AWD conversion to Z71

[teamjnz]

I just purchased a 2004 Tahoe with 148,******. I used to have a 2006 Suburban that had the push button Auto 4X, 2Hi, 4Hi and 4Lo. When checking out this truck I noticed it had push button but didn’t focus on it. After the purchase when driving home, this is when I noticed it was different and after a little research found out it has the AWD stabilitrak system. I don’t live in an area that requires AWD.

I bought the truck to start a new adventure in life with off roading, now that the kids are all grown up. I purchased the truck knowing it didn’t have the G80 rearend but plan on re-gearing to drive on 33s or 35s and upgrade with a rear locker and still be able to tow when needed. Blah Blah Blah

Anyway I know am thinking about converting the stabilitrak  to Z71. I know I will have to replace the transfer case. So now the information gathering stage is happening to see if it is worth it.

Is the front AWD stabilitrak differential different when compared to a non-AWD front diff? Will I need a completely different front differential or can it be converted?

What else should I be considering?

I did see something in a video for GMT900 platform with removing the ABS fuse that disables the stabilitrak and turns the truck into a 2 wheel drive. Would that work in the GMT800 platform?

[asilverblazer]

2 hours ago, teamjnz said:

I just purchased a 2004 Tahoe with 148,******. I used to have a 2006 Suburban that had the push button Auto 4X, 2Hi, 4Hi and 4Lo. When checking out this truck I noticed it had push button but didn’t focus on it. After the purchase when driving home, this is when I noticed it was different and after a little research found out it has the AWD stabilitrak system. I don’t live in an area that requires AWD.

I bought the truck to start a new adventure in life with off roading, now that the kids are all grown up. I purchased the truck knowing it didn’t have the G80 rearend but plan on re-gearing to drive on 33s or 35s and upgrade with a rear locker and still be able to tow when needed. Blah Blah Blah

Anyway I know am thinking about converting the stabilitrak  to Z71. I know I will have to replace the transfer case. So now the information gathering stage is happening to see if it is worth it.

Is the front AWD stabilitrak differential different when compared to a non-AWD front diff? Will I need a completely different front differential or can it be converted?

What else should I be considering?

I did see something in a video for GMT900 platform with removing the ABS fuse that disables the stabilitrak and turns the truck into a 2 wheel drive. Would that work in the GMT800 platform?

Stabilitrack was a stability control, traction control system, that functioned independently from the transfer case.

 

Z-71 has nothing to do with the transfer case or differential.

 

If it does have an AWD system, my memory recalls this being specific to the Denali trim, converting won't be as simple as swapping out mechanical parts like differentials and transfer cases. It will require reprogramming at a minimum. Long story short, not likely worth it.

 

Pulling a fuse, may disable the AWD system, it might also prevent any other transfer case functions.

 

However, the AWD case was generally based on the same transfer case you refer to in the 2006 Suburban. If it still has a 4-High and 4-Low where the transfer case locks and splits power 50-50 front to rear, what are you gaining by changing anything? A true-rear wheel drive only, what good will that serve? Not enough to go through the trouble of changing out all the parts. 

 

Generally, all the factory systems will handle a 33" tire and re-gearing. Probably a 35" tire too, if you aren't driving like a caveman. If 35" tires are in the plan...

 

If you do plan on driving like a caveman or are fully committed to 35" tires, an entire re-think of the build is probably in order. Starting with square one, an IFS front end isn't going to be the best starting point for 35's and caveman driving. 

[teamjnz]

1 hour ago, asilverblazer said:

Stabilitrack was a stability control, traction control system, that functioned independently from the transfer case.

 

Z-71 has nothing to do with the transfer case or differential.

 

If it does have an AWD system, my memory recalls this being specific to the Denali trim, converting won't be as simple as swapping out mechanical parts like differentials and transfer cases. It will require reprogramming at a minimum. Long story short, not likely worth it.

 

Pulling a fuse, may disable the AWD system, it might also prevent any other transfer case functions.

 

However, the AWD case was generally based on the same transfer case you refer to in the 2006 Suburban. If it still has a 4-High and 4-Low where the transfer case locks and splits power 50-50 front to rear, what are you gaining by changing anything? A true-rear wheel drive only, what good will that serve? Not enough to go through the trouble of changing out all the parts. 

 

Generally, all the factory systems will handle a 33" tire and re-gearing. Probably a 35" tire too, if you aren't driving like a caveman. If 35" tires are in the plan...

 

If you do plan on driving like a caveman or are fully committed to 35" tires, an entire re-think of the build is probably in order. Starting with square one, an IFS front end isn't going to be the best starting point for 35's and caveman driving. 

 

Sounds like converting will be a bigger endeavor than I was thinking. This truck doesn't have 2Hi like the Suburban did.

The Tahoe has 4Hi and 4Lo and a button to turn of traction control.

 

From what I understand the Stabilitrak uses open diff in the front and rear. When wheel speed is not the same the stabilitrak uses the ABS system to slowdown the spinning wheel(s) to transfer power to the slower non-spinning wheel(s).

I thought the transfer case was open too. Being able to transfer power either more to front or rear depending on wheel spin. Maybe I miss understood some information with you saying and power transfer is 50-50.

Thanks

[teamjnz]

I just did some reading and Stabilitrak is more than a what I had originally thought. It is more of a vehicle control system to help the driver in precarious situations. I thought it was only the AWD system. Now I know.

So I changed the title for this thread to AWD conversion to Z71 

[Z45]

Friend works for a technical research university that has winter driving school and GM had donated a Sierra Denali to the school. They had to eliminate the AWD system so they had to replace the transfer case and lots of other parts. The AWD uses a Borg-Warner TC. I recall him saying it was a pita job but they had engineers that could do the job.    Btw, the Denali did not have a VIN so it have to destroy the vehicle when they were done with it. GM's way of making sure the vehicle did not end in the wrong hands.

[asilverblazer]

Stabilitrack operation is in a sense a separate/independent operation from the operation of 'traction control'. Stabilitrack is used to keep the vehicle traveling in the DIRECTION intended, it can brake independent wheels and or adjust throttle to influence the direction the vehicle is moving.

 

This can be illustrated by a 'fish-tailing' example. At high speeds, if the stabilitrack detects excessive yaw (the vehicle spinning like a top, it has a sensor for this), based on inputs from steering angle it determines that the vehicle is spinning out of control, and begins working to control that unintended spin. By reducing throttle input or braking specific wheels to control or prevent the spin.

 

The traction control works similarly using the ABS system to slow spinning wheels and thus transfer power to 'other' wheels. The goal being to achieve wheel speeds that are all in agreement with each other, the truck then assumes that since all the wheels speeds are the same no spinning is occurring. For example, launching up a wet boat ramp, there is no excessive yaw present, traction control alone can manage the wheel spin by braking spinning wheels and cutting throttle.

 

Stabilitrack and traction control from a hardware and software standpoint are basically one in the same, I don't remember specifically in 2004, but you couldn't get a truck with one and not the other. The switch on the dash, could turn off the traction control, but not necessarily the stabilitrack. 

 

A confusing comment about stabilitrack vs. traction control, the same components serve both operations, but marketing could advertise them as two separate features. 

 

The AWD system is another separate system entirely, in addition to the other two, it uses the same wheel speed inputs but can also vary the transfer case clutch application to direct some power to the front axle, working in conjunction with the traction control to bring wheel speeds together.

 

The power split will never be greater than 50:50, the same as 4-high. It will never direct MORE power to the front axle than the rear.