FW_Z71Burb
Well-Known Member
Also, heckuva way for the Burb to celebrate one year of ownership.. I picked her up in Lubbock and drove her back a year ago yesterday
FW_Z71Burb's 2002 Suburban Z71
- Thread starter FW_Z71Burb
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stutaeng
Well-Known Member
Awesome!
Where did you buy the brakes if you don't mind me asking?
My 99 Silverado has had the best life on the brake pads of all the vehicles I've ever owned, especially the OEM pads. I just ordered some cheap rear pads and AC rotors because they are worn out. Only went with cheap ones because I'm planning on doing a rear axle swap. But I was looking at my records and here's what I've replaced:
Fronts
2009 My mechanic replaced them with dealer pads around 120k, kept rotors (I remember my mechanic saying they still had plenty of life)
Dec. 2019 - 255k miles. Replaced front pads and rotors with AAP premium parts
July 2025 - 276k miles. Replaced front pads and rotors with 2019 Silverado large brake upgrade (replaced due to wanting to upgrade: pads still had plenty of life...)
Rears
April 2016 225k miles. Pads only from Oreilley's (I remember my mechanic saying pads still had life left)
Currently at 288k (225k on the original rear pads and 288k on the rear rotors is mind-boggling, if you ask me!)
Where did you buy the brakes if you don't mind me asking?
My 99 Silverado has had the best life on the brake pads of all the vehicles I've ever owned, especially the OEM pads. I just ordered some cheap rear pads and AC rotors because they are worn out. Only went with cheap ones because I'm planning on doing a rear axle swap. But I was looking at my records and here's what I've replaced:
Fronts
2009 My mechanic replaced them with dealer pads around 120k, kept rotors (I remember my mechanic saying they still had plenty of life)
Dec. 2019 - 255k miles. Replaced front pads and rotors with AAP premium parts
July 2025 - 276k miles. Replaced front pads and rotors with 2019 Silverado large brake upgrade (replaced due to wanting to upgrade: pads still had plenty of life...)
Rears
April 2016 225k miles. Pads only from Oreilley's (I remember my mechanic saying pads still had life left)
Currently at 288k (225k on the original rear pads and 288k on the rear rotors is mind-boggling, if you ask me!)
FW_Z71Burb
Well-Known Member
My mechanic did all the work and bought all the parts :/ wish I could be more help and say I did all the work!
FW_Z71Burb
Well-Known Member
Happy Father’s Day, GMT800!
At one time, I wanted to black out my spider web wheels on my 2005 Tahoe Z71. Then, on a trip to the coast, I saw a blacked out set of spider web wheels and that cured me. Did not like the look. I did get some wheels off my boss at the time, that came off his GMC pickup truck, FOR FREE.
FW_Z71Burb
Well-Known Member
good memory.. i go back and forth on it. i think if they were restored to look new I'd be happy with em as is - i am worried about doing it and then it looking like crap and then i'm stuck
FW_Z71Burb
Well-Known Member
Rented a car for a work trip to Tulsa and ended up in a 3k mile Tacoma TRD pro. Took a little detour on the way home through Turner Falls, OK area. Can’t believe it has a 4 banger turbo
FW_Z71Burb
Well-Known Member
Okay, I agree with you.: seeing it on this makes me want to keep the wheels factory
2002 Chevy Tahoe Z71 for sale by owner - Houston, TX - craigslist
5.3L V8 engine, 285 horsepower, it comes with a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and a 4-wheel drive, good tires, the Interior features include air conditioning, AM/FM stereo with CD...
FW_Z71Burb
Well-Known Member
Although, this DOES look a lot better with less black and more matte on the wheels
stutaeng
Well-Known Member
I like that look. I put newest generation of Pacifica OEM black wheels on our white 2013 Town and County minivan. I didn't like the look, but it's grown on me.
I swapped the wheels because on those vans you can also do an OEM 2 piston HD "big brake" upgrade...almost similar to our GMT800s, lol. So I'm planning on doing that brake upgrade...
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FW_Z71Burb
Well-Known Member
FW_Z71Burb
Well-Known Member
That sounds like a really wise investment. Cool that that’s possible on those. How long have you had the T&C?
stutaeng
Well-Known Member
We bought it the Summer of 2015 with like 27k miles. It's now like 103k. Can't say that it's been extremely reliable because it had the all-too-common TIPM (installed a fuel pump relay bypass), and had a ECU issue where the computer wouldn't command the alternator to charge. A few other smaller issues and now I have to replace the torque converter (not locking up) soon. Apparently a common thing on these 62TE transmissions...SMH
My wife was not driving it much until this past academic year because now our kids are in 2 schools. Our other soccer mom van is or 2020 Express passenger van.
Will try to keep the minivan for a few more years. Learning diagnostics on them is a must if you want to keep your least cost to operate. Otherwise you'll go broke paying a shop.
Main reason why I like so much the GMT800s. No other generation of vehicles beats them for durability, easy of troubleshoot and low cost of repairs. Truly the lowest cost of ownership. My 99 Silverado and 06 Suburban 2500 are both about to hit 300k each...definitely the best and most reliable vehicles I've ever owned.
FW_Z71Burb
Well-Known Member
Damn you got a fleet. Doesn’t hurt to have two kid movers. What do you use the Burb for?
On the Odyssey all I’ve had to do is:
Muzzled the variable cylinder management system so it doesn’t operate
Trans fluid drain and fill 3X
New tires
AC recharge
I’m $4700 in on that car and 148k miles, about to give it another oil change for $30 in the driveway. Loving it. Fortunately it was pretty well maintained by the previous two owners.
Nothing beats the GMT800! I wish I could stock up and essentially have em for life or watch their value climb and climb and sell em
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stutaeng
Well-Known Member
Nice!
The Suburban gets alternated as a daily driver for work, or weekends to kid's games, or errands. A few weeks ago I took it for work to San Antonio, but normally we have company trucks for out of town travels, or we fly.
FW_Z71Burb
Well-Known Member
Very nice. Good to have a second vehicle option for sure. Assume she did fine on the SA road trip?
I’ve only seen a couple 2500 burbs out in the wild in the past year or so!
FW_Z71Burb
Well-Known Member
Grandpa’s owned since new 2002 Burb, got to drive it tonight… smooth as butter.
It also made me realize the previous owner of ours installed a louder muffler for sure. Sounds great, but The highway drone on our Burb is starting to get old!
It also made me realize the previous owner of ours installed a louder muffler for sure. Sounds great, but The highway drone on our Burb is starting to get old!
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stutaeng
Well-Known Member
Yes, I love the 4.10 gears on those trucks. Cruises a bit higher on the RPM, but the LS just purrs. Passing, it just goes without any downshifthing. Especially for a 6300 lb-ish curb weight.
Interesting observation about your muffler. You hadn't noticed that?
My 06 Suburban had some loud @$$ aftermarket mufflers from the PO. Drove me nuts and got laughed at to boot, lol. I found an OEM muffler and paid a local shop to install that for $100...
FW_Z71Burb
Well-Known Member
I had noticed it and felt like it was louder than I remember our family vehicle being. Driving my grandpas confirmed it.
I might replace the muffler then. Or just do the whole exhaust and cats and muffler from the Y-pipe back when budget allows. Feel like the old cats are restricting flow a little
FW_Z71Burb
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