01-06 Tahoe owners...

[Tony_SS]

I recently sold our little HHR family hauler and replaced it with an 01 Tahoe. It does have higher miles... around 166k, and it looks and runs very nice, but it just drives hideous. The bumpsteer is almost unbearable and feels like the truck is on marbles whenever you hit any rut or bump in the road. Is this normal for these?

It looks to be factory shocks, OE 20's and tires with about 30% tread. I plan on adding Bilsteins and new tires... anything else to help make thing behave on the road?

[diesel25lrs]

I have an 02 4x4 lifted 6" & it has 100k on it... I'm getting ready to replace ball joints, pitman & idler arm, bushings & tie rods... I did read that the stock idler arms & pitmans go bad fairly quickly... But i would ck your ball joints first- sounds like that may be the issue...

[tylers88]

yea shake front end down, I have an 04 crew cab truck(same front suspension) and it drives great with 100K, I have replaced both wheels hubs and 1 upper BJ

[SLO_Z28]

Is this normal for these?


No.

Check the idler arm or steering rack bushings, the wheel hubs, ball joints, and intermediate steering shaft. If the alignment is off it will make the truck feel uneasy too. Bottom line is those things drive very nicely when everything works, unlike an expedition that feels like it wants to roll doing 55 on a flat highway...

[Tony_SS]

I know the intermediate shaft is making some noise.. I can feel it a little too.. but I didn't think that had anything to do with how it drove. I'll look into this front end further...

[SLO_Z28]

I know the intermediate shaft is making some noise.. I can feel it a little too.. but I didn't think that had anything to do with how it drove. I'll look into this front end further...

It doesn't, but you'd be surprised how often that was the real complaint when a truck was written up for "driving funny".

[tylers88]

Also Tony, if you plan on adding the Bilsteins get the 5100 series(clear anodized ones) not the 4600(blue and yellow painted)

[Tony_SS]

Also Tony, if you plan on adding the Bilsteins get the 5100 series(clear anodized ones) not the 4600(blue and yellow painted)

I think the 5100's are for lifted apps only? Mine is not lifted... if anything its going to be dropped 2-3" when I'm done. :)

[1972greenmach1]

It sounds like u may have an alignment problem. If the trucks is toed out it will be all over the road over bumps. I would definetly check out the front end. If everything is tight i would recomend getting the alignment checked.

[Tony_SS]

It sounds like u may have an alignment problem. If the trucks is toed out it will be all over the road over bumps. I would definetly check out the front end. If everything is tight i would recomend getting the alignment checked.

Yes, good point, thanks.

[rstone]

I have an 06 crew cab lowered 5 & 7 and it was doing the same thing with 50000 miles on it. The inner tie rod end at the rack were shot. Had them replaced and alined drive like a dream now.

[tylers88]

I think the 5100's are for lifted apps only? Mine is not lifted... if anything its going to be dropped 2-3" when I'm done. :)
you can get them for stock height trucks, but if your going to drop it that wont help anyway

[Tony_SS]

I did get an alignment and the toe was out, so that pretty much fixed the 'marbles' issue.... but it still rides like a giant buggy. Honestly my old HHR rode better than this. All the other parts are said to be tight.

The shocks look original so I'm going to replace those to smooth out the ride.. hopefully that will help. Also, the tires are older so I'm going to put goo rubber on the new 20" BBS wheels I picked up.

Hopefully that will get ride of the bouncy buggy ride.

Any tire and shock recommendations for it? This is a family ride... so nothing harsh. I think Bilsteins might be a bit stiff for it?

[chevelletiger]

I have an 05 tahoe with factory 20 inch wheels 305 55 20 tires ans it has the noise in the steering wheel and all 76000 miles ill get the alinment now

[Tony_SS]

I have an 05 tahoe with factory 20 inch wheels 305 55 20 tires ans it has the noise in the steering wheel and all 76000 miles ill get the alinment now

That is your intermediate steering shaft. GM makes a replacement.. $110 for the part. I did this and it got rid of that clunk.

[jbake]

Tony, make sure u have pick up tires and not car tires. The sidewall of pass tires r not designed for the weight of our heavy beast. When I bought my 99 it had car tires on it and it felt like driving in an old cab over truck!

