Front differential swap?

[Freedom Motorsports]

Ok, here are the random thoughts at the moment.

Would it be possible to swap out the auto 4x4 four regular selectable 4x4? I'm curious what that would cost.

Thoughts on a solid axle swap to go along with a conversion to selectable
4x4?

Is there a way to upgrade what is there so that it will be truly more dependable?

 

[ktmhans]

are you trying to get away from the AWD? I know at least with my tahoe its been brought up before. you would need a front diff. transfer case, wiring harness, dash, probly other stuff. most say to sell the truck and get what you want.
I just got mine fixed. hopefully it will be good for another 100K, this time i will keep oil changes up to date or early. doesn't really seam to hurt milage for me compared to what I see some of the posters getting.
Is that what you were asking? DO a search on here youll see

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

I really like the yukon, and we plan to keep it a LONG time, so my thinking is that if I can replace the system with a better one when the time comes, which I am sure is gonna be sooner rather than later, then I can have something that is more dependable, and possibly a lot cooler if I decide to do a solid axle swap.

Thanks for the information though.

 

[ktmhans]

I am told that the orginal front diffs when the adjusters dial in to apply pressure to the carrier bearings and set the proper back lash. a small think metal retainer was bent over to hold the adjusters from backing off.
Well from what I have read and talking to the guy that rebuilt mine. in 06 gm made a much stronger retainer.

supposedly very rarely do the bearings fail. usuall the retainer breakes. you keep driving. bearing loosens up. you keep driveing. then it makes noise and you have someone look at it and it needs to be rebuilt by then.
GM supraseeded the part # on our older units the 06 and newer. at least my dealer here told me that.

I was looking for a tahoe only really because i wanted a 4x4, I believe all yukons have the awd. Then what is the one good deal i find on a truck. bugger, its an AWD tahoe.

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

LOL, yeah, I know the feeling. We looked at a lot of them before settling on this one, although, issues or not, I never leave anything alone anyway. So I have a few choices to make. But to save me a little coin for the moment while giving me time to save a little, I purchased a 48X48 extended warranty today. That way, if it goes out in that time frame then I am not out any more than that. But, by the time it is up I will have been able to save enough to do any kind of swap I want.

I am torn on that, I like the ride for the most part the way it is, it is sophisticated and classy comfortable. But for me, there is nothing like a truck with a solid front axle. That would definitely make for one heck of a DIY thread.....

 

[Cocotits]

So you just wanna be able to choose between auto 4x4, 2wd, 4wh, and 4wl?

That's why I bought my chevy.

I would think it'd be simple but knowing that the gmc comp controls all that most likely not. Be worth lookin into. The full auto can really get you stuck sometimes.

 

[Freedom Motorsports]

So you just wanna be able to choose between auto 4x4, 2wd, 4wh, and 4wl?

That's why I bought my chevy.

I would think it'd be simple but knowing that the gmc comp controls all that most likely not. Be worth lookin into. The full auto can really get you stuck sometimes.

Basically yeah, although I know the push button systems are also not the most dependable systems either, I do like being able to switch it back and forth. In time this Yukon will pass on to my oldest son, around the time he goes to college so I want to make sure it is as absolutely dependable as possible.

That being said, there is something to be said for the "Cool" factor as well and I think that having a Yukon of this caliber, meaning a "Classy" Denali type vehicle that has a solid front axle, manual shift transfer case (if possible), etc would be in order.

Now, for my peace of mind for the time being, to keep surprises from popping up and to make sure I can actually save money to mod the truck when it goes to my son I have bought an extended warranty for it that covers everything for the next 48 months. That will actually run out just in time for him to get it ready for College.