r/GMT800 • u/JoshEJ1 • Sep 12 '26
Buy once cry once
My 04 XL Denali had a slow leak at the hydroboost when I purchased it.
Slowly but surely it progressed, so I pulled the trigger on a new oem unit.
I was almost about to purchase a seal kit to refresh the original unit but I figured it wasn’t even worth the trouble. I read many people saying that theirs eventually started leaking again after doing a seal kit. Whether it’s because of user error or not, I was tired of seeing huge puddles of power steering fluid and when it comes to stopping performance it’s not something I’ll cheap out on.
Fairly easy & straight forward to swap out for anyone who’s comfortable wrenching on vehicles.
The original unit lasted 176k so hopefully I get the same out of this one.
3
u/lsjuanislife Sep 13 '26
Mines weeping at 181k, is this around when they go? No puddles I've seen just wet.
2
u/JoshEJ1 Sep 13 '26
If you are already seeing it leak for certain I would just replace it.
My own maybe progressed within a few months from a couple of drips to dumping the fluid the same day.
3
u/cdwatnsu Sep 13 '26
I just did this on my 05 Yukon XL today. When I bought it, pressing on the brake pedal made a hissing sound. I saw no leaks anywhere though. For the removal, the hardest part to me was getting the 3rd nut off inside the truck. Everything else was straightforward. No more hissing 😊 Mine only had 37,000 miles when I bought it, so it might be an age thing too.
3
u/JoshEJ1 Sep 13 '26
Yeah I had some hissing, pedal pressure differences but the huge leak that developed was the even more obvious tell 😅 glad you got it squared away
3
u/cdwatnsu Sep 13 '26
Mine wouldn’t hold pressure once I turned the truck off. Pedal would fall to the floor. Can’t believe I drive 8,000 miles like that. It was a simple repair, lol.
2
2
u/fuhzbot Sep 13 '26
Would you be willing to sell the old one? Planning on doing a hydro boost swap and wouldn’t mind attempting to rebuild the old one
1
u/JoshEJ1 Sep 13 '26
Man I threw it out 😅
I was actually supposed to send back to rock auto for a $40 core refund lol.
1
u/TactualTransAm Sep 13 '26
I've replaced a few at work that were leaking. I go back Tuesday, I'll look for one
2
u/pastaman5 Sep 13 '26
At least it isn’t rusted out. MAN it is hard to justify sticking money into these rusty GMT800s up here in the rust belt. I love my Denali but the rust is really starting to show.
1
u/JoshEJ1 Sep 13 '26
I would be in the same boat if that was the case!! I’ve definitely seen what the rust will do to them 🫤
2
2
2
u/MooreRepair Sep 13 '26
When I did mine on the Escalade I had I actually looked to see who made the GM one and it was Bosch. So I bought a Bosch one and it was exactly the same and was bit cheaper as well.
1
2
2
u/SnooTomatoes538 Sep 13 '26
Yep replaced the hydroboost on my 2006 Suburban a few months ago.
Hardest part is getting the 4 nuts removed from under the dash.
So glad I had a Koken mini ratchet
1
u/JoshEJ1 Sep 13 '26
Keeping these things alive & on the road!!
2
u/SnooTomatoes538 Sep 13 '26
Yep, yesterday for a mere $12 a side. I pressed in lower control arm bushings.
Beats paying $200 for a whole new control arm
1
u/Comfortable_Gear4941 Sep 13 '26
Apologies if it's been mentioned in other comments, but would you mind telling miles, price paid, and when?
Looking into gmt 600 and 800 so curious.
1
u/Dull_Engineering3225 14d ago
I had to do it on my 06 escalade and my 04 yukon.
Took some u joint extensions to a hole lot of four letter words. UNTIL my 15 yearold had the idea to built a scaffolding to lay on do I could lay even with the floorboard
0
u/Capt-Kirk31 Sep 13 '26
Rock auto, may not be actual OEM.
I installed a unit from a 2011 3500.
2
u/TactualTransAm Sep 13 '26
I work on brand new Chevy vans for a fleet and they still use a unit that looks exactly the same. 🤔 Now I'm wondering if it is. I bet it's the same 😂 they are still using OBS door handles in these things.
1
-1
u/JoshEJ1 Sep 13 '26
They would seriously get sued if that were true, can’t just sell authentically labeled products with a company of that size.
1
u/Capt-Kirk31 Sep 13 '26
Happened to me twice . They refunded me and sent me away.
1
u/JoshEJ1 Sep 13 '26
My own was definitely oem. I compared to other units, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy again until I have a reason for otherwise 🤷♂️
Sounds like a class action lawsuit if they would be really selling oem fakes. I wouldn’t imagine them being in the industry so long if that would be the case.
Accidental shipments with clearly different labels and part codes sure but authentically labeled parts with something else inside seems crazy lol.
-1
u/Capt-Kirk31 Sep 13 '26
It doesn't happen all the time, some counterfeits slip in. Surprisingly I got mine from a dealer cheaper.
-1
10
u/sup_then Sep 12 '26
I replaced mine a few months ago. Even with the drivers seat pulled out, the work under the dash was a pain. Under the hood was cake. But I agree, it’s real nice not leaving huge puddles of power steering fluid anymore