Brake_L8
Member
Figured I'd register and make an intro post, since I do have a few questions about my new daily driver, and likely will continue to have more as I pile on the miles.
Just picked up a 2005 Yukon Denali right after New Years' Day. It's Blue Green Crystal (the only color I wanted) with about 127k on it. Was a one-owner, local truck and serviced exclusively at the dealership near where I live. Seems pretty loaded with rear-seat entertainment, second-row captain's chairs, sunroof, etc. Not sure what was standard vs. options once you got into the Denali trim level.
In any case, I picked it up with the intent of towing my track car, which is an E36 BMW M3. The car + trailer combo is about 6,000 lbs, so I wanted something that would pull that with little effort, and allow me to sleep/work out of the back during the track weekends.
It handles like a drunk baboon on roller skates, rides like a Barcalounger, gets horrific gas mileage and I absolutely love it. I'm a BMW/Euro guy, but the domestic trucks are really where it's at for utility - and the Denali was the nicest, cheapest option that could tow what I needed.
I was able to get partial service records from the dealership, so I know what's been done from 99k to today. It had the cooling system replaced, as well as tie rods, pitman arm and idler arm.
There's an occasional shimmy in the front end, that comes and goes between 45 and 65 mph. Nothing specific brings it about, and if I get on the brakes when it shimmies, it will occasionally get worse. I do have the optional 20's, and I have to think they are hard to keep balanced well. Not sure what else it could be. My old BMW 5-series would exhibit similar behavior and that was due to blown out control arm bushings - but I hear the GMT800s don't really go through bushings/balljoints unless they are in a wreck. This one has never been hit.
Also seem to have a power steering leak. It's been miserably cold lately so I plan on taking it to a local shop on Monday. Looks like a leak from the steering box.
Any ideas re: shimmy would be appreciated! Glad to be a part of the forum, hoping it'll be a good resource.
Just picked up a 2005 Yukon Denali right after New Years' Day. It's Blue Green Crystal (the only color I wanted) with about 127k on it. Was a one-owner, local truck and serviced exclusively at the dealership near where I live. Seems pretty loaded with rear-seat entertainment, second-row captain's chairs, sunroof, etc. Not sure what was standard vs. options once you got into the Denali trim level.
In any case, I picked it up with the intent of towing my track car, which is an E36 BMW M3. The car + trailer combo is about 6,000 lbs, so I wanted something that would pull that with little effort, and allow me to sleep/work out of the back during the track weekends.
It handles like a drunk baboon on roller skates, rides like a Barcalounger, gets horrific gas mileage and I absolutely love it. I'm a BMW/Euro guy, but the domestic trucks are really where it's at for utility - and the Denali was the nicest, cheapest option that could tow what I needed.
I was able to get partial service records from the dealership, so I know what's been done from 99k to today. It had the cooling system replaced, as well as tie rods, pitman arm and idler arm.
There's an occasional shimmy in the front end, that comes and goes between 45 and 65 mph. Nothing specific brings it about, and if I get on the brakes when it shimmies, it will occasionally get worse. I do have the optional 20's, and I have to think they are hard to keep balanced well. Not sure what else it could be. My old BMW 5-series would exhibit similar behavior and that was due to blown out control arm bushings - but I hear the GMT800s don't really go through bushings/balljoints unless they are in a wreck. This one has never been hit.
Also seem to have a power steering leak. It's been miserably cold lately so I plan on taking it to a local shop on Monday. Looks like a leak from the steering box.
Any ideas re: shimmy would be appreciated! Glad to be a part of the forum, hoping it'll be a good resource.
Brake_L8 to the forum.
