1996 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN suspension

Four- Wheel Drive
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send your engine’s driving
power to all four wheels for extra traction.
To get the most satisfaction out
of four-wheel drive, you must be familiar with its operation. Read the part
that follows before using four-wheel drive. You should use 2-WHEEL
HIGH (2H) for most normal driving conditions.
NOTICE:
Driving in the 4-WHEEL HIGH (4H) or &WHEEL LOW (4L)
positions for a long time on dry or wet pavement could shorten
the life of your vehicle’s drivetrain.
I NOTICE:
Changing your vehicle’s body height can damage your vehicle’s
suspension, drivetrain, or other vehicle components.
It may also
affect the way your vehicle handles, and the function of your
vehicle’s safety features. Do not change your vehicle’s height
from the original design specifications.
Transfer Case
The transfer case shift
lever is on the floor to
the right of the driver.
Use this lever to shift
into and out
of
four-wheel drive.
An indicator near the lever shows you the transfer case settings.
4-WHEEL LOW (4L)
NEUTRAL (N)
2-WHEEL HIGH (2H)
4-WHEEL HIGH (4H)
2-33
ProCarManuals.com

After Off-Road Driving
Remove any biush or debris that has collected on the underbody, chassis or
under the hood. These accumulations
can be a fire hazard.
After operation
in mud or sand, have the brake linings cleaned and checked.
These substances
can cause glazing and uneven braking. Check the body
structure, steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for
damage. Also, check the fuel lines and cooling system for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service due to off-road use. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule
for additional information.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some
drivers are likely to be impaired
- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems,
or by fatigue.
Here are some tips
on night driving.
0
0
0
0
e
0
0
Drive defensively.
Don’t drink and drive.
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlamps
behind you.
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and
keep more
space between you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlamps can light
up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the road
in a safe place and rest.
4-23
ProCarManuals.com

Loading Your Vehicle
I
PSI/KPA (COLD)
~ SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The CertificatiodTire label is found on the rear edge of the driver's door.
The label shows the size
of your original tires and the inflation pressures
needed to obtain the gross weight capacity of your vehicle. This is called the
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the weight of
the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
The Certificatiodl'ire label
also tells you the maximum weights for the
front and rear axles, called Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). To find
out
the actual loads on your front and rear axles, you need to go to a weigh
station and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can help you with this. Be sure
to spread out your load equally on both sides
of the centerline.
Never exceed the GVWR
for your vehicle, or the GAWR for either the front
or rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it out.
.Using heavier suspension components to get added durability might not
change your weight ratings. Ask your dealer to help you load your vehicle
the right way.
If your vehicle is equipped for front-end equipment (a snow plow, for
example), the front suspension may have been adjusted (raised) to level the
vehicle when the equipment was installed. If the front suspension was
adjusted, you must re-adjust the front suspension after the equipment is
removed to avoid possible front suspension damage. Adjust the front
suspension
to original design specifications for your particular model.
4-37
ProCarManuals.com

Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex. Its many parts have to
be of top quality and work well together
if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake parts in
them, as your vehicle does when it is new. When you replace parts of your
braking system
- for example, when your brake linings wear down and
you have to have new ones put in - be sure you get new genuine GM
replacement parts. If you don’t, your brakes may no longer work properly.
For example, if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for your
vehicle, the balance between your front and rear brakes can change
- for
the worse. The braking performance you’ve come to expect can change
in
many other ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
Front Shock Absorbers
The front shock absorbers of your vehicle do many things. They help the
vehicle ride smoothly and also control the travel of the suspension system.
When the shock absorbers are serviced, any replacement shock absorbers
must be the same
as the original equipment shock absorbers in both
extended length and strength.
I NOTICE:
If you use shock absorbers that are not the same as the original
shock absorbers, the shock absorbers or suspension system
could be damaged.
Windshield Wiper Blade Inserts
To replace your
windshield wiper
blade inserts, lift the
wiper arm and rotate
the blade until
it is
facing away from
the
windshield.
Unlatch the end of the insert from the holding clips. Remove the insert
and
slide a new one in place. Make sure the blade is secured in the clips.
6-44
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule I - Gasoline Engines With
Light Duty Emissions
3,000 Miles (5 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs
first).
An Emission Control Service.
0 Lubricate the front suspension, king pin bushings, steering linkage,
transmission shift linkage, transfer case shift linkage, parking brake
cable guides, rear driveline center splines, front axle propshaft splines,
brake pedal springs and clutch pedal springs. Ball joints and king pin
bushings should not be lubricated unless their temperature
is 10" F
(-1 2" C), or higher. When weather is cold, let the ball joints and king
pin bushings warm up before lubrication or
they could be damaged.
Perform each of the listed lubrication service items at this mileage
interval (or every
6 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Check readfront axle fluid level and add fluid as needed. Check
constant velocity joints and axle seals for leaking.
**
I DATE I ACTUALMILEAGE I SERVICED BY: I
6,000 Miles (10 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs
first).
An EInission Control Service.
0 Lubricate the front suspension, king pin bushings, steering linkage,
transmission shift linkage, transfer case shift linkage, parking brake
cable guides, rear driveline center splines, front axle propshaft splines,
brake pedal springs and clutch pedal springs. Ball joints and king pin
bushings should not be lubricated unless their temperature is
10" F
(-12" C), or higher. When weather is cold, let the ball joints and king
pin bushings warm up before lubrication or they could be damaged.
Perform each
of the listed lubrication service items at this mileage
interval (or every
6 months, whichever occurs first).
(Continued)
7-13
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule I - Gasoline Engines With
Light Duty Emissions
(Continued)
0 Check readfront axle tluid level and add fluid as needed. Check
constant
velocity joints and axle seals for leaking. **
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation’’ in the Index for proper
rotation pattern and additional information.
DATE SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
9,000 Miles (15 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs
first).
An Emission Control Service.
0 Lubricate the front suspension, king pin bushings, steering linkage,
transmission shift linkage, transfer case shift linkage, parking brake
cable guides, rear driveline center splines, front axle propshaft splines,
brake pedal springs and clutch pedal springs.
Ball joints and king pin
bushings should
not be lubricated unless their temperature is IO” F
(-1 2” C), or higher. When weather is cold, let the ball joints and king
pin bushings warm
up before lubrication or they could be damaged.
Perform each
of the listed lubrication service items at this mileage
interval (or every
6 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Check readfront axle fluid level and add tluid as needed. Check
constant velocity joints and axle seals for leaking.
**
DATE
SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
a
7-1 4
~~ ProCarManuals.com

I Maintenance Schedule I - Gasoline Engines With I
I Light Duty Emissions
12,000 Miles (20 000 km)
Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs
first).
An Emission Control Service.
0 Lubricate the front suspension, king pin bushings, steering linkage,
transmission shift linkage, transfer case shift linkage, parking brake
cable guides, rear driveline center splines, front axle propshaft splines,
brake pedal springs and clutch pedal springs. Ball joints and king pin
bushings should not be lubricated unless their temperature is
10" F
(-12" C), or higher. When weather is cold, let the ball joints and king
pin bushings warm
up before lubrication or they could be damaged.
Perform each of
the listed lubrication service items at this mileage
interval (or every
6 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Check readfront axle fluid level and add fluid as needed. Check
constant velocity joints and axle seals for leaking.
**
DATE SERVICED BY ACTUAL MILEAGE
15,000 Miles (25 000 km)
17 Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs
first).
An Emission Control Service.
0 Lubricate the front suspension, king pin bushings, steering linkage,
transmission shift linkage, transfer case shift linkage, parking brake
cable guides, rear driveline center splines, front axle propshaft splines,
brake pedal springs and clutch pedal springs. Ball joints and king pin
bushings should
not be lubricated unless their temperature is 10" F
(-1 2" C), or higher. When weather is cold, let the ball joints and king
pin bushings warm up before lubrication or
they could be damaged.
Perform each of the listed lubrication service items at this mileage
interval (or every
6 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Inspect air cleaner filter if you are driving in dusty conditions. Replace'
filter if necessary.
An Emission Control Service.
(Continued)
7-1 5
-_ ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule I - Gasoline Engines With
Light Duty Emissions
(Continued)
0 Check readfront axle fluid level and add fluid as needed. Check
constant velocity joints and axle seals for leaking.
:w:
0 For 2-Wheel Drive vehicles only: Clean and repack the front wheel
bearings (or at each brake relining, whichever occurs first).
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE
SERVICED BY: L
-
18,000 Mi/es (30 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every 3 months, whichever occurs
first).
An Emission Control Service.
0 Lubricate the front suspension, king pin bushings, steering linkage,
transmission shift linkage, transfer case shift linkage, parking brake
cable guides, rear driveline center splines, front axle propshaft splines,
brake pedal springs and clutch pedal springs. Ball joints and king pin
bushings
should not be lubricated unless their temperature is 10” F
(-12” C), or higher. When weather is cold, let the ball joints and king
pin bushings warm up before lubrication or they could be damaged.
Perform each
of the listed lubrication service items at this mileage
interval (or every
6 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Check readfront axle fluid level and add fluid as needed. Check
constant velocity joints and axle seals for leaking.
**
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in the Index for proper
rotation pattern and additional information.
DATE
SERVICED BY: ACTUAL MILEAGE
I
ProCarManuals.com