2008 chev/gmc light duty truck changes

[workinallthetime]

got this from a source i can not identify,lol
not the part where i made it bold, gm is going to allow bio fuel in the diesel trucks, the rest is good info also for those in the market

New 2008 Model Year Features For Silverado:

• Building off of Silverado's already impressive color palette, new for '08 we're adding Deep Ruby Metallic (66U) and Dark Cherry Metallic (12U). *Dropped from the lineup will be Sport Red Metallic (63U)*

• Joining both the Extended and Crew cabs, Silverado's Regular Cabs will now offer the Power Driver Seat option (AG1) as a free flow on the uplevel bench seat (AE7) in the 2008 model year.

• XM is now standard!! Taking advantage of this great satellite service, Silverado's new standard AM/FM radio (US8) will offer the best of both worlds, XM and a CD/MP3 player. The base 2007 model year AM/FM stereo radio (UM7) is no longer available.

• Borrowing some of the bar-raising technology found in the new Silverado Heavy Duty, half-ton Crews and Extended cab std. boxes with Z82 trailering/handling suspension and Stabilitrak will now offer the new Integrated Brake Controller (JL1). Fully integrated with Silverado's 4-wheel ABS system, the system provides immediate and measured brakeforce signaling to electrically controlled trailer brakes.

• Further flexing Silverado HD's muscle as "The Most Powerful Heavy Duty on the Planet", the following two features will be added to the lineup for the 2008 model year:
– New 17" wheels for our Heavy Duty Dually's, giving them an even bolder appearance than the standard 16" combo.
– Silverado's class leading hp and torque Duramax continues to break through the environmental barrier. New for 2008, LMM increases its capability to burn Bio-Diesel fuels by allowing B20 type Bio-Diesels to be used.

Cargo Management System (RAE) – Key promotional focus for '08 MY. Silverado's unique Cargo Management System (RAE) has been reduced in price from $175 to $95 MSRP across all 2008 model year Silverado's to increase visibility. This great system comes with 4 adjustable tie-downs that will hold up to 500lbs. per rail, and works with a multitude of GM Accessory items such as the bed divider, sliding tool box and overhead rack system to name a few. Additionally, any '08 MY Work Truck Silverado's ordered with RAE through the June consensus, DOSP prior to June 24, 2007, will be given the option for free when selected/ordered. Make sure your dealers know to take advantage of this great offer, as we can't sell them if our dealers don't stock them! Refer to GM Messenger # CHM20070416


All-New Power Pack Plus Option Package Discount For '08MY Hitting the sweet spot of the full-size pickup market, the new Power Pack Plus OPD provides consumers with highly desired content at an exceptional value with a $650 OPD(MSRP of content is $1,525). Available on 1LT Extended and Crew Cabs, the package includes the Vortec 5.3L V8 with segment leading V8 fuel economy, the Eaton automatic rear-locking differential, 17" aluminum wheels and the heavy duty trailering equipment. Be sure to adjust your orders to take advantage of this new OPD for the '08MY. Refer to GM Messenger # CHM20070416

 

[Builder]

GM has been very responsive in providing flex fuel vehicles, now B-20, that's a pretty srong belnd of bio!

 

[8561]

Workin - Any early issues with new body '08's to look out for?

 

[bitternut]

Hope they put better brakes on it than the crap ones I got on my 2500HD. Truck has 50,000 easy highway miles on it and the rears have been replaced twice, the fronts once plus the ABS sensors had to be replaced once. Sure would be nice to have some decent tail gate supports other than the cheap chineese cables that came on my truck. I would much rather have a reliable truck than a XM radio.

 

[deerefan]

I kind of hope they get back to the reliability (drivetrain wise) they had from around 88 to 95. I've seen several of these truck w/ over 300k miles and still running strong. Granted, horsepower/torque is much better now as is fuel mileage but those throttle body engines were bulletproof.

 

[workinallthetime]

Hope they put better brakes on it than the crap ones I got on my 2500HD. Truck has 50,000 easy highway miles on it and the rears have been replaced twice, the fronts once plus the ABS sensors had to be replaced once. Sure would be nice to have some decent tail gate supports other than the cheap chineese cables that came on my truck. I would much rather have a reliable truck than a XM radio.

man i dont know what your doing to those brakes? i put 130k on my 99 and never had any problems out of the brakes, pulled a 6000lb boat during the summer and a 18 foot car hauler all the time with no brakes on the car hauler trailer. My 04 denali has 80k on it and no brake problems and my new 07 has 10k and nothing yet out of it. There was a recall for your tailgate straps to install the new stainless steel ones, the old ones were not stainless and rusted in two.
As for the reliabilty issues these trucks are far better than anything made in the past 17 years at least. As a gm tech i saw a massive change in all the dealerships due to the new trucks and cars. My dealer went from 5 heavy line guys (major engine and trans work) down to 2 and from 4 driveabilty guys to 2. I saaw this all over my area and at regional classes in Dallas. It would be interesting to know why you brakes were replaced twice before 50k, those are big disc brakes that the only problem i know of them having is the park brake rusting up from lack of use.

