Tahoe handling question

[thrlride]

Hello!

I have a '97 Tahoe 4dr 2wd that I want to handle better. Right now it is lowered 2" and is riding on 275/45/20's. I already added a rear hellwig sway bar and have the belltech nitro active shocks and a hellwig front sway bar on order. Is there anything else I can do to help my truck?

I would like to go down another inch but I'm already having clearance problems with the tires and fenders, what do you guys do to prevent tire/fender rubbing?

[1badgmc]

Have you done the front swaybar too?

I've honestly decided that to get the drop, ride, and handling I want from the rear of our Yukon, bags are the only way to go. I was going to go with a flip kit, helper bags, and swaybar, but that was going to be nearly $900 in parts alone. For just a little more I can have it 4-linked and bagged, so that's the route I will be going in the future.

[thrlride]

The front sway bar is on order so I have high expectations for that. Also, the shocks are on order too. Well see in the next few days.

[1badgmc]

Originally posted by thrlride
The front sway bar is on order so I have high expectations for that. Also, the shocks are on order too. Well see in the next few days.

Cool. Guess I should have read more carefully. :dunce:

How much of a difference did that rear bar make when you put it on? I'm considering putting a rear bar on mine for now just to hold me over a bit. This damn thing has a funky wobble in the rear end over bumps. It's pissing me off.

[thrlride]

I like the rear bar. It got rid of some of that funky wobble. There is still a little wobble but I'm hoping my tired shocks are part of that (83000 miles). When I get aggresive in the corners it seems the front leans more than the rear now so I will post here again when I finish installing the pieces.

[1badgmc]

Originally posted by thrlride
I like the rear bar. It got rid of some of that funky wobble. There is still a little wobble but I'm hoping my tired shocks are part of that (83000 miles). When I get aggresive in the corners it seems the front leans more than the rear now so I will post here again when I finish installing the pieces.

Well that's good to hear. When we bought the Yukon I thought the wobble was because of a bad shock. After installing the drop and new shocks, it's still there. :( :mad: Those damn rear bars should come standard on them from the factory!

[thrlride]

I agree they should come from the factory! How much did you lower your Yukon and what size wheels/tires are you running?

[1badgmc]

Originally posted by thrlride
I agree they should come from the factory! How much did you lower your Yukon and what size wheels/tires are you running?

3" Eibach coils in the front and 2" shackles in the rear. I was going to go with a 3" drop in the rear using hangers and shackles, but when I measured it before the drop the rear was 3/4" lower than the front stock, so I only went 2". I'm wondering if Tahoe/Yukon shackles are different from normal truck shackles, though, because it's sitting a little high in the rear still.

Right now it's on stock wheels with some sh!tty Firestone 30x9.50x15s. Yes, you read that right. :rolleyes: I have some chrome 454SS wheels that I'm going to put some 255/60s on when I get some cash.

I eventually plan to go another 2" in the front using DJM control arms and then 4-link and bag the rear.

[1badgmc]

http://images.cardomain.com/member_img_a/319000-319999/319617_16_full.jpg
http://images.cardomain.com/member_img_a/319000-319999/319617_17_full.jpg

[thrlride]

Is that the grill from your '91 GMC? It looks really good on there!
Here is a picture of my work in progress...


http://images.cardomain.com/member_img_a/257000-257999/257633_6_full.jpg

http://images.cardomain.com/member_img_a/257000-257999/257633_7_full.jpg

[1badgmc]

Originally posted by thrlride
Is that the grill from your '91 GMC? It looks really good on there!


Naw...That's the stock Yukon grille with a Trenz 30-bar insert. It's basically the same thing I had on my '91 years ago except I had painted sidemarkers on it instead of clears.

I like yours. Very clean! I wish we could have found one with the rear hatch instead of barn doors, but oh well. What else have you got planned for it?

[thrlride]

When I was looking at Tahoes I didn't know what to look for but I'm glad I ended up with the rear hatch.

I want to lower the truck another inch and maybe add A/V system to it. Other than that I think I am pretty much done. Of course I have dreams of an escalade clip and supercharger but those are unrealistic for my budget.

[1badgmc]

Originally posted by thrlride
I want to lower the truck another inch and maybe add A/V system to it. Other than that I think I am pretty much done. Of course I have dreams of an escalade clip and supercharger but those are unrealistic for my budget.

