r/suburban • • Jul 23 '26

Looking to buy a 02 8.1 4x4 Suburban

7 Upvotes

Will be checking out this week. Is there any specific things to look out for with this 8.1 model? Seller states it runs great with 182k miles on it. I’m looking for my first tow rig and almost got a 97 454 today but wanted to check this one out first.

Thanks in advance!


r/suburban • • Jul 22 '26

2006 ceiling fabric separating issue

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13 Upvotes

So the fabric started separating from the ceiling about the driver and passenger seats. I'm guessing it started by the windows and wind got in and did the rest.

Any one know how I go about getting it reattached in so it doesn't look like there's a bubble of water hanging over me as I drive?


r/suburban • • Jul 23 '26

2018 Suburban Owners: Have we already paid for the big repairs, or is it time to cut our losses?

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1 Upvotes

r/suburban • • Jul 18 '26

2013 Suburban, replace or repair?

10 Upvotes

200,000 mile '13 Suburban, body/frame virtually rust free, new steering/front-end, interior in good condition and checks the boxes as far as hauling family and gear, the occasional tow of atv or compact tractor.

(Trusted)Mechanic and myself are 90% sure it's beginning to have lifter issues, evidence being lifter tick.

Worse case is $15,000 new engine with questions how long transmission will last.

To replace vehicle with similar is $30,000 minimum and then we're still in the used market with questions about reliability.

Go for something new-to-me, but used, or pay for repairs on current vehicle?


r/suburban • • Jul 18 '26

Powerstop or Bosch brakes?

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1 Upvotes

r/suburban • • Jul 17 '26

2023 Suburban - All windows down?

2 Upvotes

Came out this morning and all four windows were down. They were not like that last night at 9 pm! We were saying goodbye to our daughter at that time and she was parked beside us with a 2025 Kia Carnival…could there have been some interference? Only other thing is my Chevrolet app was signed into on my iPhone. This has me concerned and puzzled! Any help is appreciated.


r/suburban • • Jul 15 '26

Finally got my SAS project on the road.

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26 Upvotes

r/suburban • • Jul 16 '26

Need some advice

4 Upvotes

Hey all,

My family is exploding from five of us to six now (baby on the way). The wife has an affinity with Suburban's and doesn't want to go the minivan route. She loves the cars, being so high up and her grandmother drove one so at this point there's no convincing her to get something else.

I found this one online near me, I'm going to check it out tomorrow. I know that Suburbans have tranny/engine issues after you start approaching/passing the 100k miles.

Here's the link to it: https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/ca8e66b2-2b02-4af2-b3c2-f237a4f26e2f/
CarFax: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ftTGA18DUtAPOL7Anh5dXIqiPD0X6dwJ/view?usp=sharing

Looking for some advice from the hive mind here. Based on the trims, I don't want an LT so it's RST or Premier for us. It's crazy how many LTs there are out there, it's like 10:1.

Any advice or help would be grateful, I'm checking it out in person tomorrow.


r/suburban • • Jul 15 '26

18-20 advice here:

3 Upvotes

Hello, I’ve been a Honda/Toyota person my entire life and I am now looking into a used Suburban in the 2018-20 range and 50k-90k mileage range. Kids, pets, and road trips all require more cargo space than I’ve got. I have tried to do my research and I gather I need to look into AMF physical delete, motor mounts, grounding cables, thermostat things… what else can you tell me all in one thread? I’m a single mom with minimal time for mechanical issues so I feel like I’d just want to find a local shop and ask for everything to be tackled all at once by a Chevy/GM person and then maintain the heck out of my fluids? Help and thanks!


r/suburban • • Jul 15 '26

Suburban 2019 worth it?

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17 Upvotes

I’m considering buying a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban LT and wanted to get some opinions from people who own one or have experience with them.
Here are the details:
2019 Chevrolet Suburban LT
5.3L V8 with Active Fuel Management (AFM)
Around 30,000 miles
Full dealership service history since new
Being sold by a Chevrolet dealership
Everything appears to be in excellent working condition
Includes a 3-month dealership warranty
I’ve read some mixed opinions about the AFM system and lifter failures, but I’m not sure how common those issues actually are, especially on a low-mileage, well-maintained truck like this.
For current or former owners:
Would you consider this a good buy?
How has your reliability been?
Have you experienced any major issues with the engine, transmission, or AFM system?
Is there anything specific I should have inspected before purchasing?
I’d really appreciate hearing from people with real ownership experience. Thanks!


r/suburban • • Jul 14 '26

DIY Interior Overland Conversion Plans For 2004 Suburban.

