99 tahoe rear brakes

[lcorn]

My girlfriend's 99 4x4 tahoe needs new shoes and I'm guessing drums too since they sound godawful. But there are both 10" and 11" brakes for that model. Is there any way to tell which with out taking everything off? Has 6 lug wheels.

Thanks for any help.

[sprucegoose]

Originally Posted by lcorn

My girlfriend's 99 4x4 tahoe needs new shoes and I'm guessing drums too since they sound godawful. But there are both 10" and 11" brakes for that model. Is there any way to tell which with out taking everything off? Has 6 lug wheels.

Thanks for any help.

I would call the dealer and he should be able to tell you if you give him the VIN number. He may tell you he needs the options codes. I forget if the tag for them is in the glove box? I think it is...

[mrgoodwrench69]

The size should be stamped into the rear drum, at least it was on my 97'.

Sorry, I didn't see the part about not having to take the wheel off...

[lcorn]

Thanks, guys.

I didn't get anywhere with the vin so I took off the wheel and it was stamped on the drum. One service guy said that the 4 x4 tahoes always had the big brakes in his experience and another said the opposite. Go figure! They were the 11".

[sprucegoose]

Originally Posted by lcorn

Thanks, guys.

I didn't get anywhere with the vin so I took off the wheel and it was stamped on the drum. One service guy said that the 4 x4 tahoes always had the big brakes in his experience and another said the opposite. Go figure! They were the 11".

Just curious Icorn... How many miles are on the truck? I have over 175K on mine now and it still has the original back brakes! I just did the fronts again a few weeks ago, I think that was the 4th set up there.

[lcorn]

about 115 k, Dave. The right drum came right off with no resistance and the shoes were down to zilch. Going to get the drums turned and the shoes and spring set cost $23 bucks. I never had to do a rear brake job on my vehicles before at least 150 k.

Larry

[lcorn]

By the way, is the starter hard to replace? Thats next because the bendix is grinding once in a while now. It never ends. Just put in a new alternator. Why is it that there are always several different parts for tahoes? There were three different sized alternators so I had to pull the old one and take it in to get a match.

[sprucegoose]

Well, I suppose mostly it is because all of the different options. The more demanding power options require the higher amp one, the diesel requires a dual battery system, etc.

Mine still has the original starter, which I thought was pretty good for this mileage also. (I'm knocking on the wood desk now!) Most GM starters aren't too bad, just a pain to hold up till you get the bolts started and wires connected...

So did you have to back off the adjuster to pull the left drum? I still haven't been able to pull the drums off the back. It looks like you have to punch out a metal slug to expose the adjuster the first time. Never had to do that before!

[lcorn]

I would have had to back off the adjuster to pull the left one. I didn't because I have a guy who does the stuff I don't do anymore like rear brake jobs. He works so cheap I give him a tip. And I have an uncle in the auto parts biz who sells me the parts at wholesale. He would have sold me the drums for $30 bucks less than Autozone if I had needed them. So girlfriend is getting off dirt cheap, probably $60 - 70 for replacing shoes, springs and turning the drums plus labor.