Any Suburban owners out there? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pj67coll · #1 12-30-2009, 08:35 PM

Past or present? I'd like your opinions on the reliability of of any version of the square shaped Chevy/GMC Suburban that ceased production in 1999. Not about to buy one any time soon but they are on my radar for a future vehicle and I'm curious as to realistic reports about any issues. Not fuel consumption. I'm aware they suck but that's not a consideration.

- Peter.

Hatterasguy · #2 12-30-2009, 08:59 PM

My friend has a 1997 Yukon as his plow truck, its been pretty damn good. About 225kish miles and has not lead an easy life. He is about to junk it since the 4wd and starter just went out.

PaulC · #3 12-30-2009, 09:00 PM

I know several people who have owned pre-2000 Suburbans, and my father once had a '99 Tahoe, which is a basically a Suburban on a shorter wheelbase. They have been pretty reliable vehicles, but the 1500-series Suburbans have a squishy brake feel. In a 1992-1999 model you basically have to push the brake pedal through about 2 inches of slop before any meaningful retardation of speed occurs. The 2500-series has a different brake booster and does not exhibit this problem. The drivetrain is pretty simple and durable, and gas mileage sucks. Expect about 12 around town and 17-18 on the highway, as long as you keep the speed at a reasonable level. At the age of the vehicles in question, maintenance is a greater predictor of reliability than any other factor. Tough vehicles, and 4x4 versions shod with a decent tire are good off-road.

pj67coll · #4 12-30-2009, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

The 2500-series has a different brake booster and does not exhibit this problem.

Any idea if a 2500 series brake booster would retrofit to a 1500? Not that I'd necessarily do that if it was a pita.

- Peter.

PaulC · #5 12-30-2009, 09:09 PM

The 1500-series was a vacuum booster, basically the same design as the average car. The 2500-series is a hydraulic booster, calibrated to assist much larger wheel cylinders and calipers than found in the 1500-series. I'm not 100% certain, but I think its a case of comparing apples vs. oranges.

OTO, this era Chevy truck has huge aftermarket/upgrade support. Perhaps such an upgrade has been done. I would recommend a web search.

catmandoo62 · #6 12-30-2009, 11:08 PM

sure you can swap the brake booster but then you also have to swap the powersteering pump as it has an extra port for the hose to the hydraboost.all diesel pickups and subs 1/2,3/4 and 1 tons use the hydraboost as the diesel makes no vacuum.thing about em is if the engine dies you lose brakes now not after a couple pumps of the pedal like vac brakes.if i was looking for one i'd look at the 95's.they are the last year of the obd-I system,and first year of the new style dash.i had a 92 and it loved snow.

pj67coll · #7 12-30-2009, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

sure you can swap the brake booster but then you also have to swap the powersteering pump as it has an extra port for the hose to the hydraboost.all diesel pickups and subs 1/2,3/4 and 1 tons use the hydraboost as the diesel makes no vacuum.thing about em is if the engine dies you lose brakes now not after a couple pumps of the pedal like vac brakes.if i was looking for one i'd look at the 95's.they are the last year of the obd-I system,and first year of the new style dash.i had a 92 and it loved snow.

Why is OBDI better than OBDII?

- Peter.

catmandoo62 · #8 12-31-2009, 08:13 AM

less b.s.and you can get codes with a paperclip.also i believe 95 was the last year for the floor shift 4x4,after that they went to the electric buttons on the dash.i myself prefer to know it's in 4 wheel drive not think it is because the light says so.my 2000 sub has had the 4x4 dash switch replaced at least twice that i know of.

E150GT · #9 12-31-2009, 09:27 AM

My parents have a '97 Tahoe. It's transmission just let go at 180k. The engine is good, but it seems the rest of the car is falling apart. The windows are slow, the radio screen went out, the CD and tape deck went kaput, the headliner fell down and the A/C compressor crapped out. You will need to keep an eye out for the little circuit boards that control a few things on this car like the tail lights and wipers. They fail and leave you with no windshield wipers or brakelights. Also for some reason the battery cables corrode from the inside out so you dont really see any corrosion on the terminals but its there and it caused us to think that the starter was bad. It wasnt. The brakes have a terrible feel to them even when everything is in working order. I for one hate that car, but I must say that the engine is very powerful and can get decent highway mileage. My parents claim a solid 22 mpg on a road trip to new york. I think in our case the car would have lasted longer if my parents were the type to maintain a car, but some of the little things I dont think have to do with maintenance and would have broken anyway. Just my thoughts of that car. By the way, we have a 1997 tahoe for sale cheap! bad transmission...

meltedpanda · #10 12-31-2009, 09:35 AM

I have owned 3 88- 90-93. everyone was awesome, and reliable. No major problems other than I just wore them out ( hauled horses)

Stoney · #11 12-31-2009, 10:59 AM

I have a number of co workers and friends that own or have owned the Suburban and Takoe lines and all said the same things

1) Brakes-Full size Subs have a brake system from hell-lots of issues with the rear end if you aren't anal about maintainence.

