Buying a used Suburban - Questions

DeeVeeEight

DeeVeeEight

Fast Pedalphile
Joined
Nov 3, 2008
Messages
2,291
Location
Southern New Jersey, USA
I am looking to buy a used Suburban (4WD) for my daughter. We are looking to spend about 3K on a 95 or newer model. From what I have seen here, a few of you own these trucks or ones similar to them. What should I look out for on these trucks? Is it normal for the front diffy to act so herky jerky when the 4WD is engaged and you make a tight turn? This was a 95 with supposedly 132K on the clock. My 77 Suburban was like that but it had lots of miles on it.

Anyway, your feedback is much appreciated, even with the addition of the thong thing....
 
Driven full size vans forever now....since mid 70's....V8 and always POSI in the rear, I would not BE on the road without posi.....but having said that....I would want some massive rear under there, not some 7.5 inch POS that if you got it in posi would split the case....corpoerate 8.5 is the MINIMUM with posi....

I don't like $WD.....too hard on fuel, massive, hard to work on, and unless you into climbing the Rocky Mountains, or running in Florida swamps....un necessary....:clobbered:
 
She's in school in Massachusetts - lots of snow and ice during the winter - and she says she wants to go skiing - driving to a ski resort in the thing. Gas be damned - 4WD and a big vehicle help to make my baby safe and secure when she is away from her Daddy.
 
We (as in my family) have owned a few over the years ('60, '71, '78, '89, '98, '97 in bought-order) all have been GMC and I have personally driven all but the '60 (before my time) and the '89 (very long story). I have had the most experience with the '98 and '97. They did some changes between those years and I found the '98's steering feel and braking feel to be improved. Both have been very reliable and they are still owned by my father today (same as the '71).

Some general background info: '92-'99 was that particular bodystyle, but in '96 I believe they got a power bump, officialy called the engine line a Vortec and rounded out the look of the interior and made it more appealing. In '98, they changed some more things around (small styling updates like the steering wheel) and that carried thru '99. I may be a little off on things, I haven't researched that generation of 'burb in a while (since we bought the '97 in '03 or '04).
 
DeeVeeEight said:
I am looking to buy a used Suburban (4WD) for my daughter. We are looking to spend about 3K on a 95 or newer model. From what I have seen here, a few of you own these trucks or ones similar to them. What should I look out for on these trucks? Is it normal for the front diffy to act so herky jerky when the 4WD is engaged and you make a tight turn? This was a 95 with supposedly 132K on the clock. My 77 Suburban was like that but it had lots of miles on it.

Anyway, your feedback is much appreciated, even with the addition of the thong thing....
Click to expand...

Check for leaks in the radiator tanks. They ALL go bad, and you just buy a new one from the zone. Other than that, the paint is bad those years, and rust on the roof/hood is common. That's all I have seen in common on all of those years.
 
I had a 94 Tahoe and didn't have any problems with it at all. I sold it with 180K miles on it and bought a 97 with 72K miles. I have had it for about four years and have replaced only the brake booster. The transmission has a weird issue at about 60mph but I think someone may have put a shift kit in it before I bought it. Not a problem, just annoying.


.
 
One more item. Check the wipers. I have changed ALOT of those circuit boards in the wiper motors as well.
 
I had a 93 Burb. Ran great. The 4wd thing about jumping in a tight turn on dry pavement is a common thing- and nothing to worry about. I've had 6 different 4x4's and everyone did that. Never really did any hunting for the root cause, but it's something about the gear ratios front to rear. thay are different. My current 1 ton dually hates the combination of being in 4WD and dry pavement. Put it on something slick or greasy (mud) and it does pretty well, other than the front being so heavy with the diesel setting up there. Stop in soft mud and it sinks.:goodnight:
 
DeeVeeEight said:
Is it normal for the front diffy to act so herky jerky when the 4WD is engaged and you make a tight turn?
Click to expand...

Yes, that is typical of any part time 4WD system. These systems are not designed to be operated on dry pavement. Too much of that and it'll bind and then break. Part time systems should only be activated on loose (gravel, sand etc) or slick surfaces. This allows the two front tires to slip a bit and not have to turn at the exact same rate. Full time 4WD systems are designed so they can be run on dry pavement with no issues.

DC
 
DC3 said:
DeeVeeEight said:
Is it normal for the front diffy to act so herky jerky when the 4WD is engaged and you make a tight turn?
Click to expand...

Yes, that is typical of any part time 4WD system. These systems are not designed to be operated on dry pavement. Too much of that and it'll bind and then break. Part time systems should only be activated on loose (gravel, sand etc) or slick surfaces. This allows the two front tires to slip a bit and not have to turn at the exact same rate. Full time 4WD systems are designed so they can be run on dry pavement with no issues.

DC
Click to expand...

Thank You, this is the information I was looking for.
 
Bought this today for two grand, it's a '95, it has 150K on the clock and drives real nice.

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The 'burb' looks fine....what IS that white thing to the right in pix #2??

either a '58 s/w or a corvair? wagon.....

my mammory is fading....

:clobbered:
 
WOW! Looks like you got a great deal on that Suburban.
I would love to find a 4WD in that shape for 2K.

I have (2) 2WDs....a '93 & '94......the weak link in both of
mine is the 4L60 Tranny, had to replace it in both trucks.
Other than that I've been pleased with the purchases.
 
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