About a month ago I bought a 2005 2500 4x4 'burb with the 8.1 motor. I didn't need that big of a motor, but I got it at such a good price that it will take a decade for the difference in gas mileage to matter. I certainly like the power! The odometer reading divided by the hours on the engine clock showed an average speed of 35 mph. I guess that is why the interior looks like new. I drove it down to San Carlos, Mexico (Guaymas) and back and it performed flawlessly. I didn't tow anything, just brought back a couple of ocean kayaks that were three quarters worn out and I didn't want to pay for storage on them anymore.


The front end rattles and clunks, though. It sounds like something is loose with the front suspension or steering, yet the mechanic I had look at it said it was fine. What wears out to make noises down there?


Yesterday in the parking lot at work I pushed the 4x4 buttons and they worked, but this morning while driving to work the Service 4x4 light came on. I stopped to buy donuts (Today is national donut day) and when restarted, the light was off and didn't come back on. What is the most common 4x4 issue with the '05's?


It will not be a daily driver, just for when I haul more than 5 people, hunting or camping. I'm driving it daily this week because my roadster daily driver is getting the soft top hydraulics replaced ($$$! OUCH!).


I'm also thinking about a K&N cold air intake. Any thoughts on that?


Tires. It has 265/70 16's. The current tires are at least 75%, so I'm not going to change them yet, but they certainly look anemic. I like the wheels, so I will most likely not replace those unnecessarily. So if I go bigger tires, how big can I go before I have to get a lift kit or start cutting on the fenders? I don't want to do either.

 

That's a monster of a truck. Many (including me) would say that the '03-'06 3/4 ton Burbs were the pinnacle of towing vehicles. Huge payload capacity, huge towing capacity.

Don't waste your money on the cold air intake. You already have one - the air box sucks cold air from the passenger front fenderwell. If you want to spend some money, get a tune.

The 4x4 on my '01 is a little wonky. Every once in a while it will misbehave - not shift right a way, throw the service 4x4 light, etc. Rare occurrence, wrote it off as a gremlin. I run the t-case through the shifts at least once a month, to keep everything loose.

 

On the front suspension, the ball joints, tie rod ends, and sway bar links wear out. The repair is around $1k.

The 4x4 message is a grounding issue. There are some grounds that a good mechanic can identify, clean, and retighten, problem solved.

The cold air kits seem to reduce bottom end torque. Now a days I just buy the K&N filter for the stock air box. You get better airflow and retain bottom end torque.

On mine I do the K&N filter, dual exhaust with an x-pipe, Hypertech tuner, and run premium fuel. This combo really wakes em up!

 

the 4x4 system has full diagnostic capabilities, get the codes read in transfer case control module.


what ever tire size you end up with; you can go into the ebcm with a factory scan tool and change the tire size settings to allow your speedometer to read correctly. you probably could go to 285's with the same aspect ratio but 305's may rub.


if you have a clunk when turning the steering wheel, intermediate steering shafts are known to do that. greasing them is a temporary fix. new ones are 200 -300.


If you like jewellery, get a cai. I am not a fan of performance air filters as they do not meet oem filtering requirements. if you want to contaminate the maf sensor...put one on.


I think these trucks are fantastic....very reliable.
did they put the Alison trans with the 8.1L?

 

No. Common misconception, since the HD trucks of the time with the 8.1 did get the Allison.

Not enough height clearance on the body in the Suburbans. 8.1 Burbs have the 4L80.