New Trailblazer owner from Utah

[jstreet]

I've been lurking for a couple of weeks and have been getting great info on my new Trailblazer so I thought I'd finally register, introduce myself and say thanks for all the great instructions! The wife and I just picked up an 04 TB LT EXT with the 5.3 a couple of weeks ago since our growing family needed a little more space than the 05 Subaru Legacy was giving us. I paid a few hundred over dealer trade in value for it since it had a couple of minor issues.

It has 124K miles and has had regular fluid changes but no major maintenance besides the rack and pinion that was replaced around 10k miles ago. The immediate problem is the front end is shot, it needs all new ball joints plus an upper control arm, outer tie rod and hub wheel bearing that is starting to go. The truck had newer tires on it with only 5k miles on them but the front tires were already worn down to the threads due to the front end. The shop wanted $1500 just for the ball joints and one control arm so I'm doing the work myself this weekend. I'm replacing both upper and lower control arms (raybestos professional), ball joints (raybestos professional), both outer tie rods (AC Delco) and both hub bearings (Timkin) plus installing some new Bilstiens and stabilizer links/bushings (Moog) all around. I know some of the parts aren't broke yet but I figure why not since I'm going to be tearing everything apart anyway. I don't mind wrenching but their are definitely other things I would rather do with my time. I'm hoping to get it all done in a long day(minus the rear shocks) and it seems doable with the right tools, which I have.

I'm not a mechanic and have never done a project this big on my own before, so wish me luck! I'm very mechanically inclined and I've read several threads, watched a few videos on each part I'm replacing plus I've read the factory service manual front suspension section a few times. I also created a checklist from the service manual so I do everything in the right order and don't forget something. I feel I'm pretty prepared for the job but you never know.

Anyway thanks again for all the great knowledge!

[mikekey]

Welcome to the site, you've just joined an awesome family.

[DirtyBacon04]

Oh, yea. what he said. And you're livin in Utah... that is the offroad Mecca

lucky bastard

[jstreet]

Oh, yea. what he said. And you're livin in Utah... that is the offroad Mecca

lucky bastard

I'm a transplant, luck wasn't involved!

I moved here 12 years ago after I graduated college with no job, no money and a lot of desire to play! I'm a little more settled now and the kids aren't quite old enough for the mountain bike and climbing so some off-roading in Moab is definitely in our future.

[Diacom]

Welcome, check out the trip section here on the forums, you'll be in for some company in a few months.

[TBYODA]

Welcome, if you have no history on the fluid changes for the transfer case I'd change with autotrack II. Has 50k interval.

[jstreet]

Welcome, if you have no history on the fluid changes for the transfer case I'd change with autotrack II. Has 50k interval.

The guy a I bought it from was totally clueless as to what had been done but did say the transmission was done at 100k. He always took it to jiffy lube and did whatever they said it needed so I'm pretty sure it's been done on schedule. That said I do plan on doing it again anyway just to be sure.

[Cable810]

Welcome!!!

[DirtyBacon04]

Welcome, if you have no history on the fluid changes for the transfer case I'd change with autotrack II. Has 50k interval.

The guy a I bought it from was totally clueless as to what had been done but did say the transmission was done at 100k. He always took it to jiffy lubeand did whatever they said it neededso I'm pretty sure it's been done on schedule. That said I do plan on doing it again anyway just to be sure.

Jiffy lube has a reputation of scamming. Also, a lot of their techs are not ASE certified, so they probably dont know what a transfer case is. If he paid for whatever they said needed fixing, I imagine the truck probably has a new cat. converter, nitrogen in the tires, fresh halogen fluid, and pneumatic fluid.
Simply for a peice of mind, I would be swapping the fluid at least in the transfer case because of how vital it is.

[mikekey]

I agree with the above. Also, to add to the Jiffy lube thing, a lot of the oil change places hire people with the same level of experience as a cashier working at walmart. Some of them usually have a head mechanic who is ASE and then they slap that on the building, to falsely make you assume all their mechanics are ASE. Changing oil isn't a super difficult task, paying for a building and paying workers and charging $35.00 for an oil change, you have to stop and wonder where they are cutting corners to make profit. It starts to become obvious if you go into one, look around and start to think about it.

[navigator]

I didn't notice in your opening thread any mention of a lift.
While you have the front end apart would be the perfect time then you only have to compress your front springs once.

[NC_IslandRunner]

Welcome! I could bash quick lube places all day, but I'll leave that for another day.

[navigator]

yeah, I would rather change my own than wait for someone else to do it. You also get the peace of mind having been under there and noticing any new leaks/issues.

[jstreet]

Thanks for all the advice. I am planning on doing transfer case in the near future along with the differentials, rear bearings, rebuilding the G80 and replacing the mode door actuator. I just have to get this front end done first so I don't go through another set of tires. I never go to Jiffy Lube myself but I just ASSumed that a large chain like that would have a database with everything that needed done at what intervals on common vehicles. The guy lived (for at least the last 10 years according to the title) in nice older but well kept up house in a very nice part of the valley (think half million dollar homes that are a block away from the multi-million dollar ones right next to the mountain) so I really doubt he skipped a suggested service because it cost too much. I did test out the 4wd while I was looking at it and there were no noises and it went right into gear without issue so I'm not really concerned with it.

I didn't notice in your opening thread any mention of a lift.
While you have the front end apart would be the perfect time then you only have to compress your front springs once.

While I would love to lift it this is going to primarily be my 5' 0.5" wife's not a minivan vehicle so the stock height and running boards are there to stay. To be honest I wanted to go with a Tahoe or Suburban but was vetoed by my wife because they felt too big for her. She really liked how the Trailblazer interior was smaller feeling and more car like, the fact that it was much lower to the ground than the full sized SUV's and a 1/3 the cost of a new Acadia (which she loved) sealed the deal. I have a 97 K1500 and a 99 Honda VFR that are mine to play with so I'm OK with leaving it stock, at least for now.

[v7guy]

If you're not intending on lifting, gmtnation is probably a much better fit for you. We definitely skew our suggestions with a priority towards offroading and there is a much larger base of info for general trailblazer/envoy tech at gmtnation.

[chevycrew]

Welcome... if you decide to get crazy... come check out mine...