77 Scottsdale 4x4

[ImNoSpaz]

I have had this truck for over 40 years and am close to finishing the 67c10.

I figured I would start looking for front end parts because I always had issues with the front left hub bearing nuts backing off. Still full time 4 wheel btw. It's been sitting and going to heck for 20 of those years.

I know what this truck is. It's what we called a heavy half way back then. The front end parts are bigger than standard 1/2 ton. I'm running into parts people who continue to sell me the wrong stuff and argue with me about it. I took a complete hub down there last time to show them. They were lost and pretty much threw their arms up in the air.

So is there a new name these are called now so I don't have to deal with this anymore when looking for parts?

[jocko]

Is it a K10 or a K20? Got a SPID picture? Heavy half is not a formal term for a K, so if you're telling them that, it's probably only confusing the issue when they go into their system. Yes, parts houses kinda suck when you know what you want - but they seem to not know it even after you explain it. That's why I use rockauto in most cases.

[1976gmc20]

Yeah, I never heard of a "heavy half" 4x4. I had a 1973 K/20 and a 1980 K/10. Way different front hub, but if the lock ring is working right and installed correctly the nuts shouldn't loosen except for bearing wear.

GM did do some tricks to bump the GVWs up to something like 6050 or 6100 pounds just to get around the catalytic converter mandate for a while.

[jocko]

Also, might want to check out Hatzie's manual links, they are extremely helpful - go to this link, scroll down to "Axles & Steering" section and you'll find links to several specific parts manuals, exploded parts pics, etc that Hatzie has kindly provided.

[Dleslie212]

Originally Posted by ImNoSpaz

I have had this truck for over 40 years and am close to finishing the 67c10.

I figured I would start looking for front end parts because I always had issues with the front left hub bearing nuts backing off. Still full time 4 wheel btw. It's been sitting and going to heck for 20 of those years.

I know what this truck is. It's what we called a heavy half way back then. The front end parts are bigger than standard 1/2 ton. I'm running into parts people who continue to sell me the wrong stuff and argue with me about it. I took a complete hub down there last time to show them. They were lost and pretty much threw their arms up in the air.

So is there a new name these are called now so I don't have to deal with this anymore when looking for parts?

I just got done completely rebuilding the hub and rotor assembly on my 77 K10... I don’t know what the difference would be between yours and mine, but will help in any way I can. I don’t see how those nuts could back off if the nuts are both torqued properly, and the washer with the little nipple is aligned with the innermost nut correctly?

[Nachos82]

Maybe he means just the outer nut is backing off? Pretty sure one side of mine was like that, where the outer nut was loose, but the other side outer nut was still tight.

It has been a couple years since I swapped out my locking hubs for new ones, but memory says the locking ring (with the nipple) has a keyway to slip on the spindle, so not sure it is technically possible for the inner nut to move at all. I guess if the outer nut backs off so much to allow the locking ring to then bounce out, it could actually be a thing, but that doesn't seem like a normal happening.

Oddly enough my truck also has a dana44 from a 77 year truck or blazer. I was doing a frontend refresh and I ran into an issue where the new calipers I bought wouldn't fit down on the new rotors I got (sadly found it out after they were painted up and bolted in). Maybe this rotor thickness and different caliper setup is the normal and heavy difference?

[1976gmc20]

I've seen them be detectably loose due to dry or worn bearings but not the nuts backing off.

[Dleslie212]

Originally Posted by Nachos82

Maybe he means just the outer nut is backing off? Pretty sure one side of mine was like that, where the outer nut was loose, but the other side outer nut was still tight.

It has been a couple years since I swapped out my locking hubs for new ones, but memory says the locking ring (with the nipple) has a keyway to slip on the spindle, so not sure it is technically possible for the inner nut to move at all. I guess if the outer nut backs off so much to allow the locking ring to then bounce out, it could actually be a thing, but that doesn't seem like a normal happening.

Oddly enough my truck also has a dana44 from a 77 year truck or blazer. I was doing a frontend refresh and I ran into an issue where the new calipers I bought wouldn't fit down on the new rotors I got (sadly found it out after they were painted up and bolted in). Maybe this rotor thickness and different caliper setup is the normal and heavy difference?

If I remember right, that outer nut is supposed to be torqued to 90. I don’t see that backing off but I’m not an expert by any means

[ImNoSpaz]

Originally Posted by jocko

Is it a K10 or a K20? Got a SPID picture? Heavy half is not a formal term for a K, so if you're telling them that, it's probably only confusing the issue when they go into their system. Yes, parts houses kinda suck when you know what you want - but they seem to not know it even after you explain it. That's why I use rockauto in most cases.

Heavy Half was a term used many years ago. It's a K10 and I assure you standard same year 4x spindles are smaller.

[jocko]

I understand it was used many years ago - where I grew up it applied to a C10 (only) with F44 suspension. Anyway, it was a slang term that many used differently - my point being it's never going to help the 18 y/o behind the counter find what you're looking for.

In the references I'm digging thru to help, I can only find reference to a single GVWR and GAWR available in 76 on a K10 (sorry but I don't have a 77 data book) - but it does match your GVWR sticker of 6200/3520. I see no optional axles listed unfortunately. Interestingly, the VIK for both 76 and 77 also list only a single K10 front axle, no options - but they list 3600 lb axles as the standard... I don't rely on VIKs very much for this type of data though. Maybe someone on here has a 77 data book they could check for you to see if there was more than the standard axle listed?? Having said all that, the 6200 GVWR and 3520 GAWR is listed as the standard and only front axle on a 76 K10. I took a stab at RockAuto and only saw one axle listed there as well - and if RockAuto doesn't list it - a kid behind the counter will never find it I'm afraid. Sorry, I realize this isn't a lot of help.

[ImNoSpaz]

No problem and your help is much appreciated. My dad found another complete l/r spindle set when this happened, so I'll pull a hub an get the bearing numbers and see what comes up. I just have to dig to find them. I'm starting to see the positives in his hoarding problem and why!