the ULTIMATE BRAKE CONVERSION for your GMT400

[@LawrenceTolman]

_I had a few guys ask for_ part numbers, and while I don't have em handy, I'll try to make this a comprehensive list of all the stuff I used... Parts from 1999-2000 Silverado 2500 LIGHT duty one pair front steering knuckles Parts from a 2001 2500HD 2x lower control arm 2x wheel hub/bearing 2x disc brake rotors brake pads 2x caliper and bracket assembly 4x caliper to spindle mount bolts 2x hub dust cover 2x brake backing plates 2x brake banjo bolts w/copper sealing washers Parts from a K2500 2x front shocks 2x upper control arm 2x sway bar end links Parts from a 2001 Silverado 1500 4wd 2x front brake hoses Misc 3/16" to 1/4" brake line adapter 2"/foot reamer

[@marvz71]

Any interest in selling the old lower control arms? I can't find any consensus on what will work other than those factory K2500 ones off of those models on my K1500.

[@f-bodyjon2189]

Thanks for posting this. Keep progress going on the Suburban. Don’t get bored with it.

[@AP9311]

Thank you, LT!! Much appreciated!!

[@Waterskibug]

Thanks, I have a 98 4x4 3500 crewcab. I've never thought the brakes were worth a damn. I thought about rear disc but the front disc upgrade sounds like the key. Let us know how it all turns after the master cylinder. I have 2 early 2000 3/4 suburban parts vehicle. I think I'll be yanking some parts off soon. Not sure what knuckles they have?

[@bowtiebastard6437]

Hey LT how does performance heads and rotating assembly and custom headers and full exhaust that would be cool and maybe 2 small turbos that would be sick

[@Todd_S]

Again, no one does parts interchangeability like General Motors. Nice job, LT!

[@LawrenceTolman]

nope, and I'm happy to take advantage of that

[@julio3421]

Honda does just saying

[@blackbuttecruizr]

Yeah... On a freakin' Ford, if it has an entirely different suspension if it has a different alternator.

[@hawkdsl]

@@blackbuttecruizr Ford is a nightmare. A single exhaust pipe can have up to 10 different bolt sizes... Man, don't get me started.

[@WattsGemini323]

The worse offenders are the size 7 fasteners they use on the edge,bronco, amd ecosport also on the new explorer not to forget the gt350 whole front is held on by 7's

[@LongHoodKW]

This is fast becoming one of my favorite GMT400 builds on KZbin! I was on a forum dedicated to these trucks when someone posted a link to the first video you posted introducing the Suburban, and when I had seen you'd done an 0411 swap I was seriously intrigued; I've done the 0411 on my 96 K2500 with a 454 and you actually helped me solve my crank relearn issue by pointing out the need to ground pins for the parking indicator! The GMT800 knuckle upgrade is also something I've looked at for years, and at first I had settled for putting K3500 Dually rotors, calipers, and pads; no forums had a step-by-step process to this conversion, and the ones that did are now long gone so I'd always been hesitant about going through with the swap. I have heard some other K2500 owners complain about the angle of the shock being changed by using the GMT800 lower knuckle causing the ride quality to suffer, have you noticed anything substantially adverse so far or is it too early to tell?

[@LawrenceTolman]

haven't even driven the truck with the conversion, but when I do I'll make a video showing the results and how I feel it drives. thanks for watching!

[@jeffohara9980]

You do an awesome job of exploiting GM’s factory options and making swaps work! Your knowledge and research are amazing!!

[@LawrenceTolman]

I appreciate that!

[@flyingfrog2856]

Love this content, now I want to swap my brakes & rear end on my 97 K2500 Burb. Stop giving me more good ideas already. 🙂 Keep up the great work!

[@gregthompson1609]

Love the swapping of factory parts, I bet those new brakes are WAY better. I agree with the comments below of swapping a 6L80e with a whipple on the 7.4.

[@1984goldenchevy]

As someone who has a 1980 K20 Suburban, I love seeing another 3/4 ton Suburban getting love here. Keep up the awesome work.

