3/4 ton front end parts on a 1/2 ton? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

72sub · 02-11-2004, 11:41 PM

Can't figure this one out. I'm rebuilding the front end on my '72 1/2 ton GMC Suburban. I know it's a 1/2 ton because it sayes 1500 Super Custom on the side. Anyway, I bought new parts(TRW) for a 1/2 ton from Advance Auto. When I started comparing the new parts to the old parts, most of them didn't match. So I take the parts back to Advance and the parts guy asks me if I'm sure I have a 1/2 ton. I told him yes, but we decided to take a look at some 3/4 ton parts and they matched with the old parts. I'm pretty sure all of the old parts were original. It has a little over 100,000 miles, and the upper ball joints were riveted on the control arm. Anyone else ever run into this?

Longhorn Man · 02-12-2004, 12:09 AM

How many lugs do your wheels have?

72sub · 02-12-2004, 08:29 AM

5 lug discs.

Longhorn Man · 02-12-2004, 09:50 AM

Well, it wouldn't be the first time Advance Auto has things wrong in there computers for these trucks....try getting U-joints for a one ton from them, you'll pull your hair out.

72sub · 02-12-2004, 10:29 AM

Advance had the part #'s correct. I checked Moog parts at O'Reilly and part #'s with several of the vendors on this board, they all gave the same part #'s as Advance and O'Reilly. Anyone else have any theories? I'll try to post some pics later.

67chevemall · 02-12-2004, 03:18 PM

Keep us posted!

**COBALT** · 02-12-2004, 04:53 PM

Sounds like someone did a 3/4 ton swap of both sets of control arms....but the ball joints shouldn't fit the 5-lug disks. They're literally too big. Wow...that' a puzzle.

Are the tie rods, pitman, drag link, idler, and lower ball joints all 3/4 ton?

72sub · 02-12-2004, 05:51 PM

The pitman arm and idler arm are the same for 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks. The tie rods are different which means the spindles and drag link are different. I think COBALT is correct, the only way this is possible is if someone replaced all 4 control arms along with upper contorl arm shafts (lower control arm shafts are the same for 1/2 and 3/4 ton), spindles, tie rods, and drag link from a 3/4 ton. Either that or it's some kind of factory freak. One thing of interest: on the Parts America website, if you look up tie rod ends for a 1/2 ton, they list two different sets of part #'s denoted by "1st design" and "2nd design". http://www.partsamerica.com/SelectPa...river%2C+Inner
The part #'s for "2nd design" are the same as for a 3/4 ton. Maybe this is a clue.

02-11-2004, 11:41 PM	#1
72sub Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 71	3/4 ton front end parts on a 1/2 ton? Can't figure this one out. I'm rebuilding the front end on my '72 1/2 ton GMC Suburban. I know it's a 1/2 ton because it sayes 1500 Super Custom on the side. Anyway, I bought new parts(TRW) for a 1/2 ton from Advance Auto. When I started comparing the new parts to the old parts, most of them didn't match. So I take the parts back to Advance and the parts guy asks me if I'm sure I have a 1/2 ton. I told him yes, but we decided to take a look at some 3/4 ton parts and they matched with the old parts. I'm pretty sure all of the old parts were original. It has a little over 100,000 miles, and the upper ball joints were riveted on the control arm. Anyone else ever run into this?

02-12-2004, 03:18 PM	#6
67chevemall Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NB Posts: 3,367	Keep us posted! __________________ 1968 Chevy C10 307 3ott fleetside 1967 Chevy C/10 V8, 3spd, fleetside lwb.Sold 1967 Chev C/10 step, 383, M21. SOLD

02-12-2004, 04:53 PM	#7
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	Sounds like someone did a 3/4 ton swap of both sets of control arms....but the ball joints shouldn't fit the 5-lug disks. They're literally too big. Wow...that' a puzzle. Are the tie rods, pitman, drag link, idler, and lower ball joints all 3/4 ton? __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

02-12-2004, 12:09 AM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	How many lugs do your wheels have?

02-12-2004, 08:29 AM	#3
72sub Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 71	5 lug discs.

02-12-2004, 09:50 AM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Well, it wouldn't be the first time Advance Auto has things wrong in there computers for these trucks....try getting U-joints for a one ton from them, you'll pull your hair out.

02-12-2004, 10:29 AM	#5
72sub Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 71	Advance had the part #'s correct. I checked Moog parts at O'Reilly and part #'s with several of the vendors on this board, they all gave the same part #'s as Advance and O'Reilly. Anyone else have any theories? I'll try to post some pics later.

02-12-2004, 05:51 PM	#8
72sub Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 71	The pitman arm and idler arm are the same for 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks. The tie rods are different which means the spindles and drag link are different. I think COBALT is correct, the only way this is possible is if someone replaced all 4 control arms along with upper contorl arm shafts (lower control arm shafts are the same for 1/2 and 3/4 ton), spindles, tie rods, and drag link from a 3/4 ton. Either that or it's some kind of factory freak. One thing of interest: on the Parts America website, if you look up tie rod ends for a 1/2 ton, they list two different sets of part #'s denoted by "1st design" and "2nd design". http://www.partsamerica.com/SelectPa...river%2C+Inner The part #'s for "2nd design" are the same as for a 3/4 ton. Maybe this is a clue.



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