New to me 2001 Suburban 2500

[zachammer85]

Just want to introduce myself here. Recently took ownership of a 2001 Chevy Suburban 2500 with the 6.0 engine and 4wd. Not sure what package but it seems to have all the options except rear steer, air suspension and leather from what I've read online so far. It did come lifted (unsure of the exact height and manufacturer of the lift, seller advertised 4 inches) and with 35 inch tires. I'm planning to use this as a family hauler and tow rig so I'd like to remove the lift and big tires to get it closer to stock. If anyone has any useful suggestions/insight into making that as painless as possible I'm all ears. It has some other bits and pieces that need updated/fixed but drives great overall for being 24 years old. I've owned other gm vehicles in the past including a 1998 s-10, 2008 GMC Canyon, 2011 Silverado and a 1995 Suburban 2500.

 

[stutaeng]

Welcome!

Sounds like a good vehicle. I have 2 of these, a 2wd and a 4x4 project, both with the LQ4. Very solid platform. I love them.

Maybe post some photos of the front suspension. I think those lifts that have higher lift use some brackets that you bolt to the frame, then control arms mount to the bracket. You should be able to remove it, and bolt everything back to factory locations. Hopefully nothing was cut or torched off. Or it could be a torsion bar key lift kit, which should be easier to get back to factory height.

The rear will usually have a simple lift block on the leaf springs/axle. Just remove that and get new u bolts.

Get an alignment after everything is back together.

 

[zachammer85]

Welcome!

Sounds like a good vehicle. I have 2 of these, a 2wd and a 4x4 project, both with the LQ4. Very solid platform. I love them.

Maybe post some photos of the front suspension. I think those lifts that have higher lift use some brackets that you bolt to the frame, then control arms mount to the bracket. You should be able to remove it, and bolt everything back to factory locations. Hopefully nothing was cut or torched off. Or it could be a torsion bar key lift kit, which should be easier to get back to factory height.

The rear will usually have a simple lift block on the leaf springs/axle. Just remove that and get new u bolts.

Get an alignment after everything is back together.

I went out this morning and crawled under to get a better look. appears to be a RCD lift. The frame doesn't appear to be cut anywhere, just a bolt in crossmember behind the transmission it looks like and one up front near the front differential with the torsion bars going to the lower control arms and the rear crossmember and some long bars from the trans crossmember to what I'm assuming is the differential drop bracket. I'll take some pictures to post in a bit.

 

[ORVietVet]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

 

[99Sierra2500]

Welcome from Indiana.

 

[Cadillacmak]

Welcome to the forum from Alaska. I don't have much knowledge to share with you as these are kinda new to me, mostly been a GMT400 guy. What I have done is posted here - https://www.gmt800.com/threads/new-to-me-gmt800-edit-our-new-yukon.9110/

 

[zachammer85]

 

[zachammer85]

Attached a few pictures if anyone wants to see what I'm looking at. The front diff, driveshaft and cv axles are currently not in. No idea why the previous owner didnt install them with the lift.

 

[stutaeng]

RCD IFS 5-6" Lift Kit for 1999-2011 Chevy/GM K1500HD/2500, Truck/Yukon/Suburban/Avalanche

RCD IFS 5-6" Lift Kit for 1999-2011 Chevy/GM K1500HD/2500, Truck/Yukon/Suburban/Avalanche #html-body [data-pb-style=K5NWGHY]{justify-content:flex-start;display:flex;flex-direction:column;background-position:left top;background-size:cover;background-repeat

www.offroaddesign.com

Is it that kit?

Maybe try downloading the instructions if they have them so you can have a better idea of how to "undo" the lift.

Do you know if it was driven much after they had the lift installed? Maybe they had some issues with it and that's why they removed those parts? Did they give them to you?

 

[zachammer85]

RCD IFS 5-6" Lift Kit for 1999-2011 Chevy/GM K1500HD/2500, Truck/Yukon/Suburban/Avalanche

RCD IFS 5-6" Lift Kit for 1999-2011 Chevy/GM K1500HD/2500, Truck/Yukon/Suburban/Avalanche #html-body [data-pb-style=K5NWGHY]{justify-content:flex-start;display:flex;flex-direction:column;background-position:left top;background-size:cover;background-repeat

www.offroaddesign.com

Is it that kit?

Maybe try downloading the instructions if they have them so you can have a better idea of how to "undo" the lift.

Do you know if it was driven much after they had the lift installed? Maybe they had some issues with it and that's why they removed those parts? Did they give them to you?

No idea on miles on the lift. Might be that kit but its hard to tell. The folks I bought it from inherited it from the son-in-law that was stationed overseas and didn't want it anymore. They've had it parked for almost 5 years apparently since then. Been in AZ its whole life so that's a plus at least. They didn't have the 4wd parts any longer so I assume they were sold at some point. Not a big deal to me since I won't be wheeling it anyway as I plan to tow with it and do road trips plus the asking price was too good to pass up. I will source new/used parts to fix the 4wd after I get the stance a bit closer to stock.

