GMT800 2500 vs 2500HD frame differences

[Nick_R_23]

Does anyone here have the specifics on 2500 vs 2500HD frame differences, specifically what causes the height difference between the two?

I’ve been told by multiple people that the difference is in the rubber body mounts or the metal frame mounts. This didn’t make sense to me, as the frame section near the bed is the same forward of the axle, so how is the bed being mounted higher? The post axle frame section is thicker on the 2500HD, but gets thicker towards the axle, not towards the bed to raise it.

I finally got a chance to briefly compare the two in person, side by side. I could not find any notable difference in the body mounts. The leaf spring mounts on the 2500HD had longer brackets (and reinforcement brackets), that pushed the leaf springs further down away from the frame, so it’s obvious where this difference is. However, in my brief comparison, I didn’t see anything obvious different in the front suspension.

Does anyone know what the difference is in the front, especially with pictures showing the difference of possible?