Alright, I made it back to NC in one piece after a bone-rattling ride back home. The tires are ridiculous! Told my wife it felt like riding on a vibrating exercise ball...
Anyway, against better judgement, I took it to a shop my in-laws recommended and I'm glad I did. It was more than pads I needed, the drums needed cleaning and adjusting and I needed new rotors, they had worn down below minimum specs so slapping pads on there wouldn't have helped. Also, I had them flip and remount the tires on the rims when they rotated and they noticed one of the rims was slightly bent - it needed 20oz of weights where the other 3 rims needed only 2-5oz per. The truck also has the factory shocks which I will replace in due time, but suffered a pretty bouncy ride back home...
It was good trip back home; no major delays, only got pulled over once (no ticket, I charmed the officer into letting me slide), and I missed a snow shower in central NC while I ate dinner at my favorite restaurant in Charlotte. Unfortunately I can't "un-see" those creepy Michael Bolton billboards I passed by in South Carolina... shudder.
All in all, with gas, hotel, repairs, etc. I am out around 800 bucks for a 95 Sierra SL w/ 148,000 miles, which I think is a pretty good deal. I guess I've introduced myself (and my new truck) well enough in this long thread... will keep the forum updated with all the repairs/refurbishing I have planned for it.
You must be registered for see images attach