Front Lower Control Arms

k20chevy · Jan 27, 2023

Final photo post

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Now one thing to note here is that I had to roll the tie rod adjuster so that it pointed up for the best clearance. I didn't take note to the amount of clearance before pulling the old arms off and I wish I had done that... At full suspension droop it makes contact if the bolts are pointing downwards. Not sure what is causing that exactly or if it's the 1st design control arm essentially. I am going to get the alignment tomorrow and I will post results of how that goes. Thanks again to everyone who helped figured this out and hopefully I can help others keep these trucks on the road!

k20chevy · Jan 28, 2023

So as promised, I got the alignment today at Car-X and I did tell them I wanted 0* of camber as I had the terrible outside tire wear when I got my new set of tires and alignment 8 years ago... But here are the results.

LF camber -.1 : RF Camber 0.0
LF Toe .03 : RF Toe .16

Now I have a new set of Mickey's on order which I should have done in a few days, but the truck drives great! If anyone has questions please post as I have notifications turned on and would be happy to help out others. Again, not sure why Mevotech said this

"Mevotech does not manufacture lower control arms for the 1996-1999 GM K1500 platform.

Chevrolet Astro AWD arms are not a direct fit for the K1500 platform. While they may appear similar in shape and share ball joints, they vary in critical dimensions (centerpoint of ball joint sphere to bushing plane), therefore a correct alignment is not achievable.