2) Dash circuit boards-they tend to fry and try getting replacements! One Russian guy I know has made a living out of remanufacturing used GM stuff from the mod 90's. (Funny most of the stuff still used radio Shack quality full sized resistors, etc).

3) Fasteners and Plastic - The fasteners tend to snap leaving interior plastic panels to flap, vibrate and squeak. Replacement fasteners are no better made than the originals.

4) Underhood wiring and Vac tubing-Engine heat on the small chassis models bakes the harness and the insulation cakes off, Any vac tubing lasts 5 years Max.

5) GM dealers (if there are any left in your 'hood!) tend to NOT want to work on these beasts because NONE of the new guys know how to trouble track! All they want to do is parts swap and see item #2. Best bet is an Indy and a PnP for parts.

6) GM had a ****ty track record with their diesels.

johnjzjz · #12 12-31-2009, 11:21 AM

we had for the race team a 1986 2500 4X4 350 4 bbl carb 700 R4 trans got it used in 89 56,000 miles think we paid 4 / or 5 thousand for it when it went to the junk yard it had 375,000 miles 3 engines 2 transmissions one transfercase dozens of brake jobs and rotors - we towed, plowed, yanked trees from the ground and had room for 6 with out the rear seat for 2 more, got an average if 13 to 15 to the gallon loved the truck when the body broke away from the frame when you steped on the foot brake one day it was time to give it up

replace it with a 2003 silverado 2500 HD 4 door crew cab no duelly diesel allison automatic 5 speed gets the same 14 / 15 miles to the gallon and pulls our 10,000 pound race unit at 70 with the cruse on and you cant hear the diesel with the radio off up and down the hills in PA

the suburban was great truck and loved the rear barn doors pass on a tail gate unit but it depends on what you are going to do - reaching in 3 feet with the gate open sucks for moving stuff just my take only thing i wish it had was leather instead of the cloth it was red and tan with red bench seat in front not the buckets -- jz

catmandoo62 · #13 12-31-2009, 03:54 PM

leather sucks,always sliding down the seat.

johnjzjz · #14 12-31-2009, 04:17 PM

the race crew at the motorcycle road race events RACE in the rain and after a weekend in poring rain in summit point West Virginia or NH sitting in the truck driving back with 5 / 6 people your butt ends up wet, and being wet for 4 5 and 6 hours you turn into a prune guess the location - plus the truck seats take a few days to dry out with the doors open - i could have lived with sliding YEP -- jz

LUVMBDiesels · #15 12-31-2009, 04:51 PM

My 1999 Suburban has survived even being flipped up onto its side!
They are tough trucks. However to be fair here are the things that have gone wrong on her in 162000 miles. I treat her like my MB's getting synthetic everything. I do the oil every 4000 miles and the transmission,transfer case, and both diffs every 30000.

brakes went at 25000 - big deal they are normal wear items. Hoever they are too small for the truck and go pretty fast.

Here is what has left me stranded at the side of the road...

At 47000 the computer went when the Crank Position Sensor took it out. Actually the CPS took out the replacement computer too before the dealer realized the CPS was at fault. This was replaced under warranty.

At 70000 I went to put the truck into 4hi and she would not engage the front axle. It turned out that the solenoid that engages the front wheels FELL OFF THE FRONT AXLE! That was a $130 fix.

At 95000 the fuel pump went in my ex-wife's driveway No warning it just cut out. The pump cost me $400 to have replaced plus a full tank of gas. However, the pump took out the injector 'spider' which cost me almos $2000 to replace!

At 105000 the CPS went again. Lucky for me it did NOT fry the computer this time. I think it was around $100 for a new one

At 130000 the MAF sensor went. That was about $130

At 145000 I flipped the truck over on her right side skidding on black ice
Once they righted her, I had to replace the right side glass and both door glass in the rear barn doors. The truck started right up and drove fine! Goes to show you the truck IS tough when it is working... I promised her that I would never sell her after she saved my life that night. See this post
Warning non-Diesel Thread!-Lucky to be alive today

At 155000 the rear U joints needed to be replaced and the four ball joints in the front were worn out.

At 162000 she is back in the shop after developing a horrendous shudder in the front end. When I engage 4WD the Xfer case whines like a spoiled child! I am hoping it is the front propeller shaft U joints and not the Xfer case but since I am not holding my breath that the Xfer case can be saved...

She has never plowed an inch of snow and has mostly hauled people. I have towed a trailer with her and she has no problem pulling a flat bed with a Jeep CJ-5 with a snow plow attached up the highway.

She is the best looking of the Suburban models and can probably be replaced with another 1999 for under 5k

Oh she also gets 14mpg highway! - maybe 17 if I set the cruise at 65...

Does the MPG stink? -- Yes
Does she leave me stranded? -- About once a year
Does she frustrate the S**t out of me sometimes? -- Yes

Would I trade her for anything else? - Nope

Hope this diatribe helps...