[@LawrenceTolman]

thanks! will do

[@kleimbach77]

I'm a ford guy but I enjoy content like this about using oe parts to improve on what you couldn't get from the factory-installed. It's making the truck custom to your liking and still factory

[@bryandevries7210]

This is such great quality content. The research and thorough checking you do demonstrates what any owner with some mechanical ability can do with a normal garage. This is real cartubing.

[@chrisowen5497]

I’ve been seeing people talk about this in different forums on the web, but no detailed information. Thank you for this! Now to convince my wife that I need to do this on my 1996 Suburban. Great video!

[@LawrenceTolman]

Glad it was helpful, and good luck with the convincing!

[@blackbuttecruizr]

Love me a Suburban!!! My Dad took our whole family on a 3 week trip to Alberta in a 3 door blue and white one. Great memories.

[@williambeasley243]

I've been following this and Ugly truck since I started planning my 8.1 swap on my 2000 K2500 GMT400 crew cab.

[@heatherngillis]

Thanks for making this video! I'm picking up a 1999 K2500 Suburban to turn into a family snow rig/tow pig, with new gears and diffs, etc. I'm looking to make everything as spiffy and serviceable as possible, and this swap wins on both points. I purchased the rear axle and front knuckles today, and I'm making up the rest of the parts list. You made this a LOT simpler!

[@LawrenceTolman]

Glad I could help out!

[@brettgildersleeve9139]

This is awesome! Hell yeah! Now that the burb can stop lets see some power get added to the 454!

[@ATGray-uw3xr]

Love the obs and the factory crossover upgrades. Keep up the great work

[@capman911]

I ran into the same problem with my 2006 Silverado 1500 4x4 when I put 2019 4 piston calipers on it with drilled and slotted rotors then Jegs sent me the wrong braided brake lines. I must use my old brake hoses until I get two adapter fittings. Thanks for reminding me about the hose fitting adapters. Great work on your truck it should handle 100% better.

[@qslider303]

I love the suburban stuff!! Looking forward to you doing a k1500 to a k2500 conversion series also! Thanks for the videos 😀👍

[@02RedFuryVette]

You and I both!!! I've a 99 Suburban and I am DYING to do the conversion... especially since I am possibly trading up my boat. Once thing is for sure: would need new rims!!! 🤣

[@stevanp.8954]

I love this big burba i have one and all is great i want to see more and see you finshed it . . Im junkyard shopping for all the hard part right now and im about to buy a 98 crew cab dually with the 454 so im loving it . Dont give up one us 454 vortex guys.

[@chrisliberty1773]

Best mix/match of parts since that AWD Silverado dealio y'all did on the tee-vee...great stuff (and I dont even own one of these trucks).

[@LawrenceTolman]

thanks! i love it when factory parts can be mixed and matched

[@hawkdsl]

By the way... The spindle lower pocket (the small one inside the big one) that looks like an elongated race track (@8:55) is actually supposed to be cut out. This gives you access to the zerk fittings for the lower ball joint. The factory was notorious for missing these uncut versions during inspection, even on the 88-94 GMT400's. Easy to cut it out yourself though... and for some reason, this happened on the right side more then the left side.

[@justingustafson7964]

Love the suburban content and what you’ve done so far! Please keep it a suburban too. What about a 6L90 swap and build the 454, possibly with a Whipple. It would make a killer family tow rig

[@brendan747]

the 454 would shread a 6l80

[@justingustafson7964]

@@brendan747 I’m pretty sure it will be just fine when they’re built to go behind LSA engines from the factory

[@rcairforceone]

@@justingustafson7964 LSA applications used the 6L90.

[@james10739]

That would be cool

[@brendan747]

@@justingustafson7964 lsa engines weren’t put in 7,000 lbs pickups with high towing capacities and all of the low end torque.

[@hugieflhr03]

Now you got my attention! The brakes on my 93 z71 and they were ok but the rear drums became a problem with rusted out back plates and they actually ripped out the anchor pin when I slammed on the brakes in 4 wheel drive. Very smart move by not drilling the upper control arm, many people don’t realize GM has a lot of tempering and tech going on in that skinny control arm.