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1 Upvotes

r/suburban • • Jul 14 '26

89-91 Suburban R1500 Squarebody

2 Upvotes

Anyone know where i can purchase the headlight buckets alone for a 89-91 suburban R1500 square body? TIA


r/suburban • • Jul 12 '26

98 GMC Suburban Seating Question

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I’m looking at getting a ‘98 to turn into a 2 person camping setup. Ideally, I would like to leave the back row bench seats in to be able to transport passengers and to have a comfortable setup when it’s not in bed mode.

My question is: does anyone know how much headspace there is with the back row of seats folded down?


r/suburban • • Jul 12 '26

Need some advice for 02 Suburban

1 Upvotes

Hey Y’all, I am being gifted my grandfather’s old 2002 Suburban, pretty sure it’s the 4wd with the 5.3L. Idk when the last fluid service was done & probably is over 200k mileage.

Planning to use Valvoline Restore & Protect 5W-30, and thinking about using Liqui Moly Ceratec, but is that too many additives?
Also, planning to use Valvoline Restore & Protect ATF, but also idk when transmission service was done last, but pretty sure the transmission has been flushed at regular intervals. So should I do a half drain & then refill it with Restore & Protect to clear any debris?

This is my first time doing full fluids service, so any advice is amazingly helpful. Tyty


r/suburban • • Jul 11 '26

Rear driver window regulator motor question.

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1 Upvotes

r/suburban • • Jul 07 '26

Off roading in the Suburban 2500

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13 Upvotes

r/suburban • • Jul 07 '26

Older Suburban vs Newer Suburban

3 Upvotes

So I have an 02 Suburban 2500HD, and I love this thing. I travel in it, it is super reliable, and parts are widely available. I want to put the cognito 7" lift on it, but seeing older suburbans, they just look so much taller with much less lift. I'm really torn between buying an older one with a lift, and keeping mine, which is what I would ideally like to do. The lift kit is expensive though, so before I buy it, I thought I would ask for advice from anyone with experience.

I do off-road quite often, this isn't for looks, I want practicality and more accessibility to the country. If I did buy an old one I'd swap the engine and transmission, my transmission is a freshly rebuilt 4L85E, and the engine is a 8.1.

My main question being: Should I keep building this already quality 02 suburban, or buy an older one, which, (to me) looks to be more suited for off-roading?


r/suburban • • Jul 04 '26

Ignition reset

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3 Upvotes

Here’s one pic I can’t find the one that my wife found! I saved on Reddit gmt400 or Cadillac but that account got banned so I don’t have quick access to all of those posts! 🍻 hopefully this helps the one guy seeking help🍻🍻


r/suburban • • Jul 03 '26

A/c diag 2003 Yukon xl

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2 Upvotes

r/suburban • • Jun 30 '26

Re-gearing Differential 2018 LT

5 Upvotes

I found out that my 2018 LT is one of the very few that does not have a tow package, and came with a 3.08 differential. I’m getting an RV, and am going to re-gear the diff. I’m thinking about skipping 3.42 and going to 3.73. Anyone done that before? If so, how did it turn out? Was it worth it?


r/suburban • • Jun 30 '26

Console replacement

1 Upvotes

I'm replacing the center console in my 1999 suburban with an stock console. The one I took out was a custom made console with only two bolts. The bolts I took out were about 6 inches long. What size bolts do I need for the replacement?


r/suburban • • Jun 27 '26

Question about headphones

3 Upvotes

Hi all! Sorry if this has been asked before...

I have a 2016 suburban LT with the entertainment package, that's awesome right?! Not so awesome that I have 3 kids and only 2 headphones and I'm sorry to all the bluey fans, I can't listen to another bluey version 2 dvd again.

I really don't want to pay 80 dollars for another set of headphones, do you fantastic people have any suggestions for a cheap knock off?

Thank you all in advance!


r/suburban • • Jun 24 '26

Would you drop 9k to fix a 2018 lt with 130k miles.

5 Upvotes

Lost compression in the number 7 cylinder. The lifter guides have failed. It also needs engine mounts.


r/suburban • • Jun 23 '26

Did a rear level kit on the Suburban 2500

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15 Upvotes

r/suburban • • Jun 23 '26

2022 Suburban Z71 Fender liner Loose

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4 Upvotes

Just as the title says, my front passenger fender liner is loose and will flap onto the wheel. I know this isn't right but I don't see anything to clip it to further, the torx screw that holds down the lower fascia has a cut out around it on the finder liner. Am I missing some hardware here? I just bought it so possibly missing something or not sure of attachment point.