Bought my first Tahoe today. Need advice on what to watch out for and perhaps replace.

[04Z71w]

I used the higher end moog steering / suspension parts on my tahoe and have no complaints. They have grease zerks and went 37,000 miles no problems so far. Your Tahoe should have a steering gear box, not a rack and pinion. If the gear box is good at that mileage consider your self lucky and keep it! Remanufactured ones that don’t have slop are hard to find! I learned that the hard way by replacing it anyways with everything else like you mentioned haha

hahaha yea the mechanic corrected me about it being a gear box not a rack/pinion but I still refer to them as steering racks. It's apparently still good so I'll leave it alone for now.
Got all the moog parts needed plus a bunch of other stuff. Only thing I managed to accomplish today was getting the water pump on.
Got sidelined after driving it around to check the temps after water pump install. The transmission is slipping a ton, wont kick down and hangs high until it decides it wants to shift up. Not to mention after about 10 minutes of warming up the trans sounds like a vacuum on speed. It'll literally be so slugish but once it decides to get in the right gear it moves. Transmission fluid is clean and and full so not really enthused about a possible ( more than likely since its a 4l60e ) trans rebuilt.

Found a stage 1 unit for 1500.00 through transdepot though. Not entirely sure what the previous owner had repaired on it only that it had some parts ''replaced'' If it's anything like the way they ghettoed in the aftermarket headlight assemblies then the trans is toast lol.

 

[Teamiez]

hahaha yea the mechanic corrected me about it being a gear box not a rack/pinion but I still refer to them as steering racks. It's apparently still good so I'll leave it alone for now.
Got all the moog parts needed plus a bunch of other stuff. Only thing I managed to accomplish today was getting the water pump on.
Got sidelined after driving it around to check the temps after water pump install. The transmission is slipping a ton, wont kick down and hangs high until it decides it wants to shift up. Not to mention after about 10 minutes of warming up the trans sounds like a vacuum on speed. It'll literally be so slugish but once it decides to get in the right gear it moves. Transmission fluid is clean and and full so not really enthused about a possible ( more than likely since its a 4l60e ) trans rebuilt.

Found a stage 1 unit for 1500.00 through transdepot though. Not entirely sure what the previous owner had repaired on it only that it had some parts ''replaced'' If it's anything like the way they ghettoed in the aftermarket headlight assemblies then the trans is toast lol.

Sounds like a 4L60E. Things were meant to move Camaros not tahoes in my eyes haha

 

[Popeye101]

Hello,

I bout my first Tahoe today, a 2004 z71 with 275k miles. Bought it for a pretty good price and in above average condition for how old it is.
I'm a sports car person but decided I wanted a Tahoe for the occasional camping trips and what not.
Not knowing that much about them I'm just wanting some advice on what to look out for at 275k miles. The transfer case was replaced 6 months ago ( verified ) along with the rear main seal and a rebuilt transmission but not completely rebuilt just some parts or 780 worth of it.

Only issues I have with it are one or both the catalytic converters are going bad as its running super rich and reeks of unspent gas through the exhaust.
Steering is a bit loose, brakes are super spongy and the temp gauge hovers around 200 to 220 degrees, depends on the load but doesn't actually over heat just goes a little past 210 degrees then back own for a bit.

Saying that what should I watch out or possibly slowly replace? My plans are to replace the radiator, upgrade to better cooling fans as the ones on there now are super noisy. like loud as all get it out like a wheezy cough Look into buying a complete suspension kit and replace the front as well as with the steering components. I already have new coolant hoses and belts should I need.

Biggest things are the A/C front and Rear works like a charm which is needed in North Texas this time of year.
Any advice or preferred parts to use would be helpful. Right now planning no performance mods until normal stuff gets sorted.

 

[OR VietVet]

@Popeye101, welcome to the forum.

You quoted @04Z71w and then you could have commented under the quote after you loaded the quote on your post.

Since you are new, the standing expectation is for you to also post pics of your rig.

 

[RED TAHOE LS]

Hello,

I bout my first Tahoe today, a 2004 z71 with 275k miles. Bought it for a pretty good price and in above average condition for how old it is.
I'm a sports car person but decided I wanted a Tahoe for the occasional camping trips and what not.
Not knowing that much about them I'm just wanting some advice on what to look out for at 275k miles. The transfer case was replaced 6 months ago ( verified ) along with the rear main seal and a rebuilt transmission but not completely rebuilt just some parts or 780 worth of it.

Only issues I have with it are one or both the catalytic converters are going bad as its running super rich and reeks of unspent gas through the exhaust.
Steering is a bit loose, brakes are super spongy and the temp gauge hovers around 200 to 220 degrees, depends on the load but doesn't actually over heat just goes a little past 210 degrees then back own for a bit.

