Intro And Some Qs

dotmumble · August 19, 2009

Group,

I've just recently bought a 2000 K2500 Suburban with the 6.0 liter engine. It's my 2nd Burb, having owned a 93 K1500 some years ago.

Anyway, there are a couple of minor issues that I have questions on:

- the front diff is slinging gear oil onto the driver side A-arms, sterring link, fancy autoride shock, and all the way to the back of the wheel well. It appears to be coming from the general area of the inner CV joint, but both joints are almost completely devoid of oil, other than the odd splash. It's almost as if it's being blown out of a breather or a seal... is that possible? Is this a known issue?

- the rear ride height appears - at least to me - to be slightly lower than the front. As I understand it, the autoride suspension is a dynamic shock damping control, not a leveling system. Other than what appear to be sensors attached at each corner and wiring at the top of each shock, they look like "normal" shocks - no airbags, hydraulics or anything else that would suggest height adjustment. Is this normal? On my K1500 I had supplemental air bags to aid when towing; is this needed/recommended with the K2500. FWIW, I won't be towing anything with particularly large tongue weights: maybe 300-500lbs.

- what's the recommended cat-back exhaust for this setup? I'd like something with a little growl, but don't want an intrusive drone at highway speeds.

Thanks!

Cheers,

-jerry

2COR517 · August 19, 2009

The oil up front sounds like a torn CV boot to me. I've never seen a diff seal leak enough to sling like that, and I think its too far inboard to sling in the wheel well anyway.

I don't know much about autoride, but almost every Sub I see is sagging in the back. Airbags would be my first choice to lift it up since you are stuck with the autoride shocks.

As for exhaust, I had a Gibson 3 inch single Swept Side on a pickup. I thought it sounded great, and hardly noticeable in the cab.

Oh yeah, Welcome Aboard!

dotmumble · August 19, 2009

The oil up front sounds like a torn CV boot to me. I've never seen a diff seal leak enough to sling like that, and I think its too far inboard to sling in the wheel well anyway.

Yeah, that's what I thought, too, but I've looked at the CV boots and don't see one -- and both are almost perfectly clean. I would expect to see some oil traces and some drips. Nothing.

I don't know much about autoride, but almost every Sub I see is sagging in the back. Airbags would be my first choice to lift it up since you are stuck with the autoride shocks.

As I remember, I had Firestones on the K1500 without a compressor. This time, I think I want to have one; I'll do some research. Any preferred vendors?

As for exhaust, I had a Gibson 3 inch single Swept Side on a pickup. I thought it sounded great, and hardly noticeable in the cab.

Thanks for the recommendation. Any preferred vendors?

Oh yeah, Welcome Aboard!

Thanks!

Cheers,

-jerry

04 BMW 325i

00 K2500 Burb

95 BMW M3

95 BMW 325i

91 BMW M5

2COR517 · August 19, 2009

Maybe it has new CV shafts in it. As for the bags, Firestone or Airlift should be fine. I have a guy locally that can order Airlift, so that's what I'll be putting on the truck. He's just trying to stay alive, so I give him any business I can. Any reputable online vendor should be fine for the exhaust.

Go to Gibson's website and see what they offer for your vehicle.

dotmumble · August 19, 2009

Maybe it has new CV shafts in it. As for the bags, Firestone or Airlift should be fine. I have a guy locally that can order Airlift, so that's what I'll be putting on the truck. He's just trying to stay alive, so I give him any business I can. Any reputable online vendor should be fine for the exhaust.

Go to Gibson's website and see what they offer for your vehicle.

Actually, I've already cleaned the area once, made a 100 mile round trip and had fresh gear oil deposits. I'll have to pull the wheel and really get in there for a good look. I just thought it might be a known issue and could go straight to the fix.

Thanks for the tips on the airbags and Gibson.

Cheers,

-jerry

dotmumble · August 22, 2009

Group,
<...>

- the front diff is slinging gear oil onto the driver side A-arms, sterring link, fancy autoride shock, and all the way to the back of the wheel well. It appears to be coming from the general area of the inner CV joint, but both joints are almost completely devoid of oil, other than the odd splash. It's almost as if it's being blown out of a breather or a seal... is that possible? Is this a known issue?

For posterity, I've found the root cause of gear oil in my driver side wheel well. Turns out the diff breather was blowing it out. It took a couple iterations of clean/drive/look, and with the breather just out of sight above the frame rail and fender liner, I had to start looking around under the hood.

I pulled the breather connector out of the diff - there's just a little rotating hood. The only thing I can figure is that it somehow gets stuck with the open facing upwards and collects oil, then the internal pressure forces it out. Seems a bit unlikely, but I really can't see anything else, aside from possibly being over-filled by the PO.

Maybe I'll pull it again, and drill out the other side of the hood, so that it can't act like a cup. For the time being, I've stuck the breather in a water bottle 'catch can'.

Cheers,

-jerry