Fosscore's 2013 Suburban LTZ Build Thread

[adventurenali92]

Hey Chase!! @adventurenali92 Thx mate! I’m back already falling into old habits with the TYF as you can see. Lol

She’s a good old girl and the family is excited to have her back.

Gotta hit you up for your latest detailing tricks and products.

The long body is ready for a DA spin to really make her shine.

Going to be a hot sweaty day to get her dialed in.

Hoping all is well over summer for you.

Oh I got all kinds of new goodies to share about hahah

 

[pwtr02ss]

How's the ride in front compare to the originals?

 

[Fosscore]

How's the ride in front compare to the originals?

I need to get some longer drives, but initially feels good all around. Hard to wrangle the keys away from my wife ..

 

[91RS]

I’m curious as well. I had seen some mention about the Belltech coilovers being “cheap” but I think it was more to do with putting them together rather than how they ride and handle.

 

[pwtr02ss]

I need to get some longer drives, but initially feels good all around. Hard to wrangle the keys away from my wife ..

I'm considering going that route when the time comes to replace these struts, especially if the low low isn't enough for me.

 

[Fosscore]

How's the ride in front compare to the originals?

Front - Definitely not worse, maybe better?
Rear - I feel this is the improvement with the new springs and drop shackles. When I hit bumps in the road (not hard around here) and the train tracks, coupled with the sway bar and pan hard bar, the rear feels more controlled and not so bouncy.

Want to get her on the motorway for a longer haul at more speed vs around town stop and start to see how she feels. I have no negatives to report as of today. Just wish a bit lower, but victory in the fact that the wife has no clue and has not commented on the fact that the side steps seem a bit lower to actually slide into the drivers seat rather than stepping up just a bit.

Maybe perception, but I did not measure that distance beforehand, so we will go with a yes.

 

[Fosscore]

Here’s a look at the rear suspension and Black Widow muffler.

Anybody see anything out of the ordinary after the new rear springs and drop shackles have been installed at the shop?

Needs a bit of a clean up under there and some surface rust treatment, but will get to that later.

Gotta like having a dry rear end.

Was also thinking about some new DJM end links but they look too short?

2007-2018 Chevy/GMC Tahoe/Yukon Suburban/Yukon XL Rear Sway Bar End Links for Lowered Suspensions

Enhance your 2007–2018 Chevy/GMC Tahoe, Yukon, Suburban rear suspension with sway bar end links for improved handling and reduced body roll. Buy today.

djmsuspension.com

 

[91RS]

The DJM links are far too short for only a 2” drop. They’re really only needed for 5” or more. Looks like you have a Hellwig sway bar? Did it not come with their end links? Both of mine did and I’m actually fixing to sell it because I needed shorter than that for my 4” drop.

 

[07Burb]

 

[randeez]

I think you need shorter links (rsb should be parallel to ground) looks to be 1.5" or so down from level. But the djm links probably are too short

 

[Fosscore]

 

[Fosscore]

Got home today from work to help out around the house a bit.
And will you look at the BS!! I knew right away what it was.

Squadron Iguana from above. Wife parked under a tree today at the gym. No way around it but phugme. Only a few hours old thankfully and no claw marks on the paint!!

Time for the .50 wash. Not that I need any excuse to freshen up the shine. And a pic of the mild stance. Better than stock.

And back in business in no time with a little sweat. And a few visits from every member of the house lol. At least I know they still need me.

And my friends American Rambler.

 

[05Single]

That rambler is sweet
Any plans for the headlights ? Retrofit ? Morimoto xb ? Alpharex ?
Gonna ever change your avatar ever ?

 

[Fosscore]

That rambler is sweet
Any plans for the headlights ? Retrofit ? Morimoto xb ? Alpharex ?
Gonna ever change your avatar ever ?

Ok pusher.....lol ....that desert heat got you on a roll there!!

Avatar changed.

Those Alpharex lights are a sweet set up, but $$ for the top shelf model. Maybe at some point....would look good and better light output for sure.

Main IG site with some nice trucks on there - lifted and lowered. Headlights and tails as well.

AlphaRex (@alpharexusa) • Instagram photos and videos

83K Followers, 851 Following, 1,727 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from AlphaRex (@alpharexusa)

www.instagram.com

Here's a few pics of what they have.

Chevrolet Suburban (2007-2014)

Illuminate your 10th Gen Chevrolet Suburban with AlphaRex’s premier lighting solutions, designed to match this SUV's impressive scale and family-oriented design. Renowned for its vast interior space and powerful performance, the Suburban is the quintessential vehicle for large families and...

alpharexusa.com

NNBS with sequentials and a pretty cool activation sequence video.

