report from Road Show, which cites comments made by chief engineer Tim Asoklis that seem to suggest the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks may be on the list of future IRS recipients.
2021 Chevrolet Suburban independent rear suspension
During the Road Show interview, Asoklis described the “incredible” durability of the new Suburban and Tahoe’s IRS setup, saying, “These vehicles will have over four million miles of … additional road exposure compared to just doing the durability [testing].”
“And once we’re done, we take these vehicles and we completely dissect them,” Asoklis added. “We look for any and all issues.”
Asoklis was then asked if the IRS design was durable enough for use in General Motors’ pickup trucks, withstanding activities like towing, hauling, and off-roading – the sort of thing frequently associated with the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.
“Oh, absolutely,” Asoklis answered.
While Asoklis did not go so far as to confirm that the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra would definitely get a new IRS setup in the future, he did indicate that the design would need a complete reevaluation for such an application, given the different demands of a pickup truck versus a full-size SUV.
Regardless, the prospect of adding an IRS to the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra is rather exciting. Not only does it open the opportunity for new suspension options, such as the Magnetic Ride Control and Air Ride Suspension options offered by the new Suburban and Tahoe, but it should also provide enhanced ride quality and handling.
For now, both the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra are equipped with solid rear axles with semi-elliptic, variable-rate, two-stage multileaf springs. Both models are also based on the GM T1 vehicle platform, the same architecture that underpins the new Suburban and Tahoe.
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Source: Road Show
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There is no good reason not to have a new Chevrolet Avalanche with IRS. I’m sure it would sell great
Lots of people agree. The Avalanche used excess Suburban capacity at a price $6000 less. When the new 2015 model came out, they could use all the capacity to build and sell the higher-margin Suburban. The actual manufacturing cost of the Avalanche was likely no less…maybe more…than the Suburban. Plus, the Avalanche was only popular in the Midwest. That’s my opinion on the Avalanche…
No I disagree the Avalanche were popular in the Northeast too. I believe they discontinued this truck because they run out of redesigns!!!!
New F150 will have an available independent rear suspension.
The F-150 IRS will still fall apart, well because
First Original Recalled Devices…
That is because its a Found on Road Dead
I know a lot of truck guys will wail about how bad this would be, but it really makes sense. You get better ride (especially on washboard dirt roads) and handling, and as mentioned in the article you could then get magnetic ride control and air ride suspension. If an SUV with independent suspension can tow 9,300 pounds (Ford Expedition), why can’t a pickup? And now Ford will introduce and FX4 off road package with their SUV. I can see GM doing that with the GMC AT4 Sierra.
I dont think you understand the difference between a solid axle and independent suspension. MRC and air shocks have nothig to do with it and both of those technologies are already offered on solid rear axle trucks – MRC on Sierra and air on Ram
Having owned pick ups with solid axles and suv’s with solid axles (GMC Yukon, Ford Explorer) and suv’s with independent suspensions (Lexus and Honda)I can assure you I know the difference between the two. Independent suspension handle better, ride better for the vast majority of driving most people do. I understand the advantages of solid axles when towing large, heavy items like travel trailers and large boats. But for the average pick up truck owner who usually hauls nothing heavier than a few bags of cement, landscape bark or lumber a pickup with an independent suspension would work just fine.
Notice how i didnt reply to you 😉
Most of the people do not even know how to change there oil let alone what IRS means Air bags have a short life span and when they let go you can NOT drive the vehicle, Magnetic Ride Control MRC is tiny metal particles that move when the computer tells them too so it changes the dampening of the shock for different terrains. I agree with you they do not have a clue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What will be key here is to make this an option. Let the customer choose which rear they want.
The air ride needs to be bulletproof as we can not afford these all sagging like Lincoln’s.
The key is let the customers choose much like the old coil spring trucks back in the 60’s.
GM will not let the customer make the choice, GM does what it wants and tells the customer here it is like it or not.
There was no choice coil springs on everything but 1 ton.
Back in the day, 1960 . GMC pick ups had leaf springs an Chevy pickups had coil springs in the rear. Check it out!
From 60-68 they had coils in half ton. It was optional for a half leaf overload spring to be added with the coil.
GMC also offered coils too.