[Tony_SS]

Pirelli scorpion ATR but they are very well worn and were sitting... they are close to shot, so I'm sure that has a lot to do with it too..

[Cdminter55]

Be sure to look in glove box for label. It will identify ZW7 Premium Smooth Ride Suspension or Z55 Autoride Suspension. I have a 2002 Tahoe with the ZW7, I bought the front shocks online from GMPartsDirect.com.

[Tony_SS]

I scored some 20x9.5 BBS wheels. These are offered as an option for the FJ Cruisers an other Toyotas.. I love the look of them. I'm going to mount them on 305/50 Coopers and then lower the suspension accordingly.. 2/3 drop, keys, springs and new shocks.. nothing too drastic.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/07/195908d1294451439bbsrd20inwheelsimg_2010-1.jpg

[5spd540]

My 03 tahoe is the worst truck I have ever owned

[Tony_SS]

My 03 tahoe is the worst truck I have ever owned

Ok.. care to expand on that?

[5spd540]

All before 100k miles
Cluster bad
3 steering shafts and needs a new one
2 intake leaks and got one now
new trans
pcm went bad at 39000 miles
3front wheel hubs

[MrQuick]

If you are going to buy one go with the 04-06. My inlaws 05 runs like a top. My 05 Suburban with 4x4 and 8.1L is still going with zero issues @ 115K miles. Still on the original brake pads too.

[Tony_SS]

All before 100k miles
Cluster bad
3 steering shafts and needs a new one
2 intake leaks and got one now
new trans
pcm went bad at 39000 miles
3front wheel hubs

That stinks.. sounds like you truly got a lemon...

I know the steering shaft issues is across the board on most GMs... I replaced mine with the updated part.

As for the rest... I'm at 167k on my 01 Tahoe and haven't had any of those issues.

[tooblue]

2003 Tahoe LT 198k ,, No major problems ,, Still factory , AC, Trans, etc.. Runs great.. I have replaced Water pump twice,,, The instrument cluster was / is a problem on 2003-2006. It is a easy fix if you have a problem as the Stepper motors are very inexpensive to purchase. if you have Soldering skills it will cost ya about 30.00 to replace all motors bulbs are cheap also if they burn out. Truck get driven hard for the most part,, 24s lowered , I am working on getting spindles (2inch dropped) so I can get a little front suspension travel back and this will also allow the alignment to be spot on. With out the spindles you will max out your adjustments for alignment (in most cases).
Roger ,,

[Tony_SS]

There is a guy on Ebay who does the whole cluster for 40 something.

Roger, do you think I'd be ok if I only decranked to lower an inch?

And I still need to figure on shocks.... I'm reading Bilsteins aren't good on these... so looking for options there too.

[tooblue]

Roger, do you think I'd be ok if I only decranked to lower an inch?

And I still need to figure on shocks.... I'm reading Bilsteins aren't good on these... so looking for options there too.

Depending on the condition of the torsion bars ,, You should be OK.,, Lots of good information / suggestions for the Tahoes on this forum.. Roger
http://www.tahoeforum.com/

[5spd540]

Also that is not the issues but most of the big ones

[MonzaRacer]

Look at Monroe Reflex shocks, they help with the dippy dippy front to rear nose dive and such, if not available then look at the Gas Magnums. These trucks NEED a stiff shock but it also needs some unloaded compliance too. third choice, well Rancho makes decent stuff(Monroe products) or AC Delco.
Tires Bridgestone Deuller AT Revo2 for if you get out in sloppy stuff or Alenza for street manners. OR Nitto actually. BFG would be a another possibility for me. AND if you can still find decent dealer Hancook have some pretty decent truck tires but they are going away from Korean made to Chinese made, much like Cooper, I really dislike Cooper, they are almost as square as a Garbage Year.
Also as an alignment tech Ill tell you periodic alignments, rotate tires every other oil change by crossing fronts too rear and backs straight forward (ie no directional tires EVER on 4wd or trucks unless track rats).
If its got loose parts in frontend Napa Chassis all the way. Hope this helps.
ALSO when aligning the truck if used on highway, make sure they give it an extra .5 degree positive of caster on right over the right, dont seat getting preferred on cast only camber and toe too. Caster really needs to have that extra .5 Positive on right over left to help it follow road crowns better. And this is from 25 yrs of doing alignments and repairs.