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I may have made a mistake

slawava

Full Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2016
Messages
34
Purchased an 03 Z71 rust bucket for $600 locally just to have a beater truck.

I get under the frame to start banging scales off, and the rear bump stop mount broke in half, no longer able to hold a bump stop.

My question really is, under normal driving, are the bump stops required? I don't plan on pulling a heavy load, or going off-road etc

1594670346231.png
 
i think you can get away without one as long as you are just using it as a grocery hauler
 
I don't think I've ever hit mine even with a load in the back
 
probably alright.. worse case you will know when you know when you needed it like crossing RR tracks kinda fast or offroading.

Jeeze... the rust under that thing... is a shame...
Note to Self keep living in the south BELOW the SALT LINE.
 
probably alright.. worse case you will know when you know when you needed it like crossing RR tracks kinda fast or offroading.

Jeeze... the rust under that thing... is a shame...
Note to Self keep living in the south BELOW the SALT LINE.

Yeah, it's terrible, I live in FL, truck came from MN, I figured screw it for $600
 
The interior of the truck is amazing, just sucks the rest of it is a rust trap, but hey.. if I even get 6 months out of it, it was worth it.
 
When I bought my used 2003 Z-66, I found both the front and rear bump stops were totally rotten or missing.

IMG_4360.JPG

I purchased new parts and installed them.

On a non-lifted truck, the front suspension always sits on the bump stops.

The rears, however, sit a good 2-3 inches away from the rear axle at rest.

I later found all four of the bump stops on my 2004 EXT were also rotten or missing.

I replaced all of them, as well.

IMG_4366.JPG
 
When I bought my used 2003 Z-66, I found both the front and rear bump stops were totally rotten or missing.

View attachment 227380

I purchased new parts and installed them.

On a non-lifted truck, the front suspension always sits on the bump stops.

The rears, however, sit a good 2-3 inches away from the rear axle at rest.

I later found all four of the bump stops on my 2004 EXT were also rotten or missing.

I replaced all of them, as well.

View attachment 227379

my issue in the rear is that the mount is rotted completely away on the passenger side, so no way to install a new one
 
my issue in the rear is that the mount is rotted completely away on the passenger side, so no way to install a new one

This, I understood.

The point of my post is to show how far you have to depress the rear of the truck before the bump stops even come into play.

With mine totally gone on both of my trucks, I never even knew they were gone because I had never got into a situation where I bottomed out the rear suspension.

I think you will be fine for the most part, until you are not.

I would also venture a guess that there are a lot more of our trucks out there missing good bump stops than what have them.
 
This, I understood.

The point of my post is to show how far you have to depress the rear of the truck before the bump stops even come into play.

With mine totally gone on both of my trucks, I never even knew they were gone because I had never got into a situation where I bottomed out the rear suspension.

I think you will be fine for the most part, until you are not.

I would also venture a guess that there are a lot more of our trucks out there missing good bump stops than what have them.

I totally understand your point now, my apologies!

i'm a little worried about the rust in general, as the body has got significant rust in the rocker panels, plus the rear door jams.

I suppose if I get a year out of it, it was well worth it, can always save the good drive line for another avalanche body/frame as well when the frame eventually rusts away.

previous owner says the trust has been rusted this way for 8+ years
 
This is the overall rust on the frame, I really can't put my fingers through anything and taps from the hammer don't puncture anything, should I start using a wire brush and scaling it and then painting it, or do you guys think it's too far gone? should I just drive it until it falls apart?
 

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That is not bad at all, scrape and brush, get some rust blocker and paint, last the life of the truck and now that it's in FL.
 
I've had good luck with this stuff
 

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Get a few cans, home depot sells them by the case. Like Ron said scrape the loose stuff off first.
 
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