2wd 1500 vs 2500

[Eliot Rotering]

Looking for an answer as to what I can and can't tow with my truck. I've hauled with it for quite some time but nothing heavy for what a 1500 could handle. I have an 88 2500 2wd 6 lug with a gutless 305and 700r4, can't remember the rear end gears but they're horrible as well. Anyways, I was looking for answer as to what the difference is between the 15 and 2500 trucks, as far as I could tell dimensions wise everything is just about the same. I ended up using a 1500 lift kit on this truck from rough country but never found anything on suspension/towability differences, just dimension specs. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Schurkey]

The 2500 almost certainly has a 9.5" semi-float rear axle with better brakes than the 1500's 8.5 semi-float and crappy leading/trailing shoe brakes.

The 1500 may also have the weak JB-3 front calipers and small master cylinder/booster. The extended-cab 1500s and the 2500s should have at least JB5 brakes--bigger caliper pistons, bigger master cylinder bore, bigger booster.

Stiffer springs front and rear on the 2500, and probably a stronger frame.

I'd expect allowable towing capacity info will be in your owner's manual.

 

[stutaeng]

Yes, plenty of differences between 1500 and 2500.

Besides what has been mentioned, also taller/heavier for 2500 8 lug and the heavier duty tranmission.

The 2500 6 lug are kind weird; they have some parts from 1500 and some parts from the 2500.

 

[Supercharged111]

Yes, plenty of differences between 1500 and 2500.

Besides what has been mentioned, also taller/heavier for 2500 8 lug and the heavier duty tranmission.

The 2500 6 lug are kind weird; they have some parts from 1500 and some parts from the 2500.

They don't use any 8 lug 2500 parts that I'm aware of. They're a 1500 with bigger leaf pack and 9.5" diff, both of which could be had on a 1500, but the 6 lug 2500 had an extra 600# GVWR for reasons beyond me.

 

[Nad_Yvalhosert]

They don't use any 8 lug 2500 parts that I'm aware of. They're a 1500 with bigger leaf pack and 9.5" diff, both of which could be had on a 1500, but the 6 lug 2500 had an extra 600# GVWR for reasons beyond me.

Right, it's a heavy half. Extra GVW due to the larger F&R brakes, larger bearing surfaces, extra leaf spring, and thicker torsion bars.

I bought one a few years ago as a donor to my 117" WB 4.3 stepside truck. Best series of upgrades I've ever done.

 

[Supercharged111]

I think the front brakes are the same unless you know something different? Not sure if torsion bars are the same or different, but it's definitely less truck than the 8 lugs. They got thicker frames, extra leaf spring mount brackets, bigger trannies, bigger yet rear diff options, bigger front diffs, hydroboost option, the list goes on and on.

 

[stutaeng]

I helped my brother swap a 14 bolt 6 lug into his C1500 '90. The donor trucks was a 96 C2500 6 lug.

Rear end swapped no problem with new u bolts at my house.

The next weekend he swapped the front spindles and went to drop off some jackstands at my house. His brakes were smoking. I told him to swap brackets as well. He did and everything was well. Apparently, 89-90 and 91+ front calipers were different.

He went from 10 bolt 3.08 open differential to 14 bolt 3.73/G80. Guy sold him fronts also and some GMT 800 rims. With new U bolts the whole swap was like $450! Cheaper than regearing his 10 bolt.

A few days ago he said he sold his 10 bolt for $100, LOL!

 

[Supercharged111]

I helped my brother swap a 14 bolt 6 lug into his C1500 '90. The donor trucks was a 96 C2500 6 lug.

Rear end swapped no problem with new u bolts at my house.

The next weekend he swapped the front spindles and went to drop off some jackstands at my house. His brakes were smoking. I told him to swap brackets as well. He did and everything was well. Apparently, 89-90 and 91+ front calipers were different.

He went from 10 bolt 3.08 open differential to 14 bolt 3.73/G80. Guy sold him fronts also and some GMT 800 rims. With new U bolts the whole swap was like $450! Cheaper than regearing his 10 bolt.

A few days ago he said he sold his 10 bolt for $100, LOL!

Dude I about broke even going from 3.73 to 4.10 using pull and pay diffs and selling the old **** on CL. It was a slam dunk.

 

[Eliot Rotering]

This is why I love this site. Thanks for the info y'all. Kinda figured the gvwr was a little higher but didn't know the brakes were different

 

[Nad_Yvalhosert]

I think the front brakes are the same unless you know something different? Not sure if torsion bars are the same or different, but it's definitely less truck than the 8 lugs. They got thicker frames, extra leaf spring mount brackets, bigger trannies, bigger yet rear diff options, bigger front diffs, hydroboost option, the list goes on and on.

Compared to my 1500, the 6 lug 2500 rotors were thicker, larger piston in the caliper, and different pads. Not sure of the specific RPO code, but by '90 those inferior front brakes were eliminated