ALPHAREX® on Instagram: "@desert.media Tahoe getting a big refresh with our updated sequential NOVA Series headlights ———————————————————————— #alpharexusa #arexusa #alpharexnovaseries #arexnovaseries #alpharextahoe #arextahoe #alpharextahoe2007 #ar

491 likes, 18 comments - alpharexusa on March 10, 2022: "@desert.media Tahoe getting a big refresh with our updated sequential NOVA Series headlights ———————————————————————— #alpharexusa #arexusa #alpharexnovaseries #arexnovaseries #alpharextahoe #arextahoe #alpharextahoe2007 #arextahoe2007...

www.instagram.com

Off their IG page.

The demo NNBS with both setups displayed.

 

[Sparksalot]

Ok pusher.....lol ....that desert heat got you on a roll there!!

Avatar changed.

Those Alpharex lights are a sweet set up, but $$ for the top shelf model. Maybe at some point....would look good and better light output for sure.

Main IG site with some nice trucks on there - lifted and lowered. Headlights and tails as well.

AlphaRex (@alpharexusa) • Instagram photos and videos

83K Followers, 851 Following, 1,727 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from AlphaRex (@alpharexusa)

www.instagram.com

Here's a few pics of what they have.

Chevrolet Suburban (2007-2014)

Illuminate your 10th Gen Chevrolet Suburban with AlphaRex’s premier lighting solutions, designed to match this SUV's impressive scale and family-oriented design. Renowned for its vast interior space and powerful performance, the Suburban is the quintessential vehicle for large families and...

alpharexusa.com

View attachment 376384


NNBS with sequentials and a pretty cool activation sequence video.

ALPHAREX® on Instagram: "@desert.media Tahoe getting a big refresh with our updated sequential NOVA Series headlights ———————————————————————— #alpharexusa #arexusa #alpharexnovaseries #arexnovaseries #alpharextahoe #arextahoe #alpharextahoe2007 #ar

491 likes, 18 comments - alpharexusa on March 10, 2022: "@desert.media Tahoe getting a big refresh with our updated sequential NOVA Series headlights ———————————————————————— #alpharexusa #arexusa #alpharexnovaseries #arexnovaseries #alpharextahoe #arextahoe #alpharextahoe2007 #arextahoe2007...

www.instagram.com

Off their IG page.
View attachment 376385

The demo NNBS with both setups displayed.
View attachment 376386View attachment 376387View attachment 376388

What truck.

 

[Fosscore]

So the Burb spent the last week down in the Keys, including a spontaneous day trip to Key West and back to Tavernier. The wives and kids went down to pack up our friend's condo he sold back in June, while we came down for the weekend to load both Burbs and his Explorer.

We sunset fished off the dock (the kids we yanking in juvenile baracudas, pinfish, snapper and even a nurse shark). We had a visit from a manatee and kept a close look out for the mama crocodile with her new babies lurking on the property in the fountains and heading out to hunt each night around 8pm down the boat ramp and in front of the fishing dock.

We packed the 3 trucks with as much stuff as we could to bring back to their house and said goodbye to 16 years of ownership. Glad to help out good friends, with many laughs, moody teenagers, a demanding 7 year old, no dogs, Key Lime pie and some great Keys weather.

Fresh water from the dock hose.

Turned out we were down there for lobster mini-season 27 and 28 July and it was busy as anything. Just single file of cars, trucks, boats and motorhomes. One family our friends knew, got their limit of 66 total lobsters. License says 6 per person.

After 566 miles of driving, the Burb averaged 16.2mpg. No CEL and all pressures and temperatures were in spec. Truck ran very well, until today.

I came back a day early with my son, jamming Green Day albums for the 2 hours return to unpack and call it a day. Not even time to wash the long body. Already have that planned out.

My wife rode up in the 2020 Suburban with the other wife and my daughter. They stopped by work to pick up the NNBS and drive it to our friends house to unload. Then I get the call. Driver front tire is leaking air. Not sure exactly, but something had sliced the tire on the tread and it was letting the air out so fast that it was flat in no time. Thankfully she wasn't on I-95 when it happened and managed to park on their flat concrete driveway in the shade.

My friend got it jacked up, the tools out and then couldn't quite get the tire hoist to lower. I wrapped up work and headed over and we got the spare tire lowered and mounted pretty quickly. Was just operator error in getting the correct end of the long bar inserted into the end of the tube to lower the hoist.

I noticed on the front end of the Spare Tire Winch Carrier Hoist, there is a plastic piece that snaps into two spots around the square nut that actually lowers and raises the tire hoist.

This plastic piece actually helps to guide the Spare Wheel Hoist Shaft Guide into place. Probably not a big deal, but it wasn't broken, so I snapped it back into place, hit the hoist with some WD-40, snapped a few pics to plan some under carriage cleaning and surface rust touch up.

 

[Fosscore]

Didn't want you guys to think my detail game was off. Especially after 4 kids, 2 wives and a week in the Keys laid havoc to the interior and exterior.

Thankfully my son washed both Suburbans the day I arrived as they were both trashed from the rain and dirt roads.

He scrubbed the bugs off and got the WDT and Black Burbs both looking pretty good.

