Tailgate torsion bar question

[Jake_C_]

So quick question about the torsion bars for the k5 and suburban tailgates. When I got mine the bars were already rusted in half, I know they don’t make them anymore so I figured I’d try to snag some from a junkyard next time I go. My question is do the blazers and suburbans have the same torsion bars? Or are they completely different?

 

[scouthead]

Interesting question. the only suburban i ever had was the barn door model- so im no help, but am interested in knowing the answer to this. hopefully somebody chimes in

 

[Jake_C_]

Interesting question. the only suburban i ever had was the barn door model- so im no help, but am interested in knowing the answer to this. hopefully somebody chimes in

A friend of mine has a bunch of junked square body’s, I’ll go over and find out tomorrow I know he has more suburbans than k5s so I figured it would be easier to get a decent one off a burb if they’re the same.

 

[Shawn]

Tailgates and tailgate parts are getting really hard to find. The last used remaining tailgate in Colorado and surrounding states I bought from a salvage yard for $300 and it was just a shell. It came dented badly on the bottom and I was not happy about that. Since then I found a couple more. One shell, one complete. One came with torque rods. If your friend can't find any, I might be willing to sell a pair.

 

[Jake_C_]

Tailgates and tailgate parts are getting really hard to find. The last used remaining tailgate in Colorado and surrounding states I bought from a salvage yard for $300 and it was just a shell. It came dented badly on the bottom and I was not happy about that. Since then I found a couple more. One shell, one complete. One came with torque rods. If your friend can't find any, I might be willing to sell a pair.

I was able to find some, I didn’t find any burbs with a tailgate so that question remains unanswered but I pulled the torque rods and a few other parts I needed. They’re definitely getting harder to find they don’t make a lot of those parts anymore.

 

[Shawn]

It looks to be just one torsion bar when you look at diagrams for the Suburban. Its too bad GM didn't make the same tailgate and parts on both models.

 

[Shawn]

TAILGATE SUPPORT ROD CHEVY GMC SUBURBAN 1981-1991 OEM | eBay

This Tailgate support rod was removed from a 1982 GMC Suburban K1500 Diesel.

www.ebay.com

 

[Jake_C_]

It looks to be just one torsion bar when you look at diagrams for the Suburban. Its too bad GM didn't make the same tailgate and parts on both models.

View attachment 399500

Ok makes sense. I’ve heard suburbans are wider in the back but I don’t know if that’s true, I can’t remember if the frames are different width either. If so that would make a difference. I agree though it would be nice if the parts were the same.

 

[Shawn]

I read the tailgate on the suburban is more narrow. You can see there is body metal between the tailgate gap and tail lights where the blazer does not have that.

 

[Jake_C_]

I read the tailgate on the suburban is more narrow. You can see there is body metal between the tailgate gap and tail lights where the blazer does not have that.

View attachment 399504

The blazer does have some it’s just not as wide and the tail light covers it. But yeah you’re right it looks like the suburban tailgate is narrower. Interesting.