Hard To Find or Discontinued Parts?

[black_03_dakota]

Hello. So, I'm just wondering what parts are hard to find for these trucks from a mechanical or electrical standpoint? I currently have an HHR but, would like to have another truck or suv. I see people seem to like these and even here in the Rust Belt I still see these running around some along with even a few GMT400s as well.

Anyways, so the reason why I'm asking is because with our HHR things like finding new GM strut to knuckle bolts have been discontinued, purchasing a new muffler is getting hard, and some other things at the moment that are slowly disappearing now but, I think the truck stuff might be different since growing up the GM always seem to had the biggest support over Ford and Dodge (now Ram).

Just to narrow down a range I would be more interested in the 2000-2002 Silverado, 2000-2006 Tahoe or Suburban at this point. Right now, I'm just getting my information together so, at least if I know this is the right decision and what I would be getting myself into. BTW, I've been a lifelong Chrysler guy but, unfortunately most of the Chrysler (Dodge) stuff from this era now has a limited parts availability with everything that has transpired in the past 20 years or so. Thank you in advance.

 

[99Sierra2500]

I liked Mopars a lot, there is the old joke: God was a Plymouth guy, he drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden in a Fury. Parts availability is still good, though not getting better, and the vehicles themselves are crazy popular.

 

[stutaeng]

Welcome to the forum!

I've owned a 99 Silverado since I was in college, bought in 2008 from the original owner and it had like 88k. Came originally with a V6, which was really underpowered, but chugged along. Put many miles on it and around 2019 started have issues with the engine, but the truck was in otherwise great shape especially for the year. By then I needed an SUV for my growing family so I bought an 06 Suburban 2500 6.0. I didn't know much of anything vehicle related back then, just knew how to change an alternator, water pump, etc.

The Silverado sat for a year or two, and then finally my wife gave me the go-ahead to do an engine swap. After driving the Suburban for a little bit, I soon discovered (I was basically living under a rock having only driven the V6, TBH) the reliability, power and potential of the legenady "LS engine."

So I "LS swapped" a 5.3 along with a 4L80e into the Silverado, and that's how I wound up here, lol. I've done a few more mods to the truck, but still looks pretty much stock. That truck is a joy to drive. Absolutely love it. Every time I drive it puts a happy face on me. Lol. The Suburban is very nice to drive though.

So yeah, 99-02 trucks (00-02 SUVs) are sweet, but 03-07 "classic" are awesome too. I consider the GMT800 the pinnacle of GM trucks ever produced. We don't have rust down here, so most old trucks just get sun-faded, fender benders, dings, etc. GMT800s are highly sought after nowadays, and a lot of guys buying them are the younger kids because they remember their grandpa or dad having one, so they have achieved the "nostalgic status" as I call it.

We do own a 2013 Town and Country minivan, so I get to deal with some Mopar stuff every now and then.

 

[ORVietVet]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

 

[Cadillacmak]

Welcome to the forum. I would say that out of all the 20 year old vehicles, these are the best for finding parts.

 

[Tonimus]

Welcome from Phoenix. Generally everything is pretty easy to get. The only thing I haven't found an replacement for is the ash tray retaining clip. Everything else I've been able to source.

 

[JorgeS]

GM made a LOT of GMT800s. They ran from 1999-2006 (some lower volumes even later), 7 years, making between 1.2 and 1.8 million per year; probably over 11 million total.
There are a lot still running around.
Many OE parts are certainly discontinued by now, since GM can stop providing service parts (I believe) 10 years after the last year of manufacture. Because of the high voluimes made, there is a very strong aftermarket for parts. I can't think of any parts that would not be available. Even the digital/automatic climate control module controller in my 2005 Yukon is available from more than one aftermarket source.
Their main weakness is rusty brake lines and rusty fuel lines.

 

[black_03_dakota]

GM made a LOT of GMT800s. They ran from 1999-2006 (some lower volumes even later), 7 years, making between 1.2 and 1.8 million per year; probably over 11 million total.
There are a lot still running around.
Many OE parts are certainly discontinued by now, since GM can stop providing service parts (I believe) 10 years after the last year of manufacture. Because of the high voluimes made, there is a very strong aftermarket for parts. I can't think of any parts that would not be available. Even the digital/automatic climate control module controller in my 2005 Yukon is available from more than one aftermarket source.
Their main weakness is rusty brake lines and rusty fuel lines.

Yeah our HHR has the rusty fuel line issue just like these trucks currently and the brake lines are getting rusty along with the rest of the car. It's lived in Indiana for 18 years and we've put 220k miles of the 240k miles on it now so can't complain.

