New member here...

Just sold my 04 2wd Silverado Ext with 95K. I really liked it, but it was a one wheel drive wonder, with a body lift the previous owner put on that made it handle horribly and the too tall 3.42 rear end ..

I then bought an 06 4WD/Z71, 5.3, 3.73, Silverado with 90K, that I'd been eyeballing on the Chevy lot..

I'd normally buy from a private owner, but this was a one owner, I know who the owner is because it's a small town (70 yr old man), he bought it from the dealership I bought it from in 2006, put 90K on it and traded it on a new one..

It is beautiful, the leather seats don't even hardly look sat in, it is MUCH more "tight" and new feeling than my 04 was..

I got a good deal on it too..12K

Still...I'm having a little buyers remorse now, having bought a truck with 90K..

The 04, I had to have the 4l60 rebuilt at 80K and it never felt quite right afterwards, had a funny 2-3 shift etc (part of my reason for parting with it)..

Now the questions:

Should I be concerned with 90K miles? Heck, I see 2009-11's with 90 K miles on them all the time and they still want 25K for them. I wrote a check for 12K for this one and that was a lot easier to swallow than 25K..

How about the 4l60? This one feels great, shifts firm etc.. Should I have it serviced all the way now, drain, refill, replace filters, new diff fluid etc?

If I do, should I go all synthetic? Or is that a bad idea to start with syn at this many miles?

I don't want anyone to lie to me just to make me feel better, but would any of you be concerned about this truck with 90K miles?

Isn't 100K miles the new 50K?

Input, advice etc appreciated..

Kevlar

 

Nice truck. I would not be too concerned about the 90,000 miles on it. I got 133,000 on my 2004 GMC Z71 and still going strong, no oil use and tranny feels OK. I put 208,000 on my 91 4x4 and replaced the engine and tranny and gave it to my son.

 

Thanks for the reply..

 

UPDATE: Last week I had new plugs, wires replaced by one shop, and the transmission, differential and transfer cases drained and refilled by a very reputable local, non-chain transmission shop that's been here for 50 years..

"Before" the fluid changes, I thought I'd noticed a little "friction feeling" for lack of a better term in AUTO 4WD. Meaning that I could tell from the drivers seat that it was different at 50 mph, and the truck would roll smoother when I pushed the button and put it back in 2 WD..

For comparison, I drive a 2008 Chevy Trailblazer everday that has the "AUTO 4WD" option, and have turned it off and on and left it on many times for days and it is totally transparent in operation.

I also had a 2004 Z71 Suburban, and I believe it was transparent in operation as well..

So now...I'm thinking I have a problem and wanted to test it in 4HI and 4LO....

I didn't have access to anywhere slippery, so I drove it briefly on dry grass near the local ballfield and on a nearby hardpacked calichi road..

Driving straight is smooth, but of course I can feel that it is in 4wd, by seat of the pants...

But, ANY turning at all, even shallow arcs, causes very promiment groaning from the front end..

I DO NOT recall either of the other two chevy vehicles I'm using for comparison doing this.

What do you folks think?

Do your Z71's do the same?

If not any ideas on my problem?

 

Nobody?

 

I'll take mine out this after noon or evening and check it.

 

I took my 04 Z71 out yesterday evening and switched between 2WD and 4WD and Auto 4WD. I drove it at 50mph on the hwy switching and slower off road making turns left and right with the windows up and down and I could not hear any difference in the sound from the transfer case or the front end. It is a little odd because when the truck was new I could hear a difference when in 4WD and making turns. Not loud noises but a different like gears working. I took it to the GMC dealer and the service manager went for a ride with me into a dirt field and he said it was normal sounding. Compared to yesterday I guess over time it just got quieter. I'm sure it makes more noise I just didn't hear it. I usual can tell it's in 4WD when I make turns on pavement yesterday the only pavement turns were making a left and later a right turn at a stop light but they were not tight turns.

 

Many thanks for checking...I still have no resolution but am just living with it for now.