c2500/3500 Upper Control Arms

[92bluesilverado]

Hello,

tried to do a search but didnt come up with what I was looking for.

Is it possible to use c2500/3500 upper control arms on a c1500? beyond the obvious differences will I have any issues bolting them up? my 92 has lowering springs and stock spindles. i plan to upgrade to drop spindles and remove the lowering springs at some point but for now i was hoping the 2500/3500 upper arms would bolt on w/o issue.

any thoughts are much appreaciated.

 

[Red91]

I have seen it done on FSC the guy had to drill new mounting holes for the balljoint. Other than that it was bolt in. He used 3500 uppers IIRC.

 

[92bluesilverado]

Thx, so the overall dimensions were the same? i need new upper ball joints anyway so I was going to buy the proper c2500 uppers to go with it. is that where i may run into problems i.e. the c1500 upper ball joint is a different diameter than the 2500? obviously the mounting points are different but are the shaft sizes similar?

thx

 

[Red91]

I have no idea about that. But from what I remember he had no issues when he got it aligned.

 

[eric.s.t]

are they made any different? is their an advantage on doing this?

 

[92bluesilverado]

I dont think there is any real big draw other than i prefer the look of the thinner upper arm. the look is dramatically differnt in my opinion.

 

[Luke]

Wow that does look a lot different.

Figure out the balljoint situation and post.

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[92bluesilverado]

Checked out the ball joints. The 2500/3500 ball joints are larger in diameter and longer. But more importantly the 2500/3500 joints have a angle to the mounting flange where as the 1500 joints are parallel with the top of the ball joint. I have to believe this creates unwelcomed joint angles and while it may not make the joint totally fail it has to increase wear beyond the designed use. I found the thread from FULL SIZE CHEVY and yes all the guy did was re-drill the holes to mount the 1500 ball joint but this seems like too much work & $ for no real upgrade. At best it might shave a pound or 2 off the front suspension but maybe not. The only positive of this is the looks and the fact that the upper ball joint and bushings are 1/2 of what the C1500 costs are. But if the angles are wrong it may increase wear on both components.

 

[e3mcgrath]

the angles may be better for the lowered/bagged applications. i know with other tubular arms, the balljoint angles are diff than stock. i didn't have to on my OBS but when laying out my s10 on big wheels, i had to piecut the balljoint mounting plate and angle it done so they didn't bind.