Fosscore's 2013 Suburban LTZ Build Thread

[Fosscore]

 

[Fosscore]

 

[Fosscore]

Here is the master list of parts currently installed (also on the first page of my build thread).

Suspension Modifications

• Cognito Sway Bars 210-90265 (front) and 210-90266 (rear)
• Spohn adjustable panhard bar GMSUV-07-104
• Belltech 1-3"front lowering coilovers Part no. 5403-001 621
• Belltech 2” front spindles Part No. 2509
• Belltech Wheel Alignment Kit 4951
• Belltech Pro Coil Lowering Spring Kit Part No. 34324
• Belltech Rear Street Performance Shocks x 2 Part No. 2410FF
• Energy Suspension 9.9132R Pancake Bump Stops x 2 sets (front upper control arm and rear axle pad after free travel mod)
• M&P USA GM MagneRide Shock & Ride Height Bypass Delete Kit Compatible with 2005-2012 Cadillac, Chevrolet & GMC
• M&P USA Magneride Universal Adapter set for M&P USA Active Electronic Suspension Strut Bypass Kit
• Autoride fuse pulled and non-operational
• Moog front sway bar end links Part Number K700538
• McGaughy’s rear springs (Part no. 0307) with shock relocation Kit 30014 (Removed)

Installed parts list and pictures:

The removed McGauhy's rear springs and shock relocation brackets and OEM auto ride shocks.

 

[Fosscore]

0700 before install.

 

[Fosscore]

Pick up day 2 installed.

 

[Fosscore]

 

[Fosscore]

Impressed with the shock relocation brackets from Belltech which also attach underneath as another point of strength and counteract the downward push/pressure from the shocks vs. the McGaughys version which does not.

 

[Fosscore]

Just hit mileage 111,000.
Cleaned and shined up the engine bay.

Little rubbing from the rear inner front of the tires. Trimmed it straight up and straight across. Haven't noticed that sounds like rustling papers in the rear again thus far.

Polished the inner barrel of the wheels before reinstallation.

 

[89Suburban]

Thanks for posting all of this.

 

[91RS]

You need to get shorter rear sway bar links to get that bar level with the ground. Also, try Maxtrac rear springs. The Belltech rear springs are horrible.

 

[07Burb]

Looking great!

 

[Fosscore]

You need to get shorter rear sway bar links to get that bar level with the ground. Also, try Maxtrac rear springs. The Belltech rear springs are horrible.

@91RS

Thx your input and pointing out that rear sway bar position. Were you thinking about these DJM offset rear end links to bring that sway bar up. IIRC, I think I had them on the NBS Tahoe.

Or were thinking of something else, a straight version, just a a bit shorter to level out that sway bar? LMK, thx.

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]

I found the offset wasn’t necessary on mine. Hellwig offers a few different options.

 

[Fosscore]

I did have something written up, but it appears I have deleted it. Oh well, the pics speak for themselves. The truck looks pretty sweet! A few things to dial in, but the look is amazing and the ride is pretty damn good too. There is some rub up front at full lock and the rear tires were catching that front edge of the fender liner, which I have already trimmed that worn bit out to see how that goes.

Working on end links for getting that rear sway bar more parallel with the ground. Myself and the shop missed that at install, but that's ok, will get it sorted. Have ordered some DJM offset end links to see if my truck will like that set up, otherwise will try something else. I used the same shop I did for the coilovers and shock relocator brackets install from a few years back. Should have just lowered it back then, but needed some time to decide what to do. Many thx to the usual suspects with your advice and answers, even if I went in a different direction with other options/brand parts for the same/similar results, but then again each truck sets up different and it's all subjective and what you are individually after or feel.

I mimicked the 06 Tahoe with almost the same parts, save a few that were changed on the NNBS vs the NBS, e.g the front control arms vs the coilovers, some DJM parts and the NNBS has both swaybars that are aftermarket, but the shocks and panhard bar are the same. The 22s sure fill the fender gap nicely with plenty of sidewall to deal with the constant construction on every road they can find around town and on I-95.

My wife either hasn't noticed the stance or is not saying anything so far even though I have had the rear tires off doing the free travel mod and installing the bump stops. We went to dinner, then to see Top Gun in the theatre one night after it was lowered. I was sort of hoping she would ask, but she only questioned why the truck had to stay overnight and I kind of brushed it off...lol I don't really need the power running boards now as it is pretty easy to slide right into the drivers seat and bump my head on the door frame too..lol.. I have the boards isolated for now, unless she comes along. I will have to tell her at some point because she likes to hoon around every now and then so she doesn't take off the front air deflector or exhaust parking or hammering a bump too hard.

Dropped the truck off at the shop for install at 0700 one morning. Didn't hear from them until about 1500, when my guy called and said the springs are not going to fit, did you order the right ones, they are so tall, how are they going to lower this truck down to match the front, which is installed and ready to go.

