We are fully aware of the current and very ferocious high output war raging within the truck market here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis! Our prized Silverado ZR2 Bison may be just a notch lacking when it comes to the power bragging rights of the competition such as the Ford F-150 Raptor or the Ram TRX. This is no reason to be dismayed here, as it is a model that was built for meticulous navigation. The Multimatic DSSV spool valve dampers and locking front differential offer up their own distinct “flavor of flex” for challenging scenarios.
The Car and Driver crew had their resident suspension expert Dan Edmonds take over as star of the show on a video to explain how the ZR2 suspension works and show truck lovers nationwide how much flex it boasts compared to the competing rigs across the fence. The Silverado ZR2 featured in this sweet video is equipped with the Bison package, which provides extra capability in the form of high-clearance bumpers and underbody protection. The process begins at the front, where the Multimatic DSSV dampers are immediately noticeable.
Inside the shocks are where the spool valves earn their keep, by offering up a heightened sense of control. As Dan turns the wheels to one side, it can be seen how the 3-chamber design does take up a noticeable amount of space. After weighing a mounted wheel and tire, the focus is switched to the rear suspension, which features expertly inverted Multimatic dampers and blocks to offer up the diehard punch behind the obstacle-clearing lift. These inverted rear shocks sit surprisingly a little more inboard than some would expect, acting as superb secret weapons for the task of straddling rocks.
Emmie Hall of Motor Authority has loved the midsize Colorado 02 since it was introduced in 2017, and was thrilled to see the full-size Silverado graduating to such excellent off-road preparedness. Earlier this summer she had the pleasure of testing the strong 6.2-liter V8 engine, which cranks out 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. She remarked on the blog that it is the Multimatic shocks that truly set the 02 apart from the crowd, boasting variable rate spring valves for the most precise tuning in existence.
The keyhole is the opening that allows the shock oil to pass freely into the valve, and here Emmie takes a moment to exclaim that these multimatic shocks are far superior to anything Fox or Bilstein offers up. As she merged onto the pavement just outside Barstow, California, the rear camera mirror video feed was very useful for producing its wider angle of view. As the gang she met up with proceeded to the Ericksen Dry Lakebed, the Hill Descent Control did an excellent job quietly in the background to assist her in making it to the bottom without any lurching or sliding.
Here she clarifies enthusiastically that the Bison’s suspension is far superior to what you’ll be taking on inclines within the Ram 1500 or Ford F-150 Raptor, along with the ability to haul 1,250 pounds of payload and tow 8,800 pounds. Another great feature that wasn’t at all taken for granted on this journey was the in-cabin towing checklist, offering up everything needed to take off with full confidence while responsible for a huge load. We wholeheartedly admire the desire to roam far away from pavement and experience the wild here at Jim Butler, and the ZR2 Bison makes conquering this realm reasonably and thrillingly within reach!