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awd express and savanha brakes

10 messages,  Last post on Mar 26, 2011 at 11:23 AM

You are in the Chevy Express & GMC Savana Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, Performance Mods, Van

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#1 of 10 awd express and savanha brakes by 1320jon

Jan 06, 2009 (9:02 am)

FYI, I did a part trade with a denali owner for his Baer brakes. They went right on, baers aluma sport 14 inch rotors front and rear. My gmc awd van brakes went ringht on his 06denali. awd for trade in.
 
So, if you need parts you can use denali awd brake parts, or if you want exceptional braking you can purchase or get lucky and trade like I did for a baer like system that is for the 1500ck trucks....all the same, and most of the suspension if its a torsion bar front end truck, like the awd denali, awd escalade etc...

#2 of 10 2500 AWD Shocks by monkey2500

Mar 29, 2009 (3:07 pm)

I have a '03 2500 AWD Express cargo. I do land surveying and the truck has been wonderful in off-road applications with slightly over-sized Pro-comp MT's . I am fully aware that it isn't a full 4 wheel, and do not ask it to be one. I would like to put heavy duty shocks on it, however, it being a somewhat rare item KYB list their gas-matic only for the front, and state the do not have a shock for the rear. I have, on my own on the internet, cross-referenced KYB's applications, and it appears that the the Tahoe, 00-06, Denali 00-06 might be of the same front end construction. Any help on Bilstein, or KYB Monomax, heavy duty truck shock applications, and a 1"-2" lift system would be appreciated.

#3 of 10 no real help yet.... by 1320jon

Mar 29, 2009 (8:10 pm)

The front ends are the same as all gm independant tortion bar front ends. You can not per say lift it....butyou can increase traval slightly by raising the tortion bar spring rate. All it takes is an adjustment.......I could do it in under 30 minutes for the front end, but I build and fabricate stuff for race cars. Any decent shop should do it for a pretty small charge. The rear can be raised also pretty easiliy but I d have to check into it. Problems could arise with driveshafts, yoke spline engagement etc...Ill have to look.
 
Shocks, will not and do not raise the ride height, but may help aot with wheel control and ride. We have done shocks on a friends 04 awd, and a rear sway bar. The shocks helped, they are the strongest bilstiens we could get. Ill have to get the number. They work well, but for all around comfort and performance we were thinking of trying the edelbrocks on mine. A lot of shocks are made by one company and reboxed etc ....ie rancho's are really monroes I think. They are about 90% sales pitch and 10% good shock. The guy that owns the 04 I referenced is a suspension guy. I rely on him for alot of information.
 
Since your using it offroad, if your worried about getting stuck, find out if your awd is equipped with a positraction in the rear. I think it was an option, but not sure. Id bet most are open anyways. Lots of options there, but costly also.
 
I se you have a 2500 awd? I researche dit abit, and found that (I think) the 2500 is really just 1500 with options. It was unconfirmed but I think the "2500" gets different spring rates and thats it. The tow package gets 3.73 gears, and teh stiffere springs I think. A true 2500 should have gotten 8 lug wheels(or a 6lug 2500 diff), the 4l80 e trans with a 6.0 engine, but I m nearly 100% sure they never built such a van.
 
Anyways Ill try to remember to talk to my friend, he has teh part numbers, interchangability etc all memorized somehow.
He is sorta like an encyclopedia on allthings suspension/van and truck related. His back ground is very very heavily offroad, and rock crawling etc.

#4 of 10 Re: no real help yet.... [1320jon] by monkey2500

Mar 30, 2009 (6:14 pm)

Replying to: 1320jon (Mar 29, 2009 8:10 pm)
Thank you for replying, I appreciate it, I've gotten frustrated trying to research, find out suspension data on this van. It has the 6 lugs, therefore, I also think it is basically a 1500 with some extras. If you would be kind enough to provide me with Bilstein, Eldebrock shock numbers I am grateful. The idea of a rear sway bar is wonderful too, do you have a manufacturer #, or info on it? I had the truck on a lift and rotated one of the rear wheels, and the other rear wheel turned the opposite direction, therefore, I concluded that it is not a posi, I was hoping it was. Again thanks, for your reply. The other day I was at a job, and the owner pulled up in a diesel 4 wheel, looked at me, I said I'll follow you into the muddy field, I maneuvered a whole lot easier that him. He was slipping, and sliding, I was driving straight on.

#5 of 10 email me... by 1320jon

Apr 09, 2009 (2:32 pm)

I talked with my best friend, that also owns an 04 awd. He actually got me into them. He isnt very computer literate, and said just call him. He can give you the part numbers etc.....just email me and Ill send you his number.

#6 of 10 Re: email me... [1320jon] by monkey2500

Apr 14, 2009 (7:05 pm)

Replying to: 1320jon (Apr 09, 2009 2:32 pm)
I can't see how to email you privately.

#7 of 10 its... by 1320jon

Apr 17, 2009 (1:14 pm)

#8 of 10 email by 1320jon

Apr 17, 2009 (1:15 pm)

1320joncox.net
 
I thought it showed it, sorry.

#9 of 10 disc brake conversion for 1999 gmc savana 1500 by jrg38

Apr 30, 2009 (12:47 pm)

Does anyone know what conversion kit ( drum to disc rear) will fit this vehicle?
It has a 10 bolt diff.

#10 of 10 Torsion keys by d4bell

Mar 26, 2011 (11:23 am)

I am having a problem finding torsion keys to lift my 03 express 2500 6 lug awd. For tire clearance. I want to raise it without sinching down the bolts and making for a rough ride. Anybody know if aftermarket Danali/Escalade/Tahoe 1500 awd keys that were re-indexed will accomplish this? Any ideas

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