[@LawrenceTolman]

yeah, something as important as a control arm is not where I want to experiment

[@paulperpingon7638]

Liking this truck a lot. Planning some of these upgrades to my 2000 k2500 pickup.

[@ericlinder2623]

I love this break down. I am really glad I found it before I started tearing apart my 92 GMT 400 K2500. I just bought it two weeks ago for $900. It runs and drives but the breaks are bad. I am also going to do a coilover conversion on the front

[@preachers4135]

Are you making your own coil over conversion or are there kits available? Is there more information on this? I’d be interested in learning more about this topic for sure.

[@charlessmith3350]

Love the parts interchangability on these trucks, i swapped the ignition cylinder in my '96 c2500 to the one from a 1999-2002 silverado and while I did have to recode the door lock cylinders since the new ones didnt match (new ones were too long and the the ends were different styles), the ignition was as simple as pulling the old cylinder out and putting the new one in.

[@MegaDysart]

Hey man I have a couple of these trucks and I've never heard of anyone having to swap in a newer style ignition cylinder. What was the reason for it?

[@charliekits3328]

I'm doing the same upgrade on my truck and I found that the taper on the upper ball joint is the same as a 1500 series ball joint, And I think my stock lower ball joint will fit just need to remember I'm a little bit to bring the ball point in more Because it is real close to the CVS axle

[@bdugle1]

👍 for the GMT400 Suburban! Keep this project going! For me this is the best looking Suburban they made. I also vote for the 6L80/90 upgrade and a power adder. Lots of parts available for 4L80s, but I’d love to see what you can do with the 6L80/90 series. Maybe even a triangulated 4-link and coil overs for the rear for better ride and articulation…

[@vortecmacs]

So glad to see you back on the Suburban. You’re killin’ it, LT.

[@LawrenceTolman]

thanks a ton!

[@vortecmacs]

@@LawrenceTolman don’t you mean 3/4 ton? Lol, I’ll see myself out.

[@GregMcDuffie]

This video could not have come at a better time. I’m about to redo the front end on my ‘99 K2500 Suburban, too, and I’m glad to know I can upgrade the brakes in the process. Keep the GMT400 vids coming! I’m going to try to fix my sloppy steering, so any content like that would be helpful.

[@LawrenceTolman]

Glad I could help!

[@LuisMartinez-pu4nx]

I have been wondering how to go about this after seeing that gmt800 guys are putting bigger gmt900 front brakes on their half tons. Having a half ton gmt400 suburban I thought I was S.O.L. for interchangeable brake upgrades, but this has got the wheels turning in my head! I'm glad you're back to uploading suburban content 👍🏼

[@cguthrie3680]

I do love the suburban. I’ve actually been trying to find one but with no luck. Your suburban is unique and awesome. Please keep working on it.

[@marknye51.thefixitguy]

I'll have to check out your video on the rear end swap with disc brakes for my 1998 GMC K2500 SUBURBAN 454

[@dakotadennett6979]

Awesome truck! Please keep going! Finish up the front end and run it through a torture test like pulling, off roading , over landing !

[@mikewatkins4512]

I vote to keep the suburban content, it’s the reason I subscribed to your channel. Lots of possibilities for these trucks and so cheap to get started with

[@shawnvanderdoes9823]

I started watching because of ugly truck. I enjoy all the modifications you have been doing to all the rides. Keep up the good work.

[@LawrenceTolman]

much apprediated!

[@jeronimoortega9920]

Would this also work in k1500. Using same parts to be able to use gmt800 spindle?

[@chevyman30504]

Oh I love your suburban. After watching all of your videos on it I would like to get one myself.

[@jeffclark3924]

Love GMT400's. Really enjoy the content 👍

[@josenoyola9851]

Gmt400 is what brought me to your channel. Keep it up.

[@LawrenceTolman]

Thanks, will do!

[@jonallen1985]

I grew up with that baby style trucks and love them, I’d still love to see someone take one of those suburban’s, remove the rear glass and turn it into a suburban panel, as well as making it a two door.

