I just got my 2000 GMC Sierra 1500, and i dont know alot about these trucks yet so i was wondering if i could get some insight from the pro's lol, what is the best way to get this truck to spin both tires? and not handle like a barge. i was thinking sway bar & shock upgrades. Help wanted????

 

Install a posi unit...you could probably find someone on here getting rid of there stock g80 locker for cheap. Or just spend 300ish on a good posi unit. As for handling, a rear sway bar would help. With it being a truck, theres not a whole lot that can help ride quality that i can think of.

 

Most likely you have an open carrier so it will only spin 1 tire. If you want both tires to lock and engage then you need a Posi or a locker. A Posi uses a clutch pack and will allow a little slippage for cornering. A locker is uses mechanical gears to keep the axles locked together.

The most popular unit for these trucks is the Tru-Trac Detroit Locker from Eaton.

Good shocks and rear sway bar will help for handling. You may want to get a package that is designed to work together.

 

Okay thank you guys, are there any direct replacement rear ends out of other late model GM trucks that I could judge swap. A buddy of mine owns a junk yard and I was wondering if I could just pull one out of his trucks

 

You want to look for the following RPO codes in the glove box. The RPO codes tell you what the truck came with. Your going to want a GT4 or GT5 rear end. GT5 was more common in 4x4 trucks.


GU4 is 3.08
GU5 is 3.23
GU6 is 3.42
GT4 is 3.73
GT5 is 4.10

G80 is the factory mechanical locker. Not a good choice if you want to do burn outs. They tend to brake under this type of abuse.

Otherwise look for a 14 bolt from a 2wd SS, 2wd Vortech High Output, 2wd or 4x4 Vortech Max from 2005-2007. This will have the RPO code AXN

The V-max from the 2007 up NNBS might also bolt right in.

If you do some more research on this site you will see why the mechanical G80 locker in the 10 bolt is not a good choice for abusive applications.

 

and being a 2000 model is when they changed the carrier bearings..
i just bought both sets and returned the ones i didnt use

ive been using a Eaton LSD for the past 93k miles and its been a good one.

 

The stock G80 posi is junk. Go with an aftermarket unit like Eaton. I'm running the true-trac and it works great on the street. Disengages around corners when it needs and locks everytime I need it to.
As for making it handle better, bigger sway bars and lowering the center of gravity will make a huge difference.

 

TrueTrac or Eaton Posi would be good. I have heard that the Eaton posi is more street friendly (less tire squeeling in tight parking lots than the TT), so if and when I blow my G80, that's what I am going with.

For handling, I would get good shocks first. I love my Edelbrock IAS shocks, and I've had Z71 stock red Tenneco's, regular Bilsteins and Bilstein HD's on this truck before, just didn't like any of them, either too soft or too harsh. Then I would recommend sway bars if that doesn't get you where you want to be.

 

alright thanks guys, i guess I'll start shopping lol

 

I was under the impression that the Detroit TrueTrac was an Eaton brand.
Here's a link from their website

I don't get any squealing whatsoever and locks up everytime I need it to. I like that it's all helical gears and doesn't have any clutches to wear. I've had it in the truck for about 3 yrs or so and bang on it hard almost everyday with no issues.Over about a 4 yr period I've went through two trans, the stock G80, sheared 4 teeth off my ring gear, and busted a ujoint on the driveshaft. The TT is the only part that hasn't given me any problems at all.