Front suspension overhaul

[Mickey_7106]

Need a front lower ball joint but at 126k im thinking i might as well replace all upper and lower control arms in the front this year starting with the left side since i cant get it aligned until i replace a ball joint. Anything else i should be replacing? Should i replace cam and bolts too? Swaybar bushings look good. ive already did both hubs in the last 25k miles but ill check them again.

if it helps anyone else, these are the part number i got from ACdelcos site when i punch in my trucks Vin

Control Arms
Front left lower:
Part# 45D2471 - ACDelco
Part# 19313224 - GM

Front left upper: (there were other options but i choose this one)
Part# 45D3592 - ACDelco
Part# 19255769 - GM

Front right lower:
Part# 45D2472 - ACDelco
Part# 19313221 - GM

Front right upper: (there were other options but i choose this one)
Part# 45D3593 - ACDelco
Part# 19255770 - GM

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@Mickey_7106 While you are in there I would go ahead and replace everything so that you don't have to open the front back up again. Inner and Outter tie rods, sway bar bushings and end links, and CV axles if you have 4wd. Thats my recommendation anyways.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

How are the front shocks themselves? If original, I would replace them, as well, since you will have half the strut disconnected, anyway.

 

[swathdiver]

Need a front lower ball joint but at 126k im thinking i might as well replace all upper and lower control arms in the front this year starting with the left side since i cant get it aligned until i replace a ball joint. Anything else i should be replacing? Should i replace cam and bolts too? Swaybar bushings look good. ive already did both hubs in the last 25k miles but ill check them again.

if it helps anyone else, these are the part number i got from ACdelcos site when i punch in my trucks Vin

Control Arms
Front left lower:
Part# 45D2471 - ACDelco
Part# 19313224 - GM

Front left upper: (there were other options but i choose this one)
Part# 45D3592 - ACDelco
Part# 19255769 - GM

Front right lower:
Part# 45D2472 - ACDelco
Part# 19313221 - GM

Front right upper: (there were other options but i choose this one)
Part# 45D3593 - ACDelco
Part# 19255770 - GM

Note, those are ACDelco Professional or Gold and not Original Equipment part numbers. Moog CK Series are also the exact same parts as those listed above.

GM OE are:

Your mileage isn't high but she's about thirteen years old now. How are the springs and shocks and struts? Just did all this last year on our '09.

 

[Mickey_7106]

@Mickey_7106 While you are in there I would go ahead and replace everything so that you don't have to open the front back up again. Inner and Outter tie rods, sway bar bushings and end links, and CV axles if you have 4wd. Thats my recommendation anyways.

Thanks, forgot about the tie rods. ive tried searching for bigger rods with no luck before. Think i'll have to throw on some sleeves

 

[Mickey_7106]

How are the front shocks themselves? If original, I would replace them, as well, since you will have half the strut disconnected, anyway.

Shocks look good. no sign of any leaking.

 

[Mickey_7106]

Note, those are ACDelco Professional or Gold and not Original Equipment part numbers. Moog CK Series are also the exact same parts as those listed above.

GM OE are:

View attachment 360857

Your mileage isn't high but she's about thirteen years old now. How are the springs and shocks and struts? Just did all this last year on our '09.

Yeah same part but the Acdelcos are about $80 on RockAuto and CarID. Moog is $125+ anywhere i look.

 

[swathdiver]

Yeah same part but the Acdelcos are about $80 on RockAuto and CarID. Moog is $125+ anywhere i look.

That's why I mention both so folks can find the best deals. You'll find those OE ones are twice the ACDelco, we get what we pay for!

My shocks weren't leaking but they were shot, back end sagged hauling a lightly loaded trailer, ride was getting more harsh over bumps. Now with new shocks, springs, bushings and Michelin Defenders, it almost feels like an old Cadillac going down the road, floating on clouds!

 

[Mickey_7106]

That's why I mention both so folks can find the best deals. You'll find those OE ones are twice the ACDelco, we get what we pay for!

Got me second guessing now. i though AC Delco Pro and moog CK were a better part than OE? Also, thought i read that AC delco pro and moog ck were the same part just rebranded?

 

[swathdiver]

Got me second guessing now. i though AC Delco Pro and moog CK were a better part than OE? Also, thought i read that AC delco pro and moog ck were the same part just rebranded?