[@anomamos9095]

You can make minor non structural alterations to spindles with silicon bronze brazing. Tig or oxy. Make sure to properly clean and pre heat the cast iron before starting, just stick them in the oven on max until hot. Keep them warm after brazing to ensure they cool slowly so as not to crack. This is ideal for correcting mistakes in rheaming out the tapers.

[@synseer8484]

Hey man just wanted to say ive been watching you since powernation powerblock on spike. Your fan - syn.

[@LawrenceTolman]

Much appreciated and thanks for watching!

[@timhuwaldt3213]

This is my favorite of your trucks, and the reason i found your channel.

[@LawrenceTolman]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@T0tenkampf]

I just switched over to 6 lug, now I gotta go to 8? Damnit! Keep up the gmt400 content for sure!

[@charliekits3328]

the GMT400 upper control arm comes in two GVW 7200lbs and 8600 lbs. the 7200lbs has a smaller tapper diameter on it

[@alfansomendoza8556]

Man, love this burb. I bought a 94 k2500 from nevada, no rust. I was thinking about the gmt800 brake swap. Thanks for all the info i will start collecting parts to do it

[@LawrenceTolman]

Glad to help

[@alfansomendoza8556]

I want to do the axle swap aswell but my truck came with a dana 70 and posi already just hate the narrow track width. But im thinking it might cost the same as a good set of spacers and disc brake conversion

[@TrippyWoodStock]

Looking for 88-98 k1500 lower control arms to restore my truck brought me here. The 2000 2500 lowers with the spindle is genius!

[@JP-gi6li]

Yes! Keep doing gmt400!

[@juanolvera8369]

I have a 2001 Chevy suburban 2500 not HD and it has the 8.1 with 4l80e just swapped a torque converter from monster that thing revs way fast 🤟🏽

[@jessescholler6302]

Love the GMT 400 stuff! One of my favorite channels to watch

[@LawrenceTolman]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@waynelingle8122]

Love the GMT400 platform! Wanna see more!

[@TheLimitedmod22]

Awesome content and like that you keep in the little hiccups along the way...makes it more "real world" experience like the rest of us go through! Great job and look forward to converting mine soon!

[@LawrenceTolman]

More to come!

[@matthewcritchfield6997]

LT You’re a good guy I wish you lived closer to me I would love to bring my 97 Chevy K 1500 and drop it off at your place with an open check 👍

[@hugieflhr03]

The suburban really would pop with a solid axle conversion but you put a nice upgrade with the 800 series brakes. Now a nice supercharger would wake that truck up!

[@hondofourfivetwo9347]

One thing I always like about GM products is the way parts mix and match 👍🏽

[@LawrenceTolman]

it makes for some fun projects!

[@robchopshopdually]

love the 88-98 obs trucks

[@kevinlogan2306]

I love the suburban content I have a gmt800 suburban 2500 I am in the process of duramax swapping

[@f-bodyjon2189]

My vote for the next upgrade is some Hummer H2 wheels. They’re a nice upgrade for a true GM 17” wheel. I put a set on my K2500 a few years ago. No spacers or adapters needed. The only thing you’d have to play around with is hub caps….few different options there.

[@LawrenceTolman]

for sure, the H2 is one of my favorite 8 lug GM wheels

[@eespino5385]

Excellent video LT, I have been wanting to do this to my 99 Sierra

[@TheBeerBox80]

I have a 1992 K1500 and I can't believe how small the front brakes are. I have a 2000 S10 Blazer with much bigger brakes. I like the K2500 suburbans.

[@willzgn]

Great Suburban content! The extent of the information is very much appreciated!

[@jerryrounds8586]

As always very good video quality. Your research is the best as is your thorough explanation of all the steps you took to make it happen. BTW your hair looks better grown out. Your producer probably asked for the change.

[@LawrenceTolman]

haha... you're 100% correct about my producer

[@liamjerkins7259]

I like the GMT400 content, I have a 92’ C1500 WT and I like everything, but keep on the GMT400 content if you want, I like it

[@marchettejw]

These gmt400 trucks are so plentiful out here. I got my last one out of Logan for$600 a 1996 1500 suburban. It's a donor for my 67 c20

[@goptools]

The new brakes look good. They should help to whoa that big block! Seems like a lot of work though to get everything to work together. Reaming the spindle would make me nervous unless I could get use of a mill for rigidity. Thanks for the video! -mike

[@LawrenceTolman]

looking back, I wish I would've found someone with a mill or a drill press to make 100% sure the angle was perpendicular, but it worked out in the end...