That's cool. I can understand the budget constraints. My problem is trying to keep the plans on this thing simple. Aside from the drop, right now I want a set of those halo headlights and a painted rear bumper. Eventually I have an idea for a custom rear bumper that I want to run by my bodyman and I also have an idea for a custom front bumper too. I actually have a couple of ideas for front bumpers. As far as bodywork, I want to shave the antenna, weld up the holes in the roof, and maybe relocate the fuel filler behind the taillight. Suicided rear passenger doors would be cool as hell, but that one will probably never happen. The wife is really wanting a color change too. For the interior I'd like some Escalade chrome handles and some painted plastic trim. I'd like to get a DVD player and some screens in the headrests for the kiddo on road trips. A 2-tone leather upholstery job on the seats would be cool too. :D

[Joe Dirt]

Originally posted by 1badgmc


That's cool. I can understand the budget constraints. My problem is trying to keep the plans on this thing simple. Aside from the drop, right now I want a set of those halo headlights and a painted rear bumper. Eventually I have an idea for a custom rear bumper that I want to run by my bodyman and I also have an idea for a custom front bumper too. I actually have a couple of ideas for front bumpers. As far as bodywork, I want to shave the antenna, weld up the holes in the roof, and maybe relocate the fuel filler behind the taillight. Suicided rear passenger doors would be cool as hell, but that one will probably never happen. The wife is really wanting a color change too. For the interior I'd like some Escalade chrome handles and some painted plastic trim. I'd like to get a DVD player and some screens in the headrests for the kiddo on road trips. A 2-tone leather upholstery job on the seats would be cool too. :D


I see that your still trying to keep the plans simple.:rolleyes: :D

[1badgmc]

Originally posted by Joe Dirt
I see that your still trying to keep the plans simple.:rolleyes: :D

Yep. :D :LOL:

Hey, there may be a lot of stuff in that list, but compared to everything that's been done to my truck, all that stuff is simple!! :cool:

[Joe Dirt]

Originally posted by 1badgmc


Yep. :D :LOL:

Hey, there may be a lot of stuff in that list, but compared to everything that's been done to my truck, all that stuff is simple!! :cool:

Oh yeah, Suicide doors, and relocated gas filler door. Yeah.:D

[thrlride]

I painted a lot of the trim in my interior and like the outcome. It took me forever to sand it smooth though...

You can view lousy pictures at :www.cardomain.com/id/thrlride

[1badgmc]

Originally posted by Joe Dirt


Oh yeah, Suicide doors, and relocated gas filler door. Yeah.:D

Well, like I said, the suicide doors will probably never happen. But the fuel filler relocation on these things would be simple.

[1badgmc]

Originally posted by thrlride
I painted a lot of the trim in my interior and like the outcome. It took me forever to sand it smooth though...

You can view lousy pictures at :www.cardomain.com/id/thrlride

Hey, you shaved your luggage rack the same way I did! :cool:

It looks good. That's about all I want to paint too. I feel your pain on getting it smooth. It took me forever to smooth an entire dash and ALL of the plastic trim for my truck's interior. I decided I won't be doing that again. :LOL:

[Joe Dirt]

Originally posted by 1badgmc


Well, like I said, the suicide doors will probably never happen. But the fuel filler relocation on these things would be simple.

I'd go for the suicide doors personally.:D :D

[1badgmc]

Originally posted by Joe Dirt


I'd go for the suicide doors personally.:D :D

I'm accepting charitable donations at my PayPal account. :D

[Joe Dirt]

Originally posted by 1badgmc


I'm accepting charitable donations at my PayPal account. :D

Yeah, me too.:crazy:

[thrlride]

You painted your whole dash? Wow, that must have taken forever. I know this sounds bad but I panited mine with spray paint. I used a spot filling primer and got it smooth. Then sprayed it till smooth and then cleared it. A little sanding and now it is a better finish than my actual paint job.

I just checked fedex.com, my sway bar and shocks are going to be in today. I sure hope the actives are punishing, this is my family mobile...

[1badgmc]

Originally posted by thrlride
You painted your whole dash? Wow, that must have taken forever.


Yeah, EVERY piece of interior plastic was smoothed and painted and it took FOREVER to get all that crap smoothed out.

You can see pics here: http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=316002

[thrlride]

Looks really good! I really like the escalade/denali front clip. What all is involved in changing that and what are all the parts needed?

