2011 Esky... big brakes/big wheels/lowered project

NORCAL SS

New member
Apr 10, 2012
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ff you guys know me you know I like modding my vehicles..... even if I don't have the truck yet lol. I will be using this truck to tow my ctsv to the track also so no 3600 stall or heads/cam or nitrous on this one just basic mods.

We should be finishing up the paper work this week and truck will be getting shipped from Arizona to me here in san francisco in about a week so I have 8-10 business days to get rolling here.

Truck is a 2011 Brand new Escalade 2wd (dont need awd here less issues) and Galaxy Grey color with ebony interior.

Parts ordered today

2/3-4 kit from yours truely
TBSSowners.com Store - Belltech 2/3-4 07 UP Tahoe Yukon Escalade Kit (Powered by CubeCart)


Rear DJM hardware kit. Should let the truck come down a little more in rear.
TBSSowners.com Store - DJM 07 UP Rear Hardware Kit (Powered by CubeCart)

I also will be comparing the belltech vs djm shock extenders to see if one shock extender is longer from center to center hole. On a autoride truck being longer would be better to let the truck sit lower. Never did this before so might as well get all the info out there.

Front/Rear DJM Swaybar Kit
TBSSowners.com Store - 07 Up DJM Swaybar Set (Powered by CubeCart)


Rear Spohn Del Sphere Panhard Bar
TBSSowners.com Store - 07 Up GM SUV Spohn Del Sphere Panhard Bar (Powered by CubeCart)


Rear Spohn Del Sphere Lower Control Arms Bar
TBSSowners.com Store - Spohn 07+ GM SUV Rear Adjustable Lower Control Arms (Powered by CubeCart)


Escalade 24" m arcellinoreplica wheels which I sell now
You get a 5-Year finish warranty and a lifetime structural warranty.
TBSSowners.com Store - 24x10 Chrome Escalade Wheels (Powered by CubeCart)


305 35 24 Yokohama advins 228 each
Details: Yokohama Advan S.T. 305/35 R24 112W - tires-easy.com


Wilwood 16/14 Front/Rear Set up
eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices


Volant Intake $245 shipped from summitracing.com
Volant Cool Air Intakes

Husky Floor Mats Complete Interior Kit
256.80 shipped from summitracing.com

I will just replace main muffler with magnaflow and have it dumped under rear bumper. Kinda want the clean smooth look

Only other thing im going to try to clear out the stock headlights oh and a tune from LT1z on my tbss site.




STAY TUNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


1ST UPDATE 2/13/12 Dealership walk around
Lukezic - YouTube
 
things starting to show up

VOLANT intake
2012-02-15_172229-1.jpg



FRONT belltech spindles
rear 5305 springs with shock extenders and autoride links
rear djm hardware kit
2012-02-15_202531.jpg
 
just wanted to put this up. Here are the short bumpstops I include in my rear 5 plus kits. Pretty much drill and tap for a 3/8x14 bolt and then i put red locktite on the threds and screw it into the frame. prevents the big metal sound when you cut the rear bumpstop brackets off and its really short so you get the most travel you can
BUMPSTOPS.jpg
 
finally got more parts in!!

WILWOOD 16 inch rotors and fat calipers
goodies.jpg

goodies3.jpg



305 35 24 yokohams
goodies4.jpg


24 inch chrome escalde whees
goodies2.jpg
 
Well I cut the resonator off and a few things. 1 the escalade has a 3.5 inch cat back set up which will be perfect for my whipple 2.3 and the resonator is totally different then the tbss. Its pretty much solid inside and just one hole in the middle.

esky12.jpg


and the new spohn bar.
esky13.jpg
 
48 Miles on the truck I couldn't take it anymore Had to lower it



i wanted to do steps on the truck just to feel the difference.

So today i did the front belltech spindles
ESKY16.jpg



Front swaybar
ESKY15.jpg



and rear shock extenders
ESKY17.jpg



Even with my alignment off the djm front bar and spindles make the truck feel a lot more in control. In the rear im really suprised how better it feels. Its not as jarring and more smooth and this is with the stock rear springs in only thing added was shock extenders. Im guessing the shock angle is better so has a better chance to work.

I cant wait to put the rear belltech springs along with the djm trailing arm relocators, spohn panhard bar, lower spohn a arms and last the rear djm swaybar!! Thing will feel so much better.


riht now
FRONT 33 7/8 from ground to fenderlip
REAR 37 7/8 From ground to fenderlip


ESKY19.jpg

ESKY18.jpg

ESKY14.jpg



LAST but not least!! esky 24" chrome replicas with 305 35 24 Yokohama tires
ESKY20.jpg
 
just ordered this
12909.jpg



and this
MagnaFlow Exhaust Products - For Trucks, Suv's, American Muscle, Diesel, & Sport Compact Vehicles

the set up was $184 bucks shipped from summit also i wanted 3.5 inch exhaust from cat back like factory. There is a kink over the rear end and for 55 bucks the 3.5 piping you cant go wrong.

So a true 3.5 inch cat back set up $184 dollars


Lots of aftermarket mufflers are 3 inches and really dont want that. The muffler above is a 5x11x22 which is pretty mellow but when adding headers should wake it up more plus its full 3.5 inch thru the muffler
 
just got the magnaflow 5x11x22 muffler its fkn massive

3.5 straight thru
2012-02-28_115031.jpg



I have no resonator on the truck and the sound is perfect. Its deep with no drone at all and not crazy loud with headers i think will be perfect. Truck does pick up nicely now and still 3.5 inches from cat back.

2012-02-28_172957.jpg



And just a quick look at the stock muffler as you can see very restrictive.
2012-02-28_173715.jpg

2012-02-28_173748.jpg
 
kinda long day did all the rear kit today ie trailing arm relocators/shock extenders/springs/djm bar/new endlinks and spohn panhard bar and bumpstop bracket. Truck feels perfect now around corners.

---------- Post added at 11:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:09 PM ----------

bumpstop bracket cut with new short one installed and belltech 5305 coil
IMG_7085.jpg


spohn bar vs stock bar
IMG_0891.jpg


Rear djm swaybar along with shorter endlinks
IMG_2332.jpg



the center consoles of these trucks suck cant put anything up top
2012-03-01_150121.jpg



so ended up buying the platinum top half much better now you can put your phone in there
2012-03-01_151624.jpg
 
Final Piece of rear project came in

2012-03-01_204758.jpg



Looks great Tony. I am curious why you didn't go with the boxed rear lowers. Is all the adjustablity really necessary w/ an otherwise stock truck?

im doing a supercharger and long tubes so i need to dial in the pinion angle.

---------- Post added at 09:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:50 PM ----------

brakes are on more pics tomm
ESKYWHEEELS.jpg
 
this truck by far is the best 07 up gm suv ive ever done. The truck handles so good!!!

tonight i put in the del sphere spohn arms and just by doing that i feel the truck handles better.

Im going to try to do the upper ones once i get my welder back down the road

Stock piece was weak and stamped. The rubber bushigns on one side were already cracking.

Here is stock vs spohn
zpfile006.jpg


Grease it up well and you will see this
zpfile005.jpg


dont forget locktite
zpfile004.jpg


on her
zpfile002.jpg


zpfile001.jpg
 
this is the last part of the puzzle and im done with it

Thanks to greg at crate engine depot he hooked it up with the gm escalade lighted sills.

Pretty much this is the final touch to the truck and I can say im done for now.
gmsill.jpg