The 7 year also helped out and managed not to f up the paint thankfully with any swirls or scratches that I can find...yet.

They were not using regulation wash down gear, but they did a pretty good job with what they could find.....lol

Sound up to hear the wife give her a little punch on departure. Never gets old.

 

[Fosscore]

68766 miles

Truck went to the shop today for the rest of the maintenance left over from May's visit - (Transmission cooler lines, vacuum brake booster, master cylinder, serpentine belt, A/C belt, belt tensioner, transmission filter, fluid and gasket).

Today, the shop installed 2 new front hubs and bearings. The previous units were Timken and lasted less than 18k miles. They were noisy and wobbly. My mechanic decided to put in Precision Hub Assembly Part number 515097 this time.

Had to order 2 new General Grabber 20" tires as well, since the inner tread was almost bald from the bearings. Plus the flat that occurred a few days before this shop visit, I guess came at the right time.

4 tires balanced and rotated with the new tires going on the back and an alignment check. Still dialed in from when the it was in the shop for the coilovers and rear springs/drop shackles 1 month ago in July.

Mobile One synthetic oil change and filter while the truck was there and sent out a sample to Blackstone for analysis.

That hopefully should take care of the maintenance for awhile.

Pretty stoked for my friend. After 6 years, he is finally breaking ground (I think the city has been a major PITA with permitting and their "green needs" )on another 3 bays to add to the 3 bays he has and expand the family shop that has been there since the mid 1950s. I rolled up at 0715 the other morning and there were already 7 people waiting for the 0730 opening. Pretty cool, but they run 100mph every day for 6.5 days per week.

Leaving the shop.

 

[Fosscore]

Time for a little WWFD weekend.

With maintenance out of the way thankfully, I wanted to focus on some little detail jobs to cross off my hit list. I woke up one morning and just starting making notes of all the things to get to.

After a lot of miles down in the Keys, rain, dirt roads, moving, 2 wives, 3 teenagers and a 7 year old - the interior needed some love.

Full vacuum and wipe down. Found wife’s other Air Pod. Lol luckily not sucked up. Tortilla chips and hair ties between the center console and front seats. Coffee drips on the perf seats grrrr, on the center console, dont' even get me started on the cup holders and catch all by the stereo lol, dried French fries in the seat belt holders 3rd row, a mystery brown dried liquid on the floor liners. Floor liners removed, scrubbed and hosed off. Some gooey spot on the carpet, under the 3rd row seats. Resolve carpet spray and a bit of a scrub. Mystery dried brown something in the panel cracks in the cargo area. And why do the women insist on touching every glass surface?

Moving on to the fun stuff.

Before hoisting the spare tire, I did a little clean up in the rear and touched up with spray paint some of the surface rusty spots. Still needs more attention but a good start.

Hit the spare tire with some paint to cover the rust before hoisting it back into place. I did not clean the tire and shine it up, but the thought did cross my mind lol.

Resprayed the hitch before installing the closeout.

Polished the wheels out.

Had to cover the holes in the front bumper from the Missouri front license plate (Florida is a rear plate only state). Wish I could find a close out for the front bumper, but have not seen one, if it even exists....hmmmm....

Grabbed some license plate screw caps and color matched them. Then snapped them in place over the screw heads. Much cleaner.

Polished out the front grille. Yes I hit every hole with Flitz.

Sanded a few jagged edges on the front air deflector.

 

[07Burb]

68766 miles

Truck went to the shop today for the rest of the maintenance left over from May's visit - (Transmission cooler lines, vacuum brake booster, master cylinder, serpentine belt, A/C belt, belt tensioner, transmission filter, fluid and gasket).

Today, the shop installed 2 new front hubs and bearings. The previous units were Timken and lasted less than 18k miles. They were noisy and wobbly. My mechanic decided to put in Precision this time.

View attachment 377480

Had to order 2 new General Grabber 20" tires as well, since the inner tread was almost bald from the bearings. Plus the flat that occurred a few days before this shop visit, I guess came at the right time.

View attachment 377484

4 tires balanced and rotated with the new tires going on the back and an alignment check. Still dialed in from when the it was in the shop for the coilovers and rear springs/drop shackles 1 month ago in July.

Mobile One synthetic oil change and filter while the truck was there and sent out a sample to Blackstone for analysis.

View attachment 377481

That hopefully should take care of the maintenance for awhile.

Pretty stoked for my friend. After 6 years, he is finally breaking ground (I think the city has been a major PITA with permitting and their "green needs" on another 3 bays to add to the 3 bays he has and expand the family shop that has been there since the mid 1950s. I rolled up at 0715 the other morning and there were already 7 people waiting for the 0730 opening. Pretty cool, but they run 100mph every day for 6.5 days per week.

Leaving the shop.
View attachment 377483

still weird that those Timken's didn't last longer than they did! Glad it was caught, tho. Hope the Precision units last longer!!