 

[AuroraGirl]

Welcome from Phoenix. Generally everything is pretty easy to get. The only thing I haven't found an replacement for is the ash tray retaining clip. Everything else I've been able to source.

you can probably try finding a good one to make a 3d file for printing it
Or see if GM will order a part run on it

 

[AuroraGirl]

GM made a LOT of GMT800s. They ran from 1999-2006 (some lower volumes even later), 7 years, making between 1.2 and 1.8 million per year; probably over 11 million total.
There are a lot still running around.
Many OE parts are certainly discontinued by now, since GM can stop providing service parts (I believe) 10 years after the last year of manufacture. Because of the high voluimes made, there is a very strong aftermarket for parts. I can't think of any parts that would not be available. Even the digital/automatic climate control module controller in my 2005 Yukon is available from more than one aftermarket source.
Their main weakness is rusty brake lines and rusty fuel lines.

parts required to be supported really only for emissions and engine running only, which is 8 years .
Anything else would be warranty period as per magnusson moss warranty act.

Anything else is generosity or parts sitting in dealers stock

 

[AuroraGirl]

nice thing about gmt800 is if you need brake lines, ac delco and aftermarket sell brake line kits if you dont want to do everything all at once this is just my truck for example

 

[JorgeS]

If your truck has the stability control system, which has two brake lines to the rear, one per side, you may want to have it done. I didn't want to tackle it, and when I took it to my favorite (small) shop the declined it. Turns out that it took them a whole day to bleed the system on a previous truck; you need special equipment that puts the ABS/Stability pump into a bleed mode, and connects to all four corners.
If you're going to do it yourself, avoid stainless (very hard to seal joints), and use NiCopp lines, which are easier to handle & seal, and don't corrode.

 

[JorgeS]

parts required to be supported really only for emissions and engine running only, which is 8 years .
Anything else would be warranty period as per magnusson moss warranty act.

Anything else is generosity or parts sitting in dealers stock

You are correct! Thanks.
I used to work for the Delco Remy division of GM, in the alternator aftermarket.
Not sure if they still do it, but GM used to be good about having parts after the warranty.
If we were going to discontinue a PN, and a reasonable alternative wasn't available (i.e.: use a 100A instead if original 85A), we would work with them to forecast future needs and provide several years, even beyond 10. GM would buy them and warehouse them.
Like I said, they may no longer do that.

 

[AuroraGirl]

You are correct! Thanks.
I used to work for the Delco Remy division of GM, in the alternator aftermarket.
Not sure if they still do it, but GM used to be good about having parts after the warranty.
If we were going to discontinue a PN, and a reasonable alternative wasn't available (i.e.: use a 100A instead if original 85A), we would work with them to forecast future needs and provide several years, even beyond 10. GM would buy them and warehouse them.
Like I said, they may no longer do that.

They are good about it compared to ford and other big makes that I know of, but I heard either Honda or Toyota have superior parts number support for older models, but this was info from a few years ago.

 

[JorgeS]

I had a 1999 Accord. Parking brake cable sheath cracked, allowing water in the cable, and it froze.
I bought a replacement at Advance Auto; the sheath cracked as I was installing it - I returned it.
Went to Honda dealer (in a small city) and they had the cable, in stock, for about the same $$. This was in ~2013, so car was 14 years old. I was pleased.
We now have a 2007 Accord. Two years ago we were able to buy, from the dealer, a wiper mechanism; car was 17 years old. Again, I was pleased.

 

[black_03_dakota]

GM made a LOT of GMT800s. They ran from 1999-2006 (some lower volumes even later), 7 years, making between 1.2 and 1.8 million per year; probably over 11 million total.
There are a lot still running around.
Many OE parts are certainly discontinued by now, since GM can stop providing service parts (I believe) 10 years after the last year of manufacture. Because of the high voluimes made, there is a very strong aftermarket for parts. I can't think of any parts that would not be available. Even the digital/automatic climate control module controller in my 2005 Yukon is available from more than one aftermarket source.
Their main weakness is rusty brake lines and rusty fuel lines.

I just wanted to say thank you again to everyone here. Hopefully, the aftermarket picks up on parts for these trucks just like the older GMT400 and Squarebody trucks. They so far, have definitely seemed to gain popularity based upon what I've seen on a couple of auction sites.

 

[mars2878]

If you're going to do it yourself, avoid stainless (very hard to seal joints), and use NiCopp lines, which are easier to handle & seal, and don't corrode.

I'm from the rustbelt. When replacing hardlines, I use the prebent stainless kits from inline tube. I've never had a sealing issue.

 

[mars2878]

IMHO, the hardest gmt800 parts that currently are or will be the soonest are the following:
Anything Quadrasteer related.
Protec parts.
Traction control parts.
SS or any other specialty submodel parts.
2006 Tahoe LTZ specific parts.
99-02 Medium Oak (peanut butter) interior parts.
99-02 center console keys (haven't seen one in years)

This is my personal experience with working on/stripping vehicles for the last 30+ years in RI/MA.

Your mileage may vary depending upon your market.

 

[AuroraGirl]

I'm from the rustbelt. When replacing hardlines, I use the prebent stainless kits from inline tube. I've never had a sealing issue.

Pre bent is why, the unions would be hard to seal with normal kits because of low quality of them , probably need hydraulic kit to do ss. The pre done ones are already done lol

 

[JorgeS]

I believe some have had issues getting the lines to seal to other components. FYI...NiCop also will not corrode, but is softer than Stainless and easier to seal. I have not seen pre-bent lines from NiCop though, so that may be an issue.