Control arms

[5strmtrp]

I would imagine that both the PPV & SSV’s do NOT have the aluminum front control arms.

Passenger side lower ball joint is shot, a lot of play in it. My philosophy is once one part wears out the rest are close to it as well.

 

[kbuskill]

I would imagine that both the PPV & SSV’s do NOT have the aluminum front control arms.

Passenger side lower ball joint is shot, a lot of play in it. My philosophy is once one part wears out the rest are close to it as well.

I'm 99% sure the PPVs have the aluminum control arms for weight reduction.

The problem I am having is trying to find the aluminum control arms as they evidently stopped making them.

I was thinking of switching over to the aluminum control arms just for GP.

 

[drakon543]

there are several listed for the aluminum control arms on rockauto including the acdelco.

 

[kbuskill]

there are several listed for the aluminum control arms on rockauto including the acdelco.

I should have been more clear... the aluminum UPPERS aren't readily available any more.

 

[5strmtrp]

Ok, is there a difference between the aluminum ones and the steel ones?

PPV is 2wd.

SSV is 4wd

My truck is the SSV, are the arms longer for one and shorter for the other to compensate for the difference in driveline???

I’ve literally got a week to get this done before I’m on a 6day 12 hour shifts thru the end of January.

 

[kbuskill]

Ok, is there a difference between the aluminum ones and the steel ones?

PPV is 2wd.

SSV is 4wd

My truck is the SSV, are the arms longer for one and shorter for the other to compensate for the difference in driveline???

I’ve literally got a week to get this done before I’m on a 6day 12 hour shifts thru the end of January.

There is no difference in control arms between 2wd and 4wd on these rigs.

 

[exp500]

You could press out your Ball joints and bushings and re-use your arms.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Ok, is there a difference between the aluminum ones and the steel ones?

PPV is 2wd.

SSV is 4wd

My truck is the SSV, are the arms longer for one and shorter for the other to compensate for the difference in driveline???

I’ve literally got a week to get this done before I’m on a 6day 12 hour shifts thru the end of January.

@5strmtrp Careful, I believe that the aluminum and steel control arms use different sizes of ball joints so research before you buy.

 

[kbuskill]

@5strmtrp Careful, I believe that the aluminum and steel control arms use different sizes of ball joints so research before you buy.

The ball joint shaft that goes through the spindle are the same size.

The part that presses into the control arm itself is different. The aluminum control arms are thicker so the ball joint is thicker.

 

[swathdiver]

I would imagine that both the PPV & SSV’s do NOT have the aluminum front control arms.

Passenger side lower ball joint is shot, a lot of play in it. My philosophy is once one part wears out the rest are close to it as well.

Do you have steel or aluminum knuckles? If steel (cast iron), you can convert to cast iron lowers from cast aluminum without having to change knuckles. I think.

 

[kbuskill]

Do you have steel or aluminum knuckles? If steel (cast iron), you can convert to cast iron lowers from cast aluminum without having to change knuckles. I think.

Were aluminum knuckles/spindles even available on the GMT900s???

I thought the the ones @randeez used were from a '15+ Silvy.

 

[swathdiver]

Were aluminum knuckles/spindles even available on the GMT900s???

I thought the the ones @randeez used were from a '15+ Silvy.

I don't remember anymore Ken. I wrote this down a few years ago, it was next to a heading for a 1500 4WD and GMPartsDirect says it will fit mine.

Frankly, I don't even know what I really have! LOL They (knuckle and lower CA) look aluminum but magnets stick to them.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

Were aluminum knuckles/spindles even available on the GMT900s???

I thought the the ones @randeez used were from a '15+ Silvy.

@kbuskill I think they are, Rough Countrys forged upper control arms comes with additional hardware in case you are using an aluminum knuckle. @swathdiver had the correct information that I had mixed up, the steel VS aluminum KNUCKLE is what I was thinking about, not steel vs aluminum sontrol arm.

 

[randeez]

i knew some years gmt900 had some aluminum control arms/spindles, it uses some mismatched ball joints and tie rod ends though, it was easier just to order all of it from a 14+ truck

 

[jkssv08tahoe]

I just did mine over. Since my truck came from Vermont and now has 160k on it. The bushings were shot and arms rusted badly. So I replaced them and had to cut one out with a Sawzall since the bolt was fused into one bushing. I just went with the steel ones. I did notice the aluminum ones since I do a lot of Mountain biking and I have to do some off-roading to get to trailheads. I figured the steel was the way to go. Since I was there I threw on two new hubs also since I had no clue if they were ever changed. Also New swaybar end links, rotors, and Calipers, and hoses too.