Opinions on the previous generation of tahoes or Yukons?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

SpareParts

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2023
Posts
185
Reaction score
323
Location
North Idaho
Never understood the hate for GMT400 brakes.
The brakes on my GMT400 K2500 suburban were fine even when towing. Cant remember ever having one i thought had bad brakes after rebuilding.
I think HydroBoost makes the difference. Never had a GMT400 with vacuum booster though. I have had 6 or 7 GMT400's.
My current GMT900 has vacuum boost and it's no better or worse than GMT400's
 

Marky Dissod

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2023
Posts
2,133
Reaction score
2,955
Location
(718)-
Never understood the hate for GMT400 brakes.
GMT400 1500 front brakes are egregiously undersized.
Personally I can't speak on the 2500 front brakes.
The brakes on my GMT400 K2500 suburban were fine even when towing. Cant remember ever having one i thought had bad brakes after rebuilding.
I think HydroBoost makes the difference. Never had a GMT400 with vacuum booster though. I have had 6 or 7 GMT400's.
My current GMT900 has vacuum boost and it's no better or worse than GMT400s.
Ever bother to compare the front rotors?
'cause if I had to choose between
bigger front rotors with vacuum assist, or
smaller front rotors with HydroBoost,
I'll take the larger front rotors, thanks.
 

Marky Dissod

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2023
Posts
2,133
Reaction score
2,955
Location
(718)-
This is the kind of stuff this forum should prioritize:
flexible definitions of GM OE that make the GMT400 GMT800 & GMT900
even easier than GM originally intended to maintain and upgrade
with stuff that anyone can order from RockAuto's parts menu
for the foreseeable future.
I mean, front brake upgrades are AWESOME, but that's all?

Still fantasizing about frankensteining my Z71 into a sort of Tahoe 2500 ...
Spearhead the movement!
I have the mindset, but not any of the other logistical advantages that would let me.
 

GMCChevy

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2024
Posts
114
Reaction score
123
The brakes are fine and have no problem stopping but once again they are like typical GM truck brakes of the time and there's a big difference in pedal feel compared to newer vehicles. You definitely notice it if you haven't driven those vehicles in a while.
 

latvius

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2014
Posts
474
Reaction score
682
Location
Ariton Alabama
Never had a gmt400 but there is a reason for that - butt ugly. I have 05 Tahoe and Denali love the lines, ride nice always get compliments on the ride quality. Don't like 07 and up seriously ugly headlights on the 07 series, the line after that got better looking not sure what year but they all cost to much. I'm keeping mine it'll be part of the estate sale and if/when we want something newer I am going to lease a car since I already have pickup trucks and SUVs to drive.
 

Pops946

TYF Newbie
Joined
Jan 26, 2014
Posts
13
Reaction score
23
Location
Houston, TX
Hey guys, I have an 03 and like the truck quite a bit. Wonder what everybody’s opinions on the previous generation with the 350? I do like the older body style. Just curious as to what people see as the major chants and upgrades with the 800.
Had an 02 LT, 5.3. It left the family last year. Wish I still had it. Great vehicle, very few maintenance issues, and still looked great. Was the charcoal gray with the fender flares. Still cleaned up nice and looked almost new until a deer committed suicide on it one night. Never any rust. My wife now has a 23 Premier, 5.3. About 25k miles now - great road tripper.
 

Coveman

Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2021
Posts
46
Reaction score
83
I have a 99 gmt400 1/2 ton 4wd and a 13 gmt900 3/4 ton 4wd. The 99 has been a reliable and useful utility vehicle. The brakes were shameful (my favorite comparison is the size of my front brake rotors being just smaller than those on a mazda 3). I did the nbs brake swap and it made a big difference. The 99’s visibility is much better, the 2nd row seats fold much flatter for hauling, the tail gate is awesome and man do I like swapping components without having to worry about the computer rejecting them. Biggest problem I have had with the GMT400 is my kids like it and it followed one of them into the Navy and now lives on the west coast. Cause of that, I tracked down my 13.
The 13 is kinda claustrophobic inside (the actual opening of the rear window is at least 30% smaller than the 400s), the rear liftgate is a minivan thing that I find utterly useless and makes hauling long stuff a challenge. Seats dont even try to fold flat, in fact they designed it so you need the 3rd row installed folded down to haul things flat over the second row seats that also fold about a foot above ‘flat’. I really like the 6.0, the 6 speed is awesome on the highway, and the 3/4 ton is more tank-like than the 1/2 when pulling.
I never owned a 800, but it did seem like the pickups rusted through their rear bumpers in short order and that was a little concerning to me. Wish all the trucks had better corrosion prevention
 

Forum statistics

Threads
133,194
Posts
1,881,380
Members
98,219
Latest member
Dmuns223
Top