[@georgef1176]

Nbs step side shorty are the most beautiful new trucks period so we understand.

[@adamthatguy454]

Love the Suburban project and mods! I have a K3500 454 4x4 and all of this looks like stuff a want (need) to do. Can you post post a parts list?

[@MrTaxiRob]

I swapped in dually cylinders and calipers on a C1500, and I'm waiting to install the master cylinder from a 2500. Same problem with the rear brakes before and after, likely the proportioning valve needs changed to an HD too (recommended by GM tech bulletins, part is no longer available form GM.) Inline Tube has an aftermarket unit that will fit, no one else that I've talked to has made me that guarantee.

[@teaguegearhart9851]

So good. Got to watch it again.

[@NickTheFelice]

Excited to see this!

[@jh1867]

Great informative video!!! Keep those coming on the OBS and NBS.

[@LawrenceTolman]

they're my favorite two body styles from GM

[@richadams3256]

love the gmt 400 chassis info. having a 99 tahoe as a secondary vehicle this content is awesome. Plus, i believ the gmt400 chassis is or has become rather popuular again so sprinkling in this content i believe helps your viewers relate and shows not everything is just newer trucks! keep up the good work and great content.

[@LawrenceTolman]

I agree, I think these are some of the best looking trucks they ever made

[@richadams3256]

@@LawrenceTolman having the 1/2 ton chassis in the tahoe i cannot find info on if the 3/4 ton spindle would allow the 6 lug hub to bolt up. i have only found forums talking about special service vehicles (police or fire) caliper upgrades. any thoughts?

[@MegaDysart]

​@@richadams3256 from what I could tell researching for my k1500 they're different and the 2500 spindle won't work.

[@latorgator23]

Following intensely. I’m acquiring a 97 k2500 Burb.

[@erichildreth7562]

The suburban is a great and those upgraded brakes are going to be a lot better!! Great video and thanks for sharing!! :)

[@cj599]

my brake lines on my 1990 k2500 LD are different they are closer to the caliper where they attach to the hard line on frame

[@DE-ok4ld]

Love the conversion using GM parts!

[@ey327]

Hi could you check the P/N for the Master cylinder you were describing as from a GMT400 C3500HD. I Can't seem to find one that fits the GMT400 hydrobooster locating hole with the larger 40mm disc/disc bore.

[@josuepaz9446]

i really like the gmt 400 videos and definitely excited for the two door blazer idea 💡

[@donrives136]

Suburban content is awesome! Keep it up.

[@HotRodRob427]

Awesome Job!!! I love this platform!!! Forced Induction would be cool!!! Headers and new exhaust system!!!

[@gm-classics]

Great info! Thanks for sharing this trial and error upgrade

[@thefoos8086]

Really like these gmt400s and your content. If you decide to go another direction, I'll take this truck!

[@ryanpitre1232]

I think the build is awesome! I think you should lift this one but maybe do something around camping and hiking with the family type activities with the build? I know there is some pretty cool gear and over the top tents and stuff.

[@LawrenceTolman]

I have been getting a lot of votes for an overland style build

[@michaellittle2978]

Your projects always have that twist that i enjoy the most. originality. I don't really have a brand loyalty so when I bought a K3500 with a 7.4 vortec a couple years ago I was baffled that there aren't more intake manifold options. I expected so much more from the aftermarket. For the life of me i can't find anything more than a mild cam swapped into these. To me it seems like the overlooked platform. I couldn't tell you how many times I've read the guys in enthusiast groups comment that the 7.4 vortec is junk compared to 8.1L. boggles my mind. It's an efi BIg Block Chevy with a roller cam and a 4L80e behind it. I don't get it. so much potential

[@karlsmith7589]

