Aluminum / XFE NNBS Front Suspension Rebuild

[kbuskill]

These are the ones I bought a couple years ago from SKF (i think)... The good ones.
Haven't had to get into the front end yet, but i got em pre ***** inflation, so they'll go on
when I do my new Z55 strut stuff later this year

Well, as I mentioned, mine lasted just shy of the 5 yr warranty and started growling. Luckily I was able to get them swapped out under warranty through RA. I wish I would have had time to add grease to the new ones before installing them but I was in a hurry. I suppose that adding it now would be better than never... lol

 

[petethepug]

HERE’S THE FINALE

My goodness, 14 months later. That huge pile of parts is installed. The XFE conversion only got touched on instead of getting the full conversion. Right at the beginning of this quest I was injured at UPS. Unfortunately my back didn’t heal and I have been forced to retire.

All the trial & test fitting got taken out of the conversion with my back situation. At least I had something to mull over while the absolutely worthless workers comp insurance denied all the doctors recommendations for over a year.

The Wins:
* Aluminium LCA are a direct fit.
* All the parts supplied for the z95 complete strut assembly were correct and the ride and handling are now better than new.
* The D/A rebuilt steering rack is flawless and tracks beautifully.
* The GM CPS & Oil Press sensor made a huge and unexpected change. I hit reset on the MPG calculator and it held 16/17 MPG for 25 miles at 70/80 on the highway.

* The XFE hubs added to the rock solid input and feedback to the ride.
* Thank you to Amazon for the free GM radiator. Only ended up paying for a new coolant reservoir.
* The coolant leak ended up being the water pump so the truck got a new a/c Delco unit & tstat

 

[petethepug]

THE CONSESSIONS

Due to a lack of pre-fitting parts, the diesel Indi tech discovered …

* The 15-20 knucks were not compatible with the hubs. I’ll verify the particulars later but it was communicated that the raised area on the face of the Gen 4 units was the deal breaker. The old knucks were used.

* The aluminum LCA for the Gen 3 (07-14) & Gen 4 were identical so they slid right on the original body mounts & Gen 3 knucks.

* Since the original steel knucks were used, that meant the original Gen 3 outer tie rods and (new) steel UCA were ordered and installed.

* The Gen 4 alum knucks, outer tie rods & UCA were not used because the Gen 4 Alum knucks were not used.

The p/s boot at the outside axle puked all its grease. Back to the Indi. Look in lower right corner.

Anyone notice the engine temp was low in last pic of the speedo? I’ll plug in the tech2 tomm to see what’s going on. The tech didn’t save my old UCA or LCA so no weight in between steel & alum (yet).

The bushings at the bottom of the z95 were crumbling.

The top of the strut bearings were being eaten away by the leaking Mag fluid. They had 16 years to to do this.

 

[petethepug]

The springs had identical part numbers but they didn’t xRef anything on the interwebs.

The part number (25940740) on the old strut only references to a pic of a customer who posted a pic of their old 2011 Esky z95 on an Amazon review. This is the label off my truck…

 

[Scrappycrow]

THE CONSESSIONS

Due to a lack of pre-fitting parts, the diesel Indi tech discovered …

* The 15-20 knucks were not compatible with the hubs. I’ll verify the particulars later but it was communicated that the raised area on the face of the Gen 4 units was the deal breaker. The old knucks were used.

View attachment 454554

Does that bump/pad interfere with the dust shield? I know it's too late for your situation, but the bump/pad can be machined off, the dust shield modified, or the corresponding dust shield used (assuming doing so doesn't lead to more cascading changes).

 

[petethepug]

I’ll have to check if the truck even has dust sheilds on. Funny, I really don’t remember seeing them on there when the wheels were off in the past.

I noticed that the rubber boot up top is misaligned on the wheel that puked grease everywhere. It’ll all be checked out when going back in to install the new MAF.

 

[mountie]

The springs had identical part numbers but they didn’t xRef anything on the interwebs.

