A Few Surprises With My '09

[dansk]

I've owned my '09 sierra 1500 SLE for about 6 weeks now and yesterday I changed the oil and gave it a good hand washing in the driveway. Surprise #1 was that it does not have a magnetic drain plug on the oil pan as I've read on this forum. I even tested it against some metal after seeing no debris clinging to it. I also noticed that my rear brakes are drum, not disc. That surprised me in this day and age. My '02 Ford had disc all the way around. I just assumed that the GM trucks did too. Neither thing means that much but just not what I expected.

[wbfcorp]

+1 on the rear brakes. I have an 08 LTZ fully loaded but with the 5.3L, and it has drums in the rear. I knew this when buying the truck, disappointing but didn't stop me from buying. In '08, if you got the VMax 6.0L engine, then you got discs in the rear. Seems odd to even offer drum brakes when the competitors have discs in the rear on even the base models.

[brims]

+1 on the rear brakes. I have an 08 LTZ fully loaded but with the 5.3L, and it has drums in the rear. I knew this when buying the truck, disappointing but didn't stop me from buying. In '08, if you got the VMax 6.0L engine, then you got discs in the rear. Seems odd to even offer drum brakes when the competitors have discs in the rear on even the base models.

 

I too knew about the rear drums when I bought both my trucks, didn't stop me at all. Didn't like it, but it didn't stop me.

 

They seemed to have stopped putting in the magnetic drain plug at the end of the 07 models.

[Zembonez]

As far as drum brakes go, my 07 has rear drums and stops better than any truck I've ever had. It has excellent brakes even when towing a boat. I've had a few with rear discs and they weren't any better. As long as the brake system is done right for the vehicle, it doesn't matter how they are configured. I'm sure the disc brake only fanboys will disagree.

[Ryan00TJ]

This is my first truck but I would say it stops pretty darn nice for how heavy it is. I knew they had drums in the rear also but I would still rather have discs with the same stopping ability. Drums do they job but I hate changing the shoes and springs. I thought my Jeep TJ would have been the last vehicle I ever bought with them but it's not.

 

Mine does not have the magnetic drain plug either. I plan on adding one next oil change. My 02 LS1 had one and it was always coated with a thin layer of metallic sludge.

[coydog13]

Owned my '09 for about the same amount of time, and have to say I was a little surprized about the drums as well. Didn't really notice at the lot, but once I got home and did a good once over I noticed it. Don't really care as long as I can stop

[Outbacker]

I went through the same thing when I bought my '08 WRT the rear brakes. I asked at the dealership when I was buying the truck why there were drum brakes, and I never did get a solid answer. But I am happy with the stopping power of this truck, and because of that it became a mute point. I think the main reason I prefer disc over drum is I can see the condition of the disc at anytime to check for wear or problem. As far as the drain plug, I keep trying to remind myself the next oil change to investigate and change out the plug with a magnetic one. Someday maybe.

[LawmanSS]

My '08 VMax has drums. I believe you get the discs with the "max trailering pack" and with Stabilitrak.

[svensk]

My '08 VMax has drums. I believe you get the discs with the "max trailering pack" and with Stabilitrak.

Correct. They started putting rear drums on trucks in either '04-05' model years when they beefed up the front with larger discs. They actually stop far better than my '00 that has 4 wheel disc.

[Stevens03]

My max package has the disk brakes in the rear. They work fine for me.

 

Steven

[VMax2007]

My '08 VMax has drums. I believe you get the discs with the "max trailering pack" and with Stabilitrak.

Correct. They started putting rear drums on trucks in either '04-05' model years when they beefed up the front with larger discs. They actually stop far better than my '00 that has 4 wheel disc.

 

 

 

Incorrect!

 

The "Max Trailering Pkg" (NHT) has nothing to do with whether it comes with rear discs.

 

Once again. ALL L76 6.0 equipped trucks with Stabilitrak get the rear discs.

 

(07/08 models...I am not sure what changed in 09 with the 6.2 now offered and the Vmax nameplate dropped).

[Zembonez]

My '08 VMax has drums. I believe you get the discs with the "max trailering pack" and with Stabilitrak.

Correct. They started putting rear drums on trucks in either '04-05' model years when they beefed up the front with larger discs. They actually stop far better than my '00 that has 4 wheel disc.

 

 

 

Incorrect!

 

The "Max Trailering Pkg" (NHT) has nothing to do with whether it comes with rear discs.

 

Once again. ALL L76 6.0 equipped trucks with Stabilitrak get the rear discs.

 

(07/08 models...I am not sure what changed in 09 with the 6.2 now offered and the Vmax nameplate dropped).

 

HARK!

 

Is that another sighting of Captain Correcto?

 

Both systems seem to work really well on these new trucks. I think the improvement felt in braking os more likely the better front calipers / rotors that are on the new trucks (since I believe late 2005)

[Stevens03]

Vmax2007... Your always on here Do you have a life.

 

I've never signed on, that you weren't here.

Steven

[VMax2007]

Vmax2007... Your always on here Do you have a life.

 

I've never signed on, that you weren't here.

Steven

 

I wasn't on at all today until about an hour ago.

 

I was at the auto show.

[Zembonez]

Vmax2007... Your always on here Do you have a life.

 

I've never signed on, that you weren't here.

Steven

 

I wasn't on at all today until about an hour ago.

 

I was at the auto show.

 

Just got back from Austin myself. Had to come see what was up

 

How was the show?

 

PICS?