How different are the front end components...

[AbramJ]

How different are the front end components on a 2wd truck 1/2 ton versus a 3/4 ton?

My Suburban would be considered a "heavy half" or 1500HD: heavy duty shocks, 8 leaf rear springs, 12 bolt rear axle, and 3/4 ton coils on the front. Still only 5 lug wheels though. I've been considering changing to a 14 bolt axle and was trying to determine what I need to change on the front to get 8 lug wheels front and back. Thoughts?

 

[K85 Octane]

Seems normally it's dust shields, rotors, calipers, and tie rod ends.
My '68 C20 had a different center steering link and inner tie rod ends then a C10. I'm not even sure if the front springs were any different.

 

[brans87]

I did a 8 lug swap using Dana 44 parts and only used dust shields and hubs from a member did not need tie rods on my 10 bolt. But this was a 87 K5.

 

[K85 Octane]

2wd

 

[diesel4me]

I'm thinking 3/4 ton 2wd ball joints are larger diameter,both the taper on the pins where the knuckle goes,and the diameter where they press into the lower control arm..--better look them up and compare part numbers to a 1/2 ton..the control arm bushings might not be the same either,upper ones especially..I recall some 3/4 and 1 tons having metal threaded bushings and control arm shafts,not the press in rubber shelled type the 1/2 tons had..

It may be possible to get 3/4 ton 2wd rotors to fit a 1/2 ton spindle by using different wheel bearings,never tried it or know anyone who has though..

Worst case scenario,you could likely roll the entire front crossmember/suspension assembly from an 8 lug 3/4 ton 2wd under your 1/2 ton and bolt it up...

 

[mechted]

My brother and I did this swap on his C10. Changed from a 4.3l V6 to 6.2l diesel at the same time. Front crossmember is the same, everything outboard from that got swapped. We basically stripped it to the frame, including the studs that mount the upper control arms. Steering and shocks bolted right up to the 3/4 ton components. Springs are the same diameter and you can reuse the old ones. I dont remember what we did with the sway bar... but i think its the same.