I’ve never seen coil springs in a half ton GMC INTHE 60S! THEY ALL HAD LEAF SPRINGS ,IVE ALWAYS BEEN A CHEVY FAN ALL MY LIFE ! BUT IN THE60S I bought a 65 GMC HALF TON PICK UP BECAUSE THEY
HAD LEAF SPRINGS AN CHEVYS HAD COIL SPRINGS BUT THAN LATTER ONTHEY BOTH HAD LEAF SPRINGS EVEN THROUGH THERE BASIC THE SAME TRUCK.
It will be easier for all those young guys to squat their trucks now, just put 2 bags of concrete in the back lol.
No Dumb Ass they will have self leveling built into the BCM
Make it an option, but still have the solid rear axle standard.
Probably SRA on Silverado and IRS on Sierra standard.
I see I’ve upset Ram buyers…
My brother is on his second Ram truck and I have to say both old and new, the rear coil springs ride smooth and handles better than my Silverado. With IRS it will be a killer ride that once you drive it, there is nothing better.
They should be able to lower the box load floor 5 to 6 inches with an IRS, that is how they got back to fold flat rear seats . A lower load floor would increase cargo capacity and make loading and unloading easier.
Fix the lousy infotainment system that goes to a BLUE SCREEN several times a week leaving the driver with no cameras operational. You’re stuck backing up in the blind. Mine has has 6 software up-grades and still leaves me stranded.
I test drove both the RAM and Silverado before buying a RAM. The handling difference between the two was night and day, and one of the big factors in why I switched my 15 year allegiance to Chevy.
*cough* money *cough*
Ram is cheap and payload suffers
I see one glaring issue for truck application right now. The frame. Take a look at the side profile of the T1 Tahoe/Suburban. The frame comes down what looks like a good 4-5 inches to mount the front of the trailing arm of the IRS. Its rather noticeable on them and I don’t think would bode well for any offroad use whatsoever.
People used to complain all day long about GM’s “low slung” frames for years. T1 finally covered up a good majority of the rails.
If you are talking about serious off roading, like rock scrambling you may be correct, but for taking the family camping on to places accessed by dirt roads this should not be an issue.
PEOPLE DONT PATRONAGE THESE DUMB ASSES THAT ARE CALLED DESIGN ENGINEER! REALITY CHECK—– A PICKUP TRUCK NOT A ROLLS ROYCE!! IF YOUR SO WORRIED ABOUT HOW IT RIDES, DONT BUY A TRUCK BUY A CAR!!
Steal something in the design of rear suspension from the 2020 C8 Corvette as it’s all in the family as it’s like borrowing a sweater from your brother.
I like having a solid rear axle. With the DSSV shocks on my ZR2 it already rides really smooth. However, if people want an IRS option I don’t have an issue with it.
Long life suspension parts…i’m trying to keep my air ride suspension since 2008 on my Suburban LTZ 2008 in perfect shape….but with an average life of 3 years maximum on air strut or air compressor, i’m not sure that 2021 is gonna be Too Much better…..the compressor is still expose to salt and road dust from Québec winter road….good for South US…only.
dumb, but okay. Nothing wrong with the solid axle except people whining about ride in a PICKUP truck. What, should we just gradually evolve the Silverado into a Ridgeline? Will the same people call for GM to make the Silverado unibody? Hell, lets just morph it into a compact crossover. Yea!
The sooner the better/ GM is way behind and really needs to step up– an IRS and badly needed interior upgrade are well over due – I cannot believe Ram has taken over #2 position from Chev– Mary Bara needs to kick some serious ass–
Barra must be removed before GM goes under
Read my comment Then you will understand….
If they can lower the frame with the new suspension, they could probably install batteries between the mounts and the bed. An electric GM truck would be better than that door stop that Tesla is trying to sell.
An electric truck definitely cannot and do not use a solid axle. IRS is a natural for electric motor(s) and would an EV truck use front drive or rear drive? Or both? A HD or 2500 definitely will be solid axle, no doubt it will always be stronger. After a few days the opinions for a IRS or solid axle seems to be 50-50. I don’t think it is much different than when automatics started to show up in trucks. They are now nearly standard, and no other choice at least for Silverado’s.