JKruse Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Hey guys, Im new here to the forums. Been looking into getting an SS for a few months now since im in the market for a new truck anyways. Im pretty familiar with the Gen III GM motors. I had an 01 sierra with a 4.8 and 5.3 swapped an S-10 with a TH350, so some background motor-wise but AWD is a whole new adventure for me. Ive been dealing with a local chevy dealer looking at a black 03 with 90,500 mi. truck is pretty clean in general just needs some TLC. So today I went over and drove the truck, throttle is very responsive, trans shifts smooth, ac blows cold. However im thinking the front diff fluid needs changed or it is going out all together. At around 50-55 a pretty serious front-end vibration/growl starts and continues all the way up to 90+ if you let off the gas it goes away. From what ive searched and read on here it most likely needs rebuilt. I took it to a trans shop today while I was test driving it and the tech said it sounds like the front diff to him not the t-case. The dealership is selling the truck as-is, they said they got it on a trade over a month ago. Truck books around 13,000 they were asking 12,300. By the end of the day and after pointing out the front end vibrations I got him down to 8700. To make a long story short, do you guys think its worth going through potentially putting a diff in it if im getting it for 8700? Seemed like a good price to me, just don't want to run into a bunch of problems in the near future. Thanks for the help/advice in advance. Justen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsm110 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Mileage aint bad. I wouldnt think youd have too many more problems. just maintenance. I think its a good deal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[email protected] Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Most likely the front diff, very common problem. You will probably end up tossing $500-$1000 on that and other little maintenance if you get it, but I think it's a good deal especially from a dealer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKruse Posted May 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Yeah, that's kinda what I was thinking. I just figured the price is cheap enough I could afford to do it right away and have a pretty nice truck for under 10k with less than 100k on it.. Just makes me nervous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsm110 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 if everything else is in good shape i wouldnt be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKruse Posted May 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Thanks for the advice guys, the shop I talked to earlier said it would probably be 1000-1500 to do the diff. And besides that theres a few minor things it needs but im not too worried about because I can do the rest. could use a set of brakes, heated seats don't work for some reason, tie rods, alignment, and some IDIOT took off the stock 20s and put 09 ish Silverado 17s on it (dealership didn't even know it was missing the OE wheels). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS-GTP Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Welcome to the site. Like everyone else said, sounds like a good deal. If you go ahead and purchase, do some more searching on this site as you will find some info on the heated seat problem. In general its usually a short in one of the 4 heating elements. Mine short was in the drivers side seat back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKruse Posted May 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Come to think of it, when I was laying under the truck earlier it looked like the seals for the axle shafts were leaking. Any way it could be as simple as the diff just being low/out of fluid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blown 346 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 (edited) If the diff is low on fluid I bet its been that for sometime and would only lead to excessive heat build up and destroying the diff anyway. For that price Its not bad. Just remember, all those suspension components, heated seat elements that need to be replaced as well. My guess would be you wil have say high side, $1,500 with the new diff $600 or so with brakes,suspension if you do the work yourself. do the inner tie rods while your there.... Plus add in a Alignment that is normally about $90. Basically look into spending about $2,000 on the truck plus the $8,700 minus taxes. You will end up paying around $12,090 with taxes for that truck after the repairs, that you know of. The only other bigger things I can see you having to replace which is from common wear are. Both wheel bearings, those are about $150 each for the good Moog brand. Oil cooler lines that are about $120 from GM, and the trans cooler line that is about $25 or so if i remember right. Those lines usually leak when the truck gets older. Dont forget to have the ball joints and shocks checked out. Also the rear diff, and transfer case fluid.... They should all be full before you drive away. Also replace the fuel filter as I bet it has never been changed, along with the plugs. Edited May 16, 2014 by Blown 346 (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fireman31 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Make sure that the guage cluster is functioning properly as the stepper motors are a known problem, and also check to make sure it doesn't have the ever so common steering shaft clunk when turning. These are some very common problems that you may not notice now, but will seriously annoy you in time..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muggs Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 If all else is good and working properly I would get it and rebuild the diff, that's what I would do but of course it's up to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2003_SuperSport Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 If you have to rebuild the front diff you might as well throw some 4:56's in the front while your up there and do the back too complimented with a TA girdle... LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Beast Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 I'd check the seams on all the body panels, just to look for an unreported accident. Check for uneven looking paint or super glossy parts vs. standard orange peel. Mechanical issues can always be fixed and corrected, but some accidents can cause headaches forever. Seems like a great deal, too great maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKruse Posted May 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Thanks for all the advice guys. From what i could tell its never been in an accident. Had them run a car fax too. Didn't feel the steering shaft clunk and I put it through the paces test driving it lol. The only major issue I could find is the diff, I always do fluid changes/maintenance when I buy a vehicle anyways so that's no biggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jovanny Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 So , Did you get it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.