Let's sift through every square inch of a 2013 Tahoe PPV

[Tonyrodz]

Lots to report…

I’ve been doing the front, and documenting with pics… BUT… I decided that the original strut bumpers needed to be replaced. At first I planned to just clean them and reuse them, but they were becoming brittle.

My dumb ass threw the originals in the dumpster before I checked the part number. I tried my best to figure out which strut bumpers were appropriate, and I still don’t know if the PPV used different ones in the front or not. I ended up ordering the ones from DJM, just because it seemed like the safe bet since I’m using their coil springs.

As I’m working on the Tahoe, I’m simultaneously driving like a dick in my Challenger, and this happened:

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Hopefully wasn't your fault. Damn.

 

[Caddylack]

DJM sent me the wrong parts, so I still can’t put my struts together. Anyway…

Here is a question about struts…

There is a small metal bracket/spacer that is part of the upper strut mount assembly… Bilstein supplies one with their struts. The OEM version is thicker or “beefier”… Would it make any sense to keep the OEM version? Here is a side by side:

 

[Caddylack]

DJM is correcting their mistake and sending the correct parts, for the record.

I started doing the plugs and wires today. Since I have the front end taken apart and the wheel housings removed, it makes sense to do it now.

The plugs are definitely toast, upon inspection. I've put about 35k on the truck without changing the plugs until now, so they are at least that old. They're Delco platinums.

When it comes to spark plugs, I usually like to use copper and change them frequently. I make exceptions in situations where the plugs are hard to get to, but ours are about as easy as it gets.

It's unbelievable how long I've had the Tahoe sitting on jack stands now. A relatively quick and easy job has turned into multiple weeks of strut bumper silliness. I should have just grabbed one from a parts store in the beginning, but I just couldn't decide on which part number to use. The new package from DJM should be here soon.

Really, I could have done the A-arms and sway bar while I waited for the strut bumpers, but I've been pouting instead.