Have fun triaging my suburban

wyld thang · #1 03/01/07, 11:54 PM

ok, it's a 99 suburban. We knew the transfer case was going to blow--there had been a pinhole(supposedly a forging bubble?) in the case and the oil drained...we caught it "in time", jb welded it, lost 4wdlo, BUT it lasted till yesterday (25,000 miles). Yesterday we were on our way to work, when there was a big clank in the middle under the second row of seats. So we lost the tranmission(in other words it wasn't engaged--sorry I'm a girl and don't know the right terms). We coasted to a parking lot. So here's the stats...

Nothing happens in 2wd, 4wdhi, or allwheeldr(please don't laugh!).

Park does not hold the truck(it's like it's in neutral, have to set the parking brake)

When you put it in gear, there is a torq twist

like what usually happens, and a click, but the transmission is not engaged(it won't go when you give it the gas).

We've been keeping up with caring for the transmission, changing the oil, draining it, keeping it checked out whatever you're supposed to do, and we've never had trouble with it(we tow).

SOoooooo, is it just the transfer case, or is the transmission blown too, or is it the front differential(a mechanic friend said those were crappy on that year of burbans)? . We're going to have it towed to a place to be looked at. Whether it ends up being just the transfer case, or everything, we're going to get beefed up stuff(since we tow, and some of that towing is "Baja" towing). On the other hand, if it's "everything" we'll have to tow it home and do it ourselves as the money comes around. We do have the complete set of shop manuals for it.

We're figuring the transfer case is shot for sure.

Final question, if we do tow the suburban home(we have a 1-ton van that can do it), will that screw up the transmission in any way(of the burban).

Well, have fun with this. I'd love to know what you think--I've always loved these diagnosing-type questions. THanks!

foxtrapper · #2 03/02/07, 05:36 AM

Odds are, it's the transfer case and not the transmission itself.

Since the transmission engages, and the transfer case has already been damaged in the past, I think you'll be able to diagnose it for certain rather quickly.

Rebuilding any of these components (transmission, transfer case) is not a DIY job for the driveway. But, replacing them can be. They are big and heavy, but with basic hand tools and a good jack, you can remove them and replace them.

Decide for yourself how much money and work you're willing to sink into this Suburban.

mousebandit · #3 03/02/07, 08:08 AM

If you've got the same 1/2 ton running gear that our 97 has, it's probably the transfer case. We've rebuilt the rear transfer case 3 times now, and it's getting REALLY old! Once we added a little lift and some bigger tires, it just couldn't take it.

Ours has, now I hope I get this terminology right, an eaton rear end, that has a special kind of posi engagement. I can picture it (my husband showed me all the pictures of it and explained everything), but I don't remember what it was called. There's like flying weights that, at a certain point, engage the posi. Sort of like a limited slip / posi hybrid. Great idea, just breaks all the freaking time. Ours blows our spider gears when it goes.

If it's just the spider gears, and your hubby is determined, he can change that out at home. (no matter WHAT the 4x4 shop tells you!!!) There is something in there that has to be pressed off and then pressed back on, and it's normally done with a special shop press tool, but my hubby did it at home - I think he used a hydraulic jack. We weren't able to order just the spider gears through any shop or dealer (they insisted on selling the whole rear end as a package - way too expensive), but he's always had luck finding the spiders on ebay auto.

If you have lost the pinion gear, though, that is tougher, because it has to be set to such precise specs and requires special tools that my hubby wouldn't do it at home. (luckily we didn't need to do it though).

I would recommend towing it home, pull the rear pumpkin apart and see what's going in there. If you decide to have a shop do it, then either send them the parts minus the rest of the truck, or spring for AAA and use of the free tows to tow it to the shop of your choice.

As for towing it home behind the 1-ton, my hubby always disengages the drivelines before towing automatics very far.

If you want, I can ask my hubby to PM you guys when he gets home later toinght. After all the trouble with our truck, he's an expert on this eaton rear end, LOL!!

GOOD LUCK!!! Once you beef up the axles, gears and transfer cases, these burbs are worth it!!

Tracey Mouse

wyld thang · #4 03/02/07, 01:04 PM

Hi! Thanks for your replies!! The truck is being towed(we left it an hour away, it's not at home) to a shop(it's a transmission, race, 4wd place). We're thinking if it's just the transfer case, we'll have the shop do it(with a beefier one). BUt if there is more to it, we'll have to do it at home, have the tranfercase, etc rebuilt somewhere else like you said M, and put it in.

I'll get back to you, Tracey if my hubby has questions, thanks for the offer!

I miss my truck!

Otherwise I really like it(especially as opposed to the new plush ones). Simple, without a lot of doodads.

Thanks again!!!!

Sammy · #5 03/02/07, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyld thang

I miss my truck!

I always thought that a Suburban was classed as a Station Wagon ?

65284 · #6 03/02/07, 09:33 PM

The info you have gotten is probably correct. I not familiar with Suburbans, but you might look and see if you have lost the front universal joint on the driveshaft.

Cheryl in SD · #7 03/02/07, 09:35 PM

My dh wants to know if it has lock outs or auto hubs.

wyld thang · #8 03/03/07, 01:19 AM

HI! Haha, station wagon, we also use it to tow people(well their cars I mean) out of the ditch, tow logs, hauls firewood, um, camper, dog crate...

you push a button for 4wd(not locking hubs)

katmattus · #9 03/04/07, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sammy

I always thought that a Suburban was classed as a Station Wagon ?

Actually, I believe it is classified by GM as an SUV. I have a 1990 454 7.4 liter engine...big hoss of a beauty.

I, too, call her my truck. She is one great big beautiful girl..lol

wyld thang · #10 03/06/07, 02:04 PM

HI, we heard from the shop. They say it's the rear end "pumpkin" that self destructed. Hubby is going in to look at it while it's torn apart to see if he can see what is actually broken, get an idea of a list of parts to price. They say the axle is fine, transmission fine, transfer case fine. There was mention of chewed spider gears...so Mousebandit gets the prize!

So now we get to save up the dough.