I had called Belltech, they called Belltech, the shop owner was looking through other boxes to see if the they had any other springs that might work. They had a lifted truck get the wrong springs sent in the box and had to call the company to overnight them the correct set, so it happens. In the end, he called back near 1700 and said the truck was down and the springs sure as heck worked. He was impressed as he had a few Esky's over time including his last one on 26s until somebody wiped him out and bent the frame. He said it looks really good in the shop.

They kept the truck overnight to finish tightening it up and get it aligned. I picked it up at 1500 the next day and yep was blown away. I almost thought it was too low, but that was first look impressions. It measured out at 32.75 inches all around and with a full tank of fuel. Basically 2 fingers between the fender and tires or if you have fat sausages, maybe 1 finger. I drove home on cloud 9. Couldn't stop looking at it. Yep..like a kid at xmas. I waited a long time to get it done.

Two days later, I went to Lowes to get some river rock bags for landscaping I was working on. 400lbs in the back and it dropped that rear to 32 inches. I did bottom out 2x going home, which revealed that they had put the Energy Suspension pancake bump stops up front on the upper control arm, but not on the frame of axle pad from the free travel mod. I ordered 1 more set of bump stops, drilled out the holes (broke 3 drill bits stepping up in size) but got the job done with a right angle drill, to install the bump stops on the axle pad right in the middle where the OEM jounce stops left a halo mark.

I am pretty stoked with everything to this point and will get a few things dialed in and enjoy the look and ride. Been busy doing some detailing on it, keeping my girls' Buick and Mazda clean, because goodness the girls can destroy those vehicles so fast inside and out. My daughter and her friends did their "senior step up" and decorated their cars with the colored markers on the windows. She asked me to clean it for her, so I did.

I showed my son the Bissell carpet cleaner and he went to town on his Camry floor mats, then his gf's front floor mats too. Trying to get him to do the rest of the carpet and seats, just to freshen it up some more, plus a wash. I told him I would clay bar it and break out the polisher to give it some shine if he would spend some time giving it some more love. We will see how far he gets with that.

 

[91RS]

Yours is lower than mine so you may need the offset links to get it parallel without hitting the panhard bar but you also have the Spohn bar that isn’t a wide as the factory one. Either way, I don’t think it being offset if you don’t need it to be will hurt anything. I does just make it a pain to install.

 

[Fosscore]

M&P USA GM MAGNERIDE SHOCK & RIDE HEIGHT BYPASS DELETE KIT COMPATIBLE WITH 2005-2012 CADILLAC, CHEVROLET & GMC​

This takes care of the the auto ride that I am
not using and is plugged and wired in so that there is no Service Suspension System on the DIC. Plus the compressor fuse is pulled.

Veteran owner small company, can order on Amazon or I called him direct plus text.

M&P USA GM MagneRide Shock & Ride Height Bypass Delete Kit Compatible With 2005-2012 Cadillac, Chevrolet & GMC - Mods & Projects

Our GM Active MagneRide/ Electronic Strut & Ride Height Bypass Kit is plug & play compatible with most 2005-2012 vehicles. Please refer to the compatibility chart image to verify fitment for your vehicle.

modsandprojects.com

 

[Fosscore]

Never get tired of seeing these two rides at our long term friends house. Been friends (4 families, 6 kids, lots of good times together ) since the kids were small. The kids are all 18-20 yrs old and in college.

 

[Fosscore]

A little upgrade from Boost Auto.

 

[Fosscore]

I stopped by BJ's to pick up a few things for work and home. Loaded the Suburban, started it up and shifted to D. But it never made it that far. Got to R and the shifter was smooth as silk top to bottom. No gear engagement. WTF?

Tried it again. Nope. Got out and looked under to see if anything was hanging down. Couldn't see anything at first glance as many thoughts raced through my head of what came next, sitting in the BJ's carpark at peak hour. It was 1700 and my buddy's shop was still open until 1730. I gave him a call to describe what was going on. He told me to get back under the truck and look for the shifter cable and where it attaches to the transmission while we were still on the phone.

I slid back under, well 1/2 way, because there isn't that much clearance anymore...lol..and inside of my wrist found out how hot the exhaust pipe was. Thankfully only a graze in a small spot, but f...n hot!

Sure enough the shift cable end was off the shift cable bracket and about 1/4 of the shift cable bushing was missing. He had me push it back on, start it up, put it in D and drive home, which was a couple miles away in rush hour traffic. He had a box of shift cable bushings at the shop and would bring me one on his way home. We live about 0.5 miles away from each other (been friends for nearly 20 years). Just had my son's Camry in with a nail in the tire and my daughter's car needs to go in for oil change. He is our go to guy for when we need a shop visit.

I crawled back under the truck in my driveway, when he arrived. I pushed the old, likely OEM bushing out, somehow was able to get the replacement in with my left hand, pushed it back on the shift cable bracket and voila, back in business.

I offered to pay him, he said no. So I forced him to take 2 shopping bags of fireworks that my brother had purchased a few months ago when he was visiting us. I have to be away for work, so might as well clear them out to him, since my wife will be there hanging out for the 4th, anyways lol.

This is the style he gave me in orange, because color matters where you cannot see it!