2004 suburban build

[jonb8]

Well I got the Suburban in the garage and I want to say I had a good day.... But it wasn't.... Everything under this thing is seized up with rust.... The key took me 2 hrs to beat out and I had to cut the upper control arm off, no way those bolts were budging.... The lowers have been replaced in the past and the bolts came out of those easy.... I do have one side done and moving on to the other side tomorrow...

 

[jonb8]

Finally got my z71 springs and the new caster bolts for the upper control arms.... I'm hoping to have it back on it's feet by the end of the weekend....

 

[rayra]

Even with the rust you're making quick work of it. Everything seems to take me twice as long as I think it will, anymore. And I got lucky with mine, Hecho en Mehico and never left SoCal. Just a scant bit of rust on it. I just did the very same work about three weeks ago and I'll shut up now about how relatively easy it was.

I've gotta do my lower arms still, but I went ahead and put my new homebrew torsion bar adjuster crossmember mount bushings in earlier this week.

 

[jonb8]

Mine doesn't look as pretty as yours but it sure is a lot better then before.... LOL

 

[jonb8]

Well the drivers side wasn't any better, I beat on the key till I couldn't swing anymore and broke out the grinder and split it.... UHHHGGGGG nothing so far is coming easy on this thing.... At least I'm touching every bolt and it's getting anti-seize when it goes back together...

 

[luthj]

When I separated the keys on the 2500 front end I am working on, It took about 20 minutes each with a 8lb sledge. Surprisingly looking worse than yours, most of the suspension bolts freed up with a little impact and some penetrating oil. I did have to cut the lower ball joint out though... Maybe the earlier models used a different plating process?

I have found that using loctite blue on the threads liberally, will prevent corrosion. It seals the threads, and can be broken free with a bit of heat if needed.

 

[Overlandtowater]

Ive been spraying wd40 on mine everyday for a week.

 

[luthj]

Ive been spraying wd40 on mine everyday for a week.

Kroil; the stuff is awesome.

 

[spacer]

Living in the South has its disadvantages, but I do love that my Burb isn't a rusted mess underneath.

Originally from NM, so rust is even less an issue back home.

 

[jonb8]

Well it's back on all 4's, I didn't get the rear springs in. I'll do that tomorrow, I'm sitting 1 in taller in the front so I hope the z71 springs don't lift me much more then that. I really don't want to crank the front up any more..

 

[Overlandtowater]

Looking good! I got the front on mine today. I was glad my torsion keys went better than yours... I hit then 3 times with a baby sledge 10lb'er on a 12" handle...LOL you wouldn't believe how many times that short handle sledge comes in handy!

 

[jonb8]

Glad yours went better then mine.. I wouldn't wish that on my worse enemy... I'm a jeep guy so the rear coil springs 5 link I understand a lot better, so it should go pretty smooth today... I have to call today for an alignment and to have my tires mounted and balanced.

 

[Overlandtowater]

oh yeah the coils where a breeze.

 

[jonb8]

Rear coils on, alignment done and new tires mounted... Drives like a new one....

 

[Overlandtowater]

looking good! dude.