Forum Discussion

guinness1's avatar
guinness1
Explorer
May 26, 2019

Recommended Maintenance

I have a 2011 Silverado 3500 SW gasser. I pull a 38’ FW. The truck has 75,000 miles, at least a third of that is towing. The only service I have done on the truck is regular oil changes, suspension/steering lube job, and tire rotations. I believe I need some brake work done, due to recent shaking of the steering wheel. What other services should I start thinking of? I need this truck to last me another minimum 5 years, when I am planning on upgrading the FW. Thank you
  • Transmission fluid/filter, axles, transfer case, coolant, brake fluid and power steering fluid. And spark plugs.
    I'd do that all now and then do nothing except oil changes for the next 75k and 8 years. Except maybe the trans again. Idk what the interval is on your truck.

    Or you could read the owners manual and go by that.
  • Great advice from Grit dog.
    Don't forget the air filter and serpentine belt and I'd change the belt tensioner pulley while your at it.
  • Serp belt is good to have a spare, I think, but since those have been standard issue now for the last what 25 years, I have yet to see a serpentine belt break unless it was destroyed due to failure of another component. I carry a spare in the Dodge truck just because I've had to replace the belt due to squeaking. But anymore, it's not on my maint list.
    At 75k miles I wouldn't expect problems with pretty much anything. We have a fleet of older GM gas pickemups. All 6.0s and all abused and never really any engine or drivetrain issues. Brakes, unit hearings, u joints that kind of stuff on 100-175k mile trucks.
  • If you able to do work yourself all you need to do with Allison transmission is change spin on filter and drain and replace transmission fluid with Transynd. Do Not let anyone power flush that transmission. The transmission pan doesn’t need to to be removed to replace internal filter...leave it alone

    Allison is adamant regarding no power flushing of their transmission as well as no need to drop pan and replace internal filter unless over hauling

    Also absolutely no reason to replace the serpentine belt idler pulley... waste of money to do this unless there is an issue... Serpentine belt should not need replacing this early.

    Be sure to replace radiator antifreeze with ONLY Dexcool unless you want clogged radiator and heater core issues..