Do I have to change the cross memeber?

[Nima]

Hi guys:
While I am messing with my interior, I am also gathering info about front suspension and disck brakes. I have read lots of good info here about this common upgrade but one thing that I am confused,still!!, is if I have to change the crossmember. My truck is 67 3/4 ton with drums all around. The quality of ride doesn't bother me much since I don't take it for long ride. I just want to rebuild the front end and switch to disck barke at the same time. I read the articles that I can/should change everything from a-arms all the ways down. Can I just use 1/2 parts without changing crossmember? If not, how about if I upgrade to 73+ model 3/4 ton? Another question now, Is it a big difference in price between 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton parts?
All these questions are an effort to avoid to chage the crossmember since to me this exchange is very involved and I am usually working alone. Thanks

[69 longhorn]

No, you dont need to swap the crossmember, the 3/4 TOP a arms will accept the 1/2 ton balljoints. go 71-72 on the lower arms, if you want to keep the steel bushings. you can then opt for the 73-up 1/2 ton spindles, & steer linkage (all of it)......just remember, that you go for the yr of the donor truck for balljoints , tierod ends ect. crazyL

[Nima]

Thanks crazyL. Just a little confusion,Is there any advantage to steel bushing? I mean, can I just use 73+ lower arm too or ih has to be 71-72?

[69 longhorn]

Steel bushings.....absolutly no squirm)! i think you can use the rubber bushed 73- on 1/2 ton lower arms....you might run that by a couple more guys tho....(havent tryed it ). what I listed is running on my longhorn10,000 + miles. best of luck, 69L

[N2TRUX]

Nima I think your looking at the crossmember and letting it scare you. The reason everyone talks about changing it is because it is actually less work. If you drop your old one as a complete assembly it isn't as much work as trying to take it apart piece by piece....

[Nima]

N2TRUX, you are right!. It does scare me becuase I beleive I have to disassemble the engine mounts, support the engine etc. These are the thing that I've not done yet, and considering my space, which is very limitted by the way, and not having help it really scares me. But well, I trust people advise on this board therefore if majority says it's easy, I'll do it that way.
Anyway, thanks for your input.

[Tx Firefighter]

All you have to do is put a jack and block of wood under the oil pan when you drop the crossmember. That will hold it up just fine.

Like Trux said, it is much less work to swap the whole thing.

I personally swapped a 1 ton dually front suspension by myself a few weeks ago. Wear gloves and have some blocks of wood. You can do it in a day, on a completely assembled truck, no sweat.

[Nima]

Ok, the way I read the other thrreads here,If I change the whole thing I believe I need to enlarge couple of holes in either side regardless of year model. Is that right? Or does it make any difference if crossmemeber is from 1/2 ton or 3/4 and 73+?

[Tx Firefighter]

To get all of the bolts in place, yes, you have to enlongate one hole per side.

Personally, it's a pain with the engine in place, so I'd just leave those 2 bolts out. There are 7 bolts per side, for a total of 14. Two bolts aren't that critical. Twelve is close enough.

[lolife99]

Nima,... is your new crossmember in good shape? Does it need any new parts? If not swap the whole assembly. BUT,... if you have to tear everything apart to replace bushings, ball joints, etc,... I would leave the original crossmember in there. Just my 2 cents.

[Nima]

Well,I don't have any new crossmember!. The one on my truck, I am not sure if is original but I believe it is. I am thinking to get a mid 70 truck as donor although i am very limmited spacevise. I am sure whatever I get as donor truck won't have perfect front ends and need some help. That's my debate.

[lolife99]

If you have to rebuild your "donor" crossmember pieces,... I would just swap ALL the components over to your old crossmember. If you are not,... swap the whole thing.