1997 Chevrolet Silverado from North America - Comments

Replaced brakes and Goodyear tires at time of purchase as cords were showing on the tires and the brakes were completely worn out.

Replaced Delco battery at 90000km with another Delco Battery.

I am very impressed with my 97 Z71 extended cab. I have had virtually no trouble with this truck.

The cabin storage cannot be beat as there is compartments everywhere.

This truck is so much easier to work on than it's Ford counterpart.

The truck is quick off the line and has gobs of horsepower. However, I pull a 24' cabin trailer and find at highway speeds it lacks high end torque. One has to serious RPM's to keep it from bogging down.

The only real issue I have is with the steering. When driving straight, the truck seems to have steering similar to a Camaro which is very tight. When turning corners, it turns real hard and then goes back to normal. Almost like going over a knot in the steering. Somehow it only does this for myself and never for a dealership or steering shop. All GM dealerships I've contacted have never heard of this and offer no real insight into the problem. I believe it to be a sticky solenoid or a sensor in the speed sensitive steering that the dealerships say the truck doesn't have?!

The truck rides like a lumber wagon, but what else can I expect from a Z71.

My fuel economy is 19 MPG on the highway @60 MPH with out using air conditioning and the cruise set on flat roads. I also get about 8 MPG in the city. It's a 5500 LBS truck so that's not too bad.

If you install a K & N air filter which allows for higher air flow, you'll probably notice a little extra something when you are towing, and need more horses. Also, if you are getting 19 mpg you're doing better than any of the rest of us. 16 is the best I have ever seen, and less than that in town with the air conditioning on. 5,500 pounds? That's weird, because I could have sworn that my z-71 weighed in at 6,600 pounds. Do you have a smaller gas tank or something, or is yours a short bed regular cab?

I have a 98 Z71 ext. cab and I get 16-17 mpg in the city and 22-23 mpg on the highway. I have installed a K&N FIPK, high flow MAF sensor, headers, dual exhaust, and a hypertech power programmer, but I only gained roughly 2 mpg city and highway.

I recently purchased a 97 Silverado. The steering acted the same as your's. The previous owner of mine had installed a 3" body lift. In doing so broke a chassis ground that attaches to the cab (Below the heater hoses.) and to the frame (To the right of the starter. There is a engine ground that attaches there also.). After I replaced that ground strap the steering problem was cured. Evidently with out that ground the speed sensitive steering will not work properly.

I've had steering problems twice since the purchase of my truck. Both times it was the EVO sensor. The problem I was having was when in a high speed turn (getting on the freeway) the steering was tight then it became loose in the middle of the turn. I bought the truck new and have had a lot of problems with it (new trans @ 50,000 miles, fuel pump/ sending unit, alternator, EVO sensor twice, air conditioning, electrical problem, belt tensioner, probably a few more that I'm trying to forget about), but so far fixing it beats buying a new one. The EVO sensor and fuel problem seem to very common for this year truck.

1997 Chevrolet Silverado Z71 4wd extended cab, 6ft bed: 4800 lbs curb weight, 15-16 mpg city 24-25 mpt highway! I know, I have one. It's fast as heck too.