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Where's Did The G80 Locking Differential Go?

2500HD 8.1

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2500HD 8.1 Enthusiast

2500HD 8.1

Posted
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I recently bought a 2005 Yukon Denali with Stabilitrak, but there is no G80 on the build sheet. I know that the G80 was an option on most GM SUVs, but I cant find it being an option on the 2005 Denali. The sales brochure mentions under the base Yukon & Yukon XL under the Stabilitrak option, "Replaces locking rear differential and 2WD traction control."

 

So, does anyone know, Did the G80 option become integrated with Stabilitrak, or is there no G80 option with Stabilitrak?

GeoHawk Enthusiast

GeoHawk

Posted
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From what I could dig up, it looks like the Denali's did not get a G80 or even have it as an option. Instead, you get a combination of full-time all-wheel-drive, Stabilitrack, and traction control to help you out. I guess GM thinks Denali owners don't do any serious off-roading to justify the G80, or it's operation just wasn't compatible with the AWD/Stabilitrack/Traction Control trio.

DanMan_S Enthusiast

DanMan_S

Posted
Posted
From what I could dig up, it looks like the Denali's did not get a G80 or even have it as an option. Instead, you get a combination of full-time all-wheel-drive, Stabilitrack, and traction control to help you out. I guess GM thinks Denali owners don't do any serious off-roading to justify the G80, or it's operation just wasn't compatible with the AWD/Stabilitrack/Traction Control trio.

 

Isn't that the same situation with the transfer case? They use an open diff and modulate the brakes to shift the torque around?

 

I was interested in getting a Sierra denali but having an AWD system like that seriously discouraged me.

GeoHawk Enthusiast

GeoHawk

Posted
Posted
From what I could dig up, it looks like the Denali's did not get a G80 or even have it as an option. Instead, you get a combination of full-time all-wheel-drive, Stabilitrack, and traction control to help you out. I guess GM thinks Denali owners don't do any serious off-roading to justify the G80, or it's operation just wasn't compatible with the AWD/Stabilitrack/Traction Control trio.

 

Isn't that the same situation with the transfer case? They use an open diff and modulate the brakes to shift the torque around?

 

I was interested in getting a Sierra denali but having an AWD system like that seriously discouraged me.

 

I pretty sure you're right. The Denali's x-fer case is "open" and doesn't have the traditional "2-Hi, N, 4-Hi, 4-Low".

2500HD 8.1 Enthusiast

2500HD 8.1

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  • Author
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I found this quote on the following web page about Stabilitrak and G80, but it does not specific about the Denali:

 

"For 2005, GMC's lineup of Professional Grade full-size sport utilities delivers increased safety features, including the availability of StabiliTrak (including the G80 locking differential) and a standard enhanced passenger safety belt reminder."

 

http://cars.phillyburbs.com/spotlight/2005newmodels.shtml

 

According to this, the G80 is included with Stabilitrak, but I would think it would still list the option code (G80) on the build sheet. Oh well, hopefully the AWD will get me out if I'm stuck.

s-ten Enthusiast

s-ten

Posted
Posted

I don't believe that the G80 is offered with the Stabilitrac because the Stabilitrac is able to modulate the breaks so that power is always fed to the wheel that has the most traction. There are a lot of manufacturers out there now that are doing this rather then offering a locking or limited slip differential.

 

As for worrying about traction my mom has an '03 Escalade and the AWD with Stabilitrac works very good in snow and ice (can't say for mud as I have never tried it); with the system on it is very hard to loose traction, whereas when it is off the tires loose grip relatively easy.

DanMan_S Enthusiast

DanMan_S

Posted
Posted
As for worrying about traction my mom has an '03 Escalade and the AWD with Stabilitrac works very good in snow and ice (can't say for mud as I have never tried it); with the system on it is very hard to loose traction, whereas when it is off the tires loose grip relatively easy.

 

Yeah, I'm worried about when it's off. With any of my pickups, I like to be able to drive them at the extremes in mud, snow or on ice. I would definitely be turning the stabity control off and rely on the good ol', locked 4hi or 4lo and the G80. All this nanny stuff drives me crazy. My jeep SRT8's awd system is okay for driving in the city but makes me miss having 4hi as the computer controls definitely have a lag time when moving the torque around.

sagent Enthusiast

sagent

Posted
Posted

The G80 rear diff was not available from the factory when you ordered the Stabilitrak system. Also from what I've read the G80 will not work with the Stabilitrak system if added after the fact. My 03 Yukon has Stabilitrak and all the regular Yukons ( not Denali ) with this system were equipped with the Borg Warner 4482 transfer case in 03. This case is fulltime 4wd and has an open differential which is locked when in 4-low. From what I can gather, the system acts like an electronic limited slip using the brakes & computer to determine which tire / tires have best traction and applies torque accordingly.

caddycruiser Enthusiast

caddycruiser

Posted
Posted

At first, in '03 and early '04, the G80 wasn't available with Stabilitrak.

 

However, since that point, the two have been separate options available together, and if you've seen anymore recent SUV's, for example, the Stabilitrak is standard and you can then--and most do--have the G80 locker as an additional option on certain Chevy's and standard on certain GMC's.

 

As for earlier Denalis, it's a bit unclear, but just open your glovebox and look on the SPID label for G80, and you'll know the answer :)

2500HD 8.1 Enthusiast

2500HD 8.1

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The G80 code is not on the list in my glove box, and there is nothing mentioned about the G80 in the 05 sales brochure under the Denali. Sounds like it was not even an option on the Denali cuz Stabilitrak was standard in 2005. Its just weird that I found sites on line saying the G80 comes with Stabilitrak, thats why I was wondering if it was no longer a separate production code or if the G80 is no longer an option since Stabilitrak is standard. I would call GM, but I don't expect to be able to talk to someone that can give me an answer.

caddycruiser Enthusiast

caddycruiser

Posted
Posted
The G80 code is not on the list in my glove box, and there is nothing mentioned about the G80 in the 05 sales brochure under the Denali. Sounds like it was not even an option on the Denali cuz Stabilitrak was standard in 2005. Its just weird that I found sites on line saying the G80 comes with Stabilitrak, thats why I was wondering if it was no longer a separate production code or if the G80 is no longer an option since Stabilitrak is standard. I would call GM, but I don't expect to be able to talk to someone that can give me an answer.

 

Well, what you found out fits with what I said, but I do wonder about it on the Denali myself, at least in those few last years of the GMT-800's. For the past few years, Stabilitrak was standard and then the G80 was either optional or standard additionally, depending on the specific model--like, for instance, regular Yukon's had both standard and the Tahoe/Suburban had it as an option.

 

Right now, with the '07's, Stabilitrack AND the G80 are still equipped as such, both standard on the GMC's (Denali included) and the locker optional on the Chevy's. Good question on the '05, and also '01-04 Denali's, though...hmm.

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