Deerfan you have a good point, i point all my frinds away from 96 to 98 due to the number of problems with those models. My budy got a sweet deal on a 95 4x4 1/2 ton x-cab 5-speed, drove it for 3 years and sold it for more than he had in it. those were good years and cheep to fix but even then they had issues with intakes leaking, rear diff problems, and trans problms.

i have seen many of the 99-06 body style trucks with miles above 300k in service trucks, wore out seats and clunkin stearing shaft and all but no major repairs and these trucks are drivin hard every day.

good luck all, id rather push a chev than drive anything else

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

I have the 2005 Crew with short box. The rear seats fold flat and make a perfect area for the Giant Schnauzer furkids. The new for 2007 rear flip up seat arrangement does not work for us, so when change time comes in 2008, if the rear seats still only flip up, we will be exploring other options.

Gerald

 

[Builder]

man i dont know what your doing to those brakes? i put 130k on my 99 and never had any problems out of the brakes, pulled a 6000lb boat during the summer and a 18 foot car hauler all the time with no brakes on the car hauler trailer. My 04 denali has 80k on it and no brake problems and my new 07 has 10k and nothing yet out of it. There was a recall for your tailgate straps to install the new stainless steel ones, the old ones were not stainless and rusted in two.
As for the reliabilty issues these trucks are far better than anything made in the past 17 years at least. As a gm tech i saw a massive change in all the dealerships due to the new trucks and cars. My dealer went from 5 heavy line guys (major engine and trans work) down to 2 and from 4 driveabilty guys to 2. I saaw this all over my area and at regional classes in Dallas. It would be interesting to know why you brakes were replaced twice before 50k, those are big disc brakes that the only problem i know of them having is the park brake rusting up from lack of use.

Deerfan you have a good point, i point all my frinds away from 96 to 98 due to the number of problems with those models. My budy got a sweet deal on a 95 4x4 1/2 ton x-cab 5-speed, drove it for 3 years and sold it for more than he had in it. those were good years and cheep to fix but even then they had issues with intakes leaking, rear diff problems, and trans problms.

i have seen many of the 99-06 body style trucks with miles above 300k in service trucks, wore out seats and clunkin stearing shaft and all but no major repairs and these trucks are drivin hard every day.

good luck all, id rather push a chev than drive anything else

I heard the new brakes go crazy-high miles before they wear out. The company that services my backhoe has a GMC dually/service/dura/ally that went 90K before needing brakes. Another guy told me the rotors warp, just like on Fords. We'll see what happens with mine. All I have bad so far is the front end clunk.

Just switched to "Transynd" in my Allison at 5K miles. It was expensive, but the drain interval is 2x-3X longer than Dex-6 and I think it might have better modifiers & thermal resistance than dex-6. It's what Allison recommends, so I went with it. I noticed my trans already seems to run 10-20* cooler.

I have a crew-cab and my seats fold flat to form a tremendous carpeted space i can carry tools or roll out a set of blueprints and keep them out of the rain while on my jobsite.

I really like my truck-powerful as heck, awesome medium duty grade transmission, but quiet, comfortable and very versatile.

I only wish it could take a slightly bigger tire, like a 285 without having to trim the front bumper.

 

[wushaw]

I had a 03 GMC dually Dmax/Allison that I sold to a close friend, it has 75K on it now without any brake pad replacements and it has many miles towing heavy loads, many overloads....he just loves that truck.

 

[joes_427_vette]

I just have no desire to buy a new GM or any other truck. They lose their value quickly, are expensive to insure, replacement parts are high, and the fuel mileage isn't close to what it should be. I saw a fuel mileage rating on a 07 ford Ranger today.... 14 city, 17 highway. It is only half a truck. Why isn't this little 1/4 ton truck getting 25 - 30 mpg ? I continue to see many 05-07 used trucks on the market. Dissatisfied owners or is this the trend to unload them within 2 years to keep up to the jones's?