2010 GMC Yukon - Project Murdered-Out Mommy Mobile: Part I

Before

Whether you call it “the other ride, the daily, the wife’s ride,” or even “the mommy mobile,” we all want to cruise in a truck or SUV that has curb appeal, is completely functional, and doesn’t break the bank in the process. For Project Murdered-Out Mommy Mobile (or MOMM as we call it), we’ll show you how to take your stock truck or SUV and transform it into a legitimate street cruiser without losing functionality or taking out a loan to do so. Our project SUV is a 2010 GMC Yukon XL, a typical family hauler perfect for carrying kids, strollers, sports gear, groceries and everything else that needs to go from point A to B. Over the next several months, we’ll lower the Yukon, add big wheels and big brakes, bump up the horsepower with easy-to-install bolt-ons, give the exterior and interior some much-needed love, and once we’re done, take a look at the final result for functionality, style, and the most important aspect, make sure the mom behind the wheel is still happy.

2010 Gmc Yukon Xl Project Murdered Out Mommy Mobile Part 1 Mcgaughys Lowering Kit

1. Right out of the box, the McGaughy’s economy 2/3 kit looked to be an easy install. The kit consists of new rear coil springs, rear shock extenders, and front coil spring cup relocators.

1. Right out of the box, the McGaughy’s economy 2/3 kit looked to be an easy install. The

This month, we dropped the Yukon using McGaughy’s new economy 2/3 drop kit that replaces and relocated the lower coil spring stop on the strut and uses 3-inch shorter coil springs in the rear with shock extenders. This new drop kit is not only faster and easier to install than a traditional spindle drop, it’s also less expensive and maintains the factory ride, which sounds like a perfect scenario to us. Filling in the smaller fender gap are 26x9.5-inch Mazzi Krank wheels that were powdercoated black to match the murdered-out theme. Providing the wheel protection and traction, we mounted Kumho Ecsta STX high-performance sport truck tires sized 305/30R26 to the Mazzi wheels for an in-your-face look that will definitely turn heads. We’ve preached for years the importance of adding big brakes when adding larger wheels and tires, so it should come as no surprise that this Yukon received a big-brake kit from Baer. After all, wife, plus kids, plus stuff, equals irreplaceable cargo. For this application, we used Baer AumaSport brakes with 14-inch cross-drilled and slotted rotors and two-piston calipers, front and rear. To handle the install while we snapped the photos, we drove the stock Yukon to Total Auto Pros, located in the heart of Phoenix. Total Auto Pros works on everything from 4x4 diesels to rock-crawling Jeeps, and even high-end luxury cars, so our install was handled in just a few short hours. Read along, as we added style to our mommy mobile without compromising ride quality or safety and be sure to check back next month when we add some ponies to the 5.3L.

2. Arriving at Total Auto Pros, in Phoenix, installer Matt Skubal,quickly got to work by placing the Yukon on the lift, removing the wheels and tires, and using an extra-long 1/2-inch extension to remove the three 18mm nuts retaining the strut/coil assembly.
2. Arriving at Total Auto Pros, in Phoenix, installer Matt Skubal,quickly got to work by
3. Up Next, both lower strut bolts were removed, as was the sway bar endlink, and the lower A-arm bolts were loosened, not removed, to provide some extra play of the lower A-arms.
3. Up Next, both lower strut bolts were removed, as was the sway bar endlink, and the lowe
4. Matt then pulled the strut/coil assembly free and headed over the the coil spring compressor.
4. Matt then pulled the strut/coil assembly free and headed over the the coil spring compr

5. A quick tip from a pro, Matt used a silver Sharpie to make a line down the strut and coil spring to ensure everything goes back together exactly how it was disassembled.
5. A quick tip from a pro, Matt used a silver Sharpie to make a line down the strut and co
6. It only took a few seconds to pop the strut out of the coil spring and Matt was ready to move onto the next phase of the install.
6. It only took a few seconds to pop the strut out of the coil spring and Matt was ready t
7. and 8. Using a hammer, the factory coil up was knocked off of the strut assembly and the new McGaughy's coil up was positioned into place and hammered on.
7. and 8. Using a hammer, the factory coil up was knocked off of the strut assembly and th

7. and 8. Using a hammer, the factory coil up was knocked off of the strut assembly and the new McGaughy's coil up was positioned into place and hammered on.
7. and 8. Using a hammer, the factory coil up was knocked off of the strut assembly and th
9. After the assembly was slid back into the coil spring compressor and the strut bolted back together, the 2-inch drop was evident on the modified strut (on the left).
9. After the assembly was slid back into the coil spring compressor and the strut bolted b
10. Matt could then install the modified strut/coil assembly back into the Yukon and do the same procedure on the other side. The sway bar endlinks, strut bolts, and lower A-arm bolts were then torqued to spec.
10. Matt could then install the modified strut/coil assembly back into the Yukon and do th

11. Moving to the rear suspension, Matt unbolted the factory shocks and, with a tranny screwjack supporting the axle, removed the factory coil springs.
11. Moving to the rear suspension, Matt unbolted the factory shocks and, with a tranny scr
12. The new 3-inch shorter McGaughy’s coil springs were then slid into position.
13. Shock extenders were included in the kit and help maintain the proper shock angle. They were bolted on and torqued accordingly. Just like that, the 2/3 drop kit was complete.
13. Shock extenders were included in the kit and help maintain the proper shock angle. The

14. With the big 26-inch wheels going onto the mommy mobile, big brakes were mandatory. To help the Yukon stop with immediacy, we decided to bolt on Baer AlumaSport 14-inch brakes. First, Matt had to remove the factory caliper
14. With the big 26-inch wheels going onto the mommy mobile, big brakes were mandatory. To
15. The new cross-drilled and slotted 14-inch rotors were slid onto the hubs and the new two-piston calipers bolted in place. The calipers were custom-painted to match a paint scheme we’ll show you in a few issues. For now, you get the general idea. Out back, the same procedure was performed, with the exception of cutting the upper corners off of the dust shield for added rotor/parking brake clearance. A thorough pressure bleeding was then performed.
15. The new cross-drilled and slotted 14-inch rotors were slid onto the hubs and the new t
16. Matt then bolted on the 26-inch Mazzi Krank wheels and 305/30R26 Kumho Ecsta STX tires. These wheels were powdercoated black to match the murdered-out theme and a computerized alignment made sure the Yukon tracked straight. Don’t miss next month, where we add nearly 35 rwhp to the 5.3L.
16. Matt then bolted on the 26-inch Mazzi Krank wheels and 305/30R26 Kumho Ecsta STX tires