[1badgmc]

Originally posted by thrlride
Looks really good! I really like the escalade/denali front clip. What all is involved in changing that and what are all the parts needed?

Hood, grille, lights, and fenders. If you use the Caddy bumper, then you need it and all the hardware associated with it. I went with a '99-'02 Sierra bumper that's been sectioned. I went with genuine GM parts, so the holes for the Caddy cladding had to be filled in as well. I also shaved the antenna and had the fenders trimmed back just a bit to allow the bumper to sit under them.

[bosco]

When painting the interiro pieces to get them smooth easier just scuff them down with 400 grit then use a urethane filler primer. All you have to do then is lightly sand them smooth and paint. Its pretty easy with the filler primer.

[thrlride]

Went to install the sway bar yesterday and I bought the wrong one :wtf:

Hellwigs website had the 7575 listed for the 4x4 and 4x2. Needless to say, 7576 is for the 4x2...

I did install the nitro active shocks though and they seem to take some of the lean and 'bobbing' away.

[Pro Stock John]

Cool Tahoe thread....

1Bad is your Yukon a 4x4?

I very much like the stance of the truck.

Thrillride... a few comments about handling:

1) When in doubt I would do set of poly u-bushings and endlinks for the front swaybar. Those mods will tighten up the cornering a lot. When going to a different swaybar, front or rear, you are typically going for a thicker bar. What is stock?

2) Body roll is something we can only do so much about since the trucks sit pretty tall.

3) Oversteer vs understeer. Oversteer is when the truck pushes in the corners... I think that front swaybar upgrades help a lot more.

I have a 99 Tahoe, LS, 2WD. I just installed 18x8.5's with 255-55-18 Nittos and the truck handles much better. I have a sweeping exit ramp I take a few times a week with the truck and I can take it about 10 mph faster now. I have had 3 different tires on the truck FYI.

I think my 120,000 shocks need replacement so I am researching that.

Right now I want better corner and want to work on the body roll I get when making high speed lane changes... So my plan is to install a bigger diameter front swaybar and some poly u-bushings and endlinks and also plan to lower the truck 1-2" in front and 3" in back. Hopefull lowering it will also help my wheelhope otherwise I am doing to do traction bars.

Here my truck...

It's a 99 Michigan State police truck, that's a fleet color. It has 120K on it now...

-UPD airbox (helps above 3000 rpms)
-Top speed so far is 128mph
-130 speedo
-Factory cross drilled rotors
-2WD
-3.08 gears (might do 4.11's)
-Dynomax catback (helped all over)
-Rebuild trans
-plug change, coolant flush

Next mods are:
-Lowering the truck
-MAF Translator so I can play with leaning it out
-Cooler t-stat and HPP3
-Fuel filter
-Either 3.42's or 4.11's, my stock gears are howling anyhoo

I went with 18's and that much sidewall since I park in downtown Chicago alot, and I tow 5000 lbs (my Firebird) and I didn't feel that 20's would make sense for a 20 hr tow to Louisiana.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid62/pcc844e4d28a217edc70bf20114c4fc14/fc232628.jpg

[thrlride]

That's a sweet state truck!

Actually I think understeer is when your truck pushes into the corner, but I could be wrong.

I did get the correct sway bar and installed it. It came with new endlinks and u-bushings. I couldn't tell much difference with this bar. The rear one made a lot more difference. I also installed Belltech nitro-active shocks all the way around and they helped quite a bit. The 20's made the biggest difference followed by the rear sway bar. I can take sweeping turns a lot faster now. 90 degree turns are quick but a big tahoe can only do so much. My truck is lowered 2" right now, I think I am going to take off the front spindles and sell them and install either 3 inch lowering coils or lowering control arms.

[1badgmc]

Originally posted by thrlride
Actually I think understeer is when your truck pushes into the corner, but I could be wrong.


Correct. Understeer causes you to push the front wheels through the turn, not allowing you to steer.
Oversteer is when your tail starts to come around.

[Pro Stock John]

Oversteer is when the back of the truck is pushing the truck or vehicle... it's like driving on ice and you cut the wheel and you are still getting pushed straight.

At a certain point you can have too much rear swaybar vs front IMHO.

With my old 98 Camaro SS, I changed the front links and bushings and the car didn't kick out as much changing lanes at 80-120mph. I can tell that Tahoe could use the same mod. When I change lanes at high speeds the truck kicks out the same way. I'm going to lower it first, and then modify the handling.