 

[zachammer85]

Read over the instructions, it looks like the driver's side diff mount location gets cut back about 1.5 inches and some area of the diff carrier gets cut/clearanced as well. I'll have to check if that's been done but it shouldn't prevent me from replacing the lift kit parts with stock parts to get it back to a normal height in the meantime. I'll have to figure out if I can get a new mounting location welded into place if the original has been cut off. Wondering if maybe that's why the 4wd bits weren't put back on.

Its hard to tell but I think the driver's side mount was cut flush on the frame. The last picture shows it I believe. It looks different from the passenger side one so I assume that's what it is.

 

[4silverado]

Welcome from Kentucky

 

[Cadillacmak]

What I don't like about most lift kits, is they are for looks not function. If I lift it I want improved clearance, articulation, wheel travel, and to pivot on the center of gravity. Unless I just go up a couple inches to see over snow banks.

 

[stutaeng]

What I don't like about most lift kits, is they are for looks not function. If I lift it I want improved clearance, articulation, wheel travel, and to pivot on the center of gravity. Unless I just go up a couple inches to see over snow banks.

I agree.

They do make a "kit" to a SAS for the GMT800 though. I believe it's for the 8 lug variants or HD frames? I believe you use a late (2004+) F250/350 Dana 60 axle.

Edit: like this one....

00-10 WFO GM HD 3" SAS Kit Using Ford Super Duty Axle (Radius Arm) | WFOConcepts.com

Find 00-10 WFO GM HD 3

www.wfoconcepts.com

 

[ORVietVet]

I have said it on this forum before and I will say it again. If you want to wear out your truck, under the body, faster than normal, LIFT IT. The 2004 I used to own, could have easily taken bigger tires and the added stress would have been minimal but when you start changing the steering/suspension/stance, the wear accelerates.

 

[bigdogYJ]

Read over the instructions, it looks like the driver's side diff mount location gets cut back about 1.5 inches and some area of the diff carrier gets cut/clearanced as well. I'll have to check if that's been done but it shouldn't prevent me from replacing the lift kit parts with stock parts to get it back to a normal height in the meantime. I'll have to figure out if I can get a new mounting location welded into place if the original has been cut off. Wondering if maybe that's why the 4wd bits weren't put back on.

Its hard to tell but I think the driver's side mount was cut flush on the frame. The last picture shows it I believe. It looks different from the passenger side one so I assume that's what it is.

For gmt800's any lift kit I think under 8" usually the upper mount gets cut off the diff not the frame. at least thats how its usually done -- people have been known to go tweaker and do all kinds of things.
But since your diff is missing, that shouldn't matter. If you find a replacement diff to make it 4wd again just make sure the upper mount is still there, otherwise you can buy a bracket that bolts onto the diff casing and restores that upper mount to get back to stock. It's made by Cognito Motorsports.

 

[zachammer85]

For gmt800's any lift kit I think under 8" usually the upper mount gets cut off the diff not the frame. at least thats how its usually done -- people have been known to go tweaker and do all kinds of things.
But since your diff is missing, that shouldn't matter. If you find a replacement diff to make it 4wd again just make sure the upper mount is still there, otherwise you can buy a bracket that bolts onto the diff casing and restores that upper mount to get back to stock. It's made by Cognito Motorsports.
View attachment 4150

I believe the upper mount is still there. Wasn't sure if these trucks have inner frame mounts as well or not for the front diff.

 

[bigdogYJ]

This was the picture from when I had my diff pulled out. the only mounts are the 2 bolts on the passenger side to the aluminum bracket (2nd picture), and then the 2 through bolts top and bottom of the differential. That upper mount on the differential is the one that usually gets cut off on the lower height lifts. As long as you have the brackets to attach those 4 bolts then you should be good. If you are missing any of those then I'd question if the rig was truly a 4wd or not before they touched it. Confirm 5th digit of VIN (K is 4wd, C is 2wd). I believe one of the frame brackets was missing on the 2wd frame vs 4wd frames.

 

[bigdogYJ]

Looking over your pictures again, it appears they removed the stock front crossmember and it was replaced with the aftermarket drop bracket. The last picture I can see where your referring to the cut off piece... I think thats where the passenger side of the oem front crossmember attached to. not sure why that was cut (hard to confirm how close the exhaust is in that pic). but I dont think that should affect being able to install a front diff.

 

[zachammer85]

Looking over your pictures again, it appears they removed the stock front crossmember and it was replaced with the aftermarket drop bracket. The last picture I can see where your referring to the cut off piece... I think thats where the passenger side of the oem front crossmember attached to. not sure why that was cut (hard to confirm how close the exhaust is in that pic). but I dont think that should affect being able to install a front diff.

Vin has 5th letter K so it was 4wd from factory. The last picture on my post was the driver's side frame where the drop bracket attached, it looks like part of the lower control arm mount was cut off there. The second to last picture is the passenger side. Sounds like I'll need to source a oem crossmember as well so that's good to know in advance. The exhaust appears to be stock from the manifolds to the cats. Guess I need to start sourcing parts now. Thanks for the info/pictures.