View attachment 454562
View attachment 454564

The part number (25940740) on the old strut only references to a pic of a customer who posted a pic of their old 2011 Esky z95 on an Amazon review. This is the label off my truck…

View attachment 454567

 

[992dr]

THE CONSESSIONS

Due to a lack of pre-fitting parts, the diesel Indi tech discovered …

* The 15-20 knucks were not compatible with the hubs. I’ll verify the particulars later but it was communicated that the raised area on the face of the Gen 4 units was the deal breaker. The old knucks were used.

View attachment 454554

That's a bummer. Were you able to verify anything else?
I wonder if you could grind or machine down that raised area.
I'm going to have to pull mine out and compare them more in depth to see if that is the only difference.

 

[kbuskill]

That's a bummer. Were you able to verify anything else?
I wonder if you could grind or machine down that raised area.
I'm going to have to pull mine out and compare them more in depth to see if that is the only difference.

Post some pics when you get a chance.

 

[992dr]

Post some pics when you get a chance.

I'll post some up over the weekend.

 

[992dr]

One thing I notices was how the hub sat in the knuckle.
You can see how the new hubs have a larger surface area than the 07/14. And the sensor is pretty close, a little clearancing could solve that haha.

I'll get more tomorrow of the mounting points and the raised area.

 

[kbuskill]

One thing I notices was how the hub sat in the knuckle.
You can see how the new hubs have a larger surface area than the 07/14. And the sensor is pretty close, a little clearancing could solve that haha.

I'll get more tomorrow of the mounting points and the raised area.

The other option, of course, is to just get the hubs for the '15+ trucks I suppose.

 

[Scrappycrow]

The other option, of course, is to just get the hubs for the '15+ trucks I suppose.

Assuming the ABS tone ring output is the same.

 

[kbuskill]

Assuming the ABS tone ring output is the same.

GM is usually pretty good about not changing things without cause, although they do sometimes throw me for a loop.

Only one way to find out.

 

[mikez71]

According to Oreilly's, the moog equivalents both show 55 teeth tone rings.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/precision-hubs/precision-hubs-wheel-bearing-and-hub-assembly/phc0/515096

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/precision-hubs/precision-wheel-bearing-and-hub-assembly/phc0/515160

The only differences I could find are the total hub height, ~1mm more for '15+ (515160)
..and the wire length is 1/8" longer for '15+, and square vs oval abs plug..

And both 07-14 and 15-20 use the same CV axles..

 

[992dr]

My computer is being stupid and taking forever to download pics.

The biggest difference I saw was the overall height. The cast one was roughly 11-5/8" and the alloy one was roughly 11-15/16". I don't think that would affect anything.
Each mounting point on the alloy knuckle was thicker by roughly an 1/8".

 

[992dr]

@petethepug just curious if you have any updates with more detailed info on the knuckle fitment and why they didn't work out

 

[petethepug]

I stopped digging into it because of a back injury at work. The tech I handed the job to was buried in other projects. Pretty sure worker’s comp had eyes on me for last 6 Mo desperately trying to torpedo all the benefits they were denying.

I’m back at 50-60% and slowly getting stronger through private insurance. Worker’s Comp approved massage & physical therapy for damage to discs. WTF!?!

Any info you guys find on the compatibility issues of the alum parts are welcomed. Things are moving in Slooow Motion right now.

 

[mountie]

I stopped digging into it because of a back injury at work. The tech I handed the job to was buried in other projects. Pretty sure worker’s comp had eyes on me for last 6 Mo desperately trying to torpedo all the benefits they were denying.

I’m back at 50-60% and slowly getting stronger through private insurance. Worker’s Comp approved massage & physical therapy for damage to discs. WTF!?!

Any info you guys find on the compatibility issues of the alum parts are welcomed. Things are moving in Slooow Motion right now.

When I lived in SoCal, I was injured on the job. ( An annoying shoulder injury )
The Workmans Comp system was such a scam ... They referred me to people that did a joke of a service, and WC payed them the max amount... out of MY BUDGET..... I reported their scams and WC only "noted it".... WC allowed them to rip me off.

 

[petethepug]

Yup, no x rays after 7 Mo. Teamster union sugg getting WC atty. At 13 Mo. they admitted error and wanted to start diagnosing all over again.

Yes, WC system in CA is broken. Without atty knowledge and expertise I never would have known they (Liberty Mutual for UPS) had no intention heeling me.