My Project Tahoe

[DadsToy]

Just purchase a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe, really cheap. Had bought this so we could tow a small camper with it. But I wanted something that I could play with. Wanted to always build a street rod of some kind. With the available after market parts for these cars. Seem to be a perfect fit. And they are pretty easy access to work on. Has the 5.3L V8 with, 293,000 miles. Oh and its still going strong. Transmission was replaced about 4 years ago with a new torque converter. Shifts smooth and no issues. The only issue it has, on a cold start it has a tick noise. Last about less than a minute and goes away. Thinking its a lifter not working right. I change the oil and added Mystery Oil in hopes of getting rid of a stuck lifter and removal of any slug. Seems to be working, cause over time the lifter noise goes away faster. Once warmed up it doesn't do it again. But with that in mind I'll do a new cam swap and change out the lifters later. So the other problem she has is the steering is loose. Lot of play in the steering wheel. So first order of business rebuilding of the front suspension. And since I am going to be installing new wheel bearings. I am going to drop it 2/3".

Crown Suspension front 2" spindles and 3" rear springs.

Out with the old and in with the new. Yes, the brakes are going to be upgrade to z32 with new calipers, pads, brake lines.

 

[DadsToy]

Had to remove the hub bearing bolts to use on the new spindles. So with that in mind I wanted to remove the old bearings. Just in case I don't like the drop, I could reuse the old Spindles.

If you ever have to remove old front bearings. This tool is a life saver. Couple wacks with a Big Hammer and its off.

Oh and PB Blaster is your friend. Totally soak all nuts, bolts etc and let it set for 15-20min. Let it work, made disassembly faster and easier.

 

[DadsToy]

So now the front suspension is completed, onto the rear. Installing 3" drop springs with Firestone bag inserts. The Crown kit also comes with shock extenders. So using the shocks that are on the car for now. Might upgrade those later as time permits. The goal right now is to update the front suspension and go ahead and drop it while the work is being done. Knocking out 2 birds with one stone...lol. Winter is coming and I don't like working in the cold. So just trying to get things done before it gets too cold on me. I also got new bump stops. But had to remove the back ones. Where to long. Will have to cut them down after the car has time to settle in on the new hardware.

New spring vs old spring

Little bit of old and new. Budget build. Here you can see the Firestone air bags and the drop shock bracket. The yellow bump stop was removed. Trying to figure out how much I should cut off. My other concern is the spring. If you jack the car up on one side the spring will fall out. There is no tension to hold it up into the mount.

 

[DadsToy]

Before

After.
Not much of a difference. I think it will look better once I get 20" wheels. Didn't won't to slam it just yet. Remember, I got this in order to tow a small camper for me and the DW to vacation in. So the bags will help with the weight. I go today and get it aligned. I kind of like the front to be a little lower. The back I think sets lower than the front. I wonder if I need to adjust the torque arms cams. I had set them back to the original settings. Any thoughts on how to make this a little lower in the front...

 

[MassHoe04]

Mine came from PO with satin Torque Thrust rims with Yokohama Parada 285/55 R20 sport tread tires. Too slick for New England winters for me and I did not have cash to put AT tires on the 20" rims. $$$

I swapped for a beat up set of 16" rims with 245/75 R16 tires off a 1990's Silverado that was listed on Craigslist for a total of $400 for the entire truck. The wheels I gave him netted $800 on the sale of his truck!

Eh... I got a set of skinnier tires with more tread, that were better for the winter than the slicks I had on the sport rims.

Something like what I gave away would be perfect for a lowered Tahoe.

 

[DadsToy]

Mine came from PO with satin Torque Thrust rims with Yokohama Parada 285/55 R20 sport tread tires. Too slick for New England winters for me and I did not have cash to put AT tires on the 20" rims. $$$

I swapped for a beat up set of 16" rims with 245/75 R16 tires off a 1990's Silverado that was listed on Craigslist for a total of $400 for the entire truck. The wheels I gave him netted $800 on the sale of his truck!

Eh... I got a set of skinnier tires with more tread, that were better for the winter than the slicks I had on the sport rims.

Something like what I gave away would be perfect for a lowered Tahoe.

View attachment 385231

Very cool. I think I'll just find some stock GMC 20" wheels with good rubber on them. Can find them cheap and would be a direct bolt on. The 18" that are on there now are from what I think is a 2015 year.