Saying that what should I watch out or possibly slowly replace? My plans are to replace the radiator, upgrade to better cooling fans as the ones on there now are super noisy. like loud as all get it out like a wheezy cough Look into buying a complete suspension kit and replace the front as well as with the steering components. I already have new coolant hoses and belts should I need.

Biggest things are the A/C front and Rear works like a charm which is needed in North Texas this time of year.
Any advice or preferred parts to use would be helpful. Right now planning no performance mods until normal stuff gets sorted.

Make a plan with priority's FIRST, basic mechanical immediately. You found a diamond in the rough so go slow. I suggest a 195 degree thermostat, OEM radiator is all you need with fresh hoses. Flushing the cooling system is the most important to clean the engine OUT BEFORE replacing the radiator. There is only one-way to flush.......to do it correct.
1. cooling flush in radiator
2. follow directions on bottle
3. let circulate @ least 30 minutes make sure HEATER is on. turn engine off
4. remove top radiator from radiator, move so water will drain on ground
5. put wadded up rag in upper radiator neck where hose was
6. Remove radiator cap and put water hose in radiator
7. start engine and adjust water hose in radiator just to keep water running
8. when water from upper hose is CLEAN.....YOU'RE DONE.

I share the way I was taught by good people years ago. There's GIVERS and TAKERS......i choose too share in giving.
You have a great Z71......keep it that way.

 

[04Z71w]

Spot and that's pretty much what I did. Replaced the water pump because I did see a fair amount of coolant leaking from it. During that time it got a good flush as well. The current fan/fan clutch looked good so I left it on. It comes on at first start up then goes away until it's needed but it does come on fairly early even under minimal slow city driving. It's just so dang loud when it kicks on and I can instantly, what feels like, 100hp go missing. It sounds like a vacuum on steroids. Been way to busy lately to work on but I do have a new clutch ready to go in this weekend. I've just never know a damn fan/fan clutch be so loud and rob that much power.

Oh and it cools great while driving and stays little below 210 ( all while being loud as all get it ) so I'm assuming right at 195F However if I get stuck at a light the temperature goes past 210 to around 230ish little more but does not completely over heat. When the light turns green and I go the temp goes back down to normal....is that the sign of a bad fan/fan clutch? Never really dealt with a fan clutch and Probably next spring it's getting an electric conversion done.

 

[RED TAHOE LS]

replace thermostat.....water boils @ 212

 

[04Z71w]

replace thermostat.....water boils @ 212

Purchased a new thermostat this past weekend have yet to put it in

replace thermostat.....water boils @ 212

Got a new thermostat have yet to install it. Got a few other parts coming in so I can do them all at once. Thermostat, fan clutch, idle pulley, oil sending unit, exhaust manifold clamps, new rotors, pads , break lines. Shocks/struts, complete moon front end kit, head light bezels, new head lights because whoever put these crap ass aftermarket ones in ruined the mounting tabs and bezels and they are not even close to being lined up correctly and for giggles I got a set of spare 862 heads to have ported along with a 2500hd hood I did some horse trading for. Just waiting on coil packs, egr valve, some vacuum lines and motor/transmission mounts to come in. Engine is in great shape for 277k miles compression is well within spec just needs a ton of small stuff that was neglected and half-assed. Don't understand why people rig up or half ass proper maintenance.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Purchased a new thermostat this past weekend have yet to put it in

Got a new thermostat have yet to install it. Got a few other parts coming in so I can do them all at once. Thermostat, fan clutch, idle pulley, oil sending unit, exhaust manifold clamps, new rotors, pads , break lines. Shocks/struts, complete moon front end kit, head light bezels, new head lights because whoever put these crap ass aftermarket ones in ruined the mounting tabs and bezels and they are not even close to being lined up correctly and for giggles I got a set of spare 862 heads to have ported along with a 2500hd hood I did some horse trading for. Just waiting on coil packs, egr valve, some vacuum lines and motor/transmission mounts to come in. Engine is in great shape for 277k miles compression is well within spec just needs a ton of small stuff that was neglected and half-assed. Don't understand why people rig up or half ass proper maintenance.

Check the heads for any cracks.

 

[04Z71w]

Check the heads

They're Good. Had them checked by a local shop who does ls everything.
However the issue I'm facing now is the trans is slipping majorly. Starts out in 2nd, shifts into 1st randomly, 3rd gear is there some where. I can feather the throttle a little bit to get it to stick and shift properly but I'm think a stage 1 trans has made the list.