I skimmed through the comments and didn't see anyone else mention these things that did not seem to be clearly stated in the video. This WILL WIDEN the stance in the front. Only a little, I didn't take a before measurement, but my tires clip my factory fender flares when turning after the Brake Upgrade. I have a completely stock truck "in storage," when I get a moment, I'll try to get a before measurement from that to share with everyone. I have been using Rancho shocks on my K2500 Suburbans and like the ride, however the modification LT made to his will not work with the Ranchos. I swapped out the brackets from the GMT400 to GMT800 lower control arms and noticed that the casting of the GMT800 is quite different. The shocks on the GMT800 must mount on less of an angle forward than the GMT400s, as the GMT400 lower control arm lower shock bracket mounting surface is on an angle. Right now I have my shocks mounted on the GMT800 flat mounting surface and the lower bushing may be on too much of a bind. A few hundred miles will probably let me know, if so, I'll rework the lower mounting brackets to take the binding out. In the meantime, I just opened the holes up and slotted the inboard hole to mount them. Also, I discovered while doing the upgrade, the Z71 brake hoses mentioned do not fit into the GMT400 brackets on the frame. I plan on taking a trip to the boneyard to pull them and swap them out for the zipties I used to get my Suburban back on the road... Aside from these things, this was a very informative video, Thanks for sharing!

[@coolhanddruid]

Did you ever figure out how much it widened it?

[@Icysoles60]

Why didnt you use the 2020+ 4 piston calipers instead, I heard theyre direct swap on the NBS trrucks

[@jimmycokeanhour5196]

I find this amazing because if you consider the Era these trucks w were in that means you could put 2007 front brakes on a 1988 k2500 and I think that is incredible

[@nbs-spike5822]

I love the Burban content. I binge watched it when I subbed a few days ago.

[@Pressedsteelcustomsllc]

I don't (know for sure) it'll work on the gmt400 3/4 and up, but for the GMT800 1500, there are upgrades using parts for the GMTT1XX with the 4 piston calipers and factory or aftermarket rotors using stock spindles and hubs.

[@LawrenceTolman]

the only bad thing about using newer GM stuff is in 2011 they switched the wheel bolt pattern to 8x180 which means the front wheels would be different than the back...

[@jason1351]

Am I missing something? Where are the front springs? My 95 1500 had torsion bars and springs. Is this front end held up by torsion bars only?

[@charlesweems899]

Love the gmt400 content!

[@LawrenceTolman]

thanks!

[@FunnyMuffler]

I enjoy the Suburban content for sure. Gaining knowledge of the GMT400 platform I'm putting to use, though I'm just a cousin K1500 with the 5.7

[@PeterHatch-mx7zc]

What think about putting 2019 4 piston calibers and rotors on 1999 5.3 chev silverado 1500 2wd

[@eddieroberts9794]

is there another video if the master cylinder? or how the system works after installed?

[@simonthebroken9691]

Absolutely love this series of Suburban. Not a fan of the GMT800s. I like the mechanicals just not the look. I've had four GMT400 1/2 ton Subs and one GMT800 1/2 ton Sub. Definitely like the older ones better.

[@Crackbaby175]

Hey LT I’m in the middle of removal of the old stuff on my gmt400 and I was hoping you had some advice for the lower control arm rear bolt it looks like it hits the flange.

[@Mr.Cadillac94]

I do love the GMT400 content. Love the OBS Chevy stuff

[@phantom309-ish]

i have a 99 suburban 6.5 diesel unfortunately its a 2 wd drive,...but i lke the idea of the express van rear end swap,.

[@AngryDogPerformance]

Is the master cyl swap a requirement for the gmt800 front brakes or did you just do that because you had already swapped the rear brakes?

[@TBGaels32]

I want to do this up upgrade to my 98 k1500 HD. Looking to do this and hopefully I can upgrade my upper/lower control arms with the knuckle of the GMT800 with a lift kit. I’m learning a lot of good information on the suburban and the GMT400 trucks from 88-98 that I can do on my truck.

[@cj599]

Doin it know on my k2500light duty basically a k1500 having trouble with positive camber ill update if it works out