 

[DadsToy]

Okay, just got back from the alignment shop. Now everything is point straight. It seems the front has drop some too. So what ever they did seem to help to drop it. Now the only thing I don't like so far about the drop kit is the rear springs. They cause the back end to bounce. Just wonder if new shocks would help with that issue. Anyone else had this same problem. I keep the old springs just in case I didn't like the drop. Might concerned cut one coil off and reinstall them. But I don't think I'll be able to get the air bags out of the new coils. Maybe adding more air to the bags would help. I only have 10lbs of air in them now. Have to say, a lot of the play in the steering is gone. Old ball joints and tie rods where the main issue. Lot safer to drive now.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Is ZW7/G65 listed on your rpos?

 

[DadsToy]

Is ZW7/G65 listed on your rpos?

I really don't know what you are asking?

 

[Sparksalot]

I really don't know what you are asking?

In the glovebox, the gray sticker lists the RPO codes. This is one he asked about.

 

[RAMurphy]

This code will tell the group here what kind of suspension came with your vehicle. Depending on that code, it gives the forum team the ability to help troubleshoot your possible bounce issue.

 

[DadsToy]

Is ZW7/G65 listed on your rpos?

Yes I have those codes

 

[DadsToy]

Drove to the hardware store the other day. The car has almost like a death wobble. I used to have a Jeep Grand Cherokee that did the same thing. But it was 4wd and was a common thing on Jeeps. Thinking about upgrading the shock to KBD Mono-Max shocks. You can diffidently tell the new springs can't handle the weight of the car. Very disappointed. Just glad I installed the air bags.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Drove to the hardware store the other day. The car has almost like a death wobble. I used to have a Jeep Grand Cherokee that did the same thing. But it was 4wd and was a common thing on Jeeps. Thinking about upgrading the shock to KBD Mono-Max shocks. You can diffidently tell the new springs can't handle the weight of the car. Very disappointed. Just glad I installed the air bags.
View attachment 385396

Many of us here have went with the Bilstein 4600 shocks. Really good shocks. I lowered 2/3 using Crown components also. I was on a budget, so I didn't go with the front spindles, went with the lowering keys.
When you say "death wobble", what exactly is it doing? Was this after the drop? Or did you notice it before that?

 

[DadsToy]

Many of us here have went with the Bilstein 4600 shocks. Really good shocks. I lowered 2/3 using Crown components also. I was on a budget, so I didn't go with the front spindles, went with the lowering keys.
When you say "death wobble", what exactly is it doing? Was this after the drop? Or did you notice it before that?

Wobble was after I drop it. Rode great before. Matter fact it rode and took corners really good. Now not so much now. If you every rode in a Jeep you would know what the "Death Wobble is". Its where it would roll from side to side when you hit a bump in the road. Or turn to sharp. You can tell the Crown springs are not that strong. I can stand on the rear bumper and jump up and down on the car. Can make it almost bottom out. And that is with 10lbs of air in the air bags. After reviewing other peoples drop kit experiences. The Crown seemed the best for the money. Heard the Bel-Techs where way to soft.

 

[Tonyv__]

Bilstein made a big difference on my 00 like @Tonyrodz recommended. My Tahoe used to bounce like a boat down the highway prior to the Bilsteins. But I’ve never had death wobble

 

[DadsToy]

Bilstein made a big difference on my 00 like @Tonyrodz recommended. My Tahoe used to bounce like a boat down the highway prior to the Bilsteins. But I’ve never had death wobble

Thanks for the input. I'll have to check them out.

 

[Bill Barnes]

My 2005 Yukon XL has the ZW7 RPO code, known as the Premium Smooth Ride option. When you replace the shocks or springs, you have to replace both at the same time, at least according to Bilstein. I changed from AC Delco to Bilstein, and there was a huge difference in ride and handling, for the better. Also, you really need to get new spring seat insulators - they're very important and not expensive.

 

[Bill Barnes]

Replace both insulators, upper and lower, on each side.

 

[DadsToy]

Replace both insulators, upper and lower, on each side.

Thanks for the info. I'll look into replacing the insulators when I do the shocks. They didn't seem all that bad. But they are over 20 years old. Might as well.