GM OE is the highest rating. Oftentimes, ACDelco Gold/Professional is the same as GM OE, other times they are not and even have separate GM part numbers like those control arms in the previous posts by you and me. When Chris bought some control arms a couple of years back, he discovered that they were ACDelco and Moog CK series, I forget which was ordered. @iamdub

The GM OE control arms are about twice as much, I reckon it's because the ball joints and maybe the bushings are of higher quality.

 

[Mickey_7106]

GM OE is the highest rating. Oftentimes, ACDelco Gold/Professional is the same as GM OE, other times they are not and even have separate GM part numbers like those control arms in the previous posts by you and me. When Chris bought some control arms a couple of years back, he discovered that they were ACDelco and Moog CK series, I forget which was ordered. @iamdub

The GM OE control arms are about twice as much, I reckon it's because the ball joints and maybe the bushings are of higher quality.

Got it, thanks. Have to rethink what im ordering then. This truck is going to stick around for a while so i'll probably spend the extra cash for OE Arms.

 

[iamdub]

GM OE is the highest rating. Oftentimes, ACDelco Gold/Professional is the same as GM OE, other times they are not and even have separate GM part numbers like those control arms in the previous posts by you and me. When Chris bought some control arms a couple of years back, he discovered that they were ACDelco and Moog CK series, I forget which was ordered. @iamdub

The GM OE control arms are about twice as much, I reckon it's because the ball joints and maybe the bushings are of higher quality.

Nailed it. I ordered AC Delco Professional (now known as "Gold"), not thinking anything of it and assuming I was getting what came on it from the factory. What I got was Moog. Others have reported the same. AC Delco Original AKA GM Genuine is what was on it when it left the factory. Anything else is aftermarket and varies in quality and price with each step.

 

[iamdub]

Got it, thanks. Have to rethink what im ordering then. This truck is going to stick around for a while so i'll probably spend the extra cash for OE Arms.

Moog is a reputable aftermarket supplier for suspension and driveline parts, but I doubt they're 150K+ mile parts like the originals. I put very little mileage on mine in a year and I got the parts super cheap, so I'm not sour about it. But, if you rely on yours for daily duties and don't wanna be repeating this work for as long as you can put off, get OE. While we're on the subject, the original equipment for the hub bearings is Timken. You can shop for either AC Delco Original, GM Genuine or Timken and you should end up with the exact same part.

 

[swathdiver]

Got it, thanks. Have to rethink what im ordering then. This truck is going to stick around for a while so i'll probably spend the extra cash for OE Arms.

This is what I bought for mine last summer:

I should have replaced #2 and did not. I did not ultimately need 11,12, 15-18 but did not want to be waiting for parts if they were needed.

 

[Mickey_7106]

i ended up getting the ac delco pro . i went to triple check the oe part numbers and i was getting something completely different. The only thing that didnt change was the delco part. So, i have the part, whats a good grease to use? i was gonna use redline cv2 since im gonna use that for a motorcycle im repairing but ive read there's issues with grease compatability

 

[Mickey_7106]

also, what grease gun do you guys use? ive seen a lot of 4+ star guns on amazon but all the recent reviews state theyre crap

 

[iamdub]

also, what grease gun do you guys use? ive seen a lot of 4+ star guns on amazon but all the recent reviews state theyre crap

Back in 2018, I bought THIS one (was $20 back then.) They have a mini version if that's more your preference. No leaks and hasn't ever given me any problems.

 

[13UpInSmoke]

Look at replacing front hubs too, didnt see that mentioned

 

[petethepug]

It took a while to find but worth the effort.
THANKS for the awesome detailed lists you share with us!!

This is what I bought for mine last summer:

View attachment 360994

I should have replaced #2 and did not. I did not ultimately need 11,12, 15-18 but did not want to be waiting for parts if they were needed.

 

[Scott in AZ]

I did my front struts at 110K and 170K. I’d do the struts. Even if you just use Monroe. The 4W alignment will cost you more than 2X Monroe struts. Plenty of good options on your struts. I used Bilstein B4600.

Regardless whether you do the shocks, don’t forget the bumps. Whenever the struts go we’ll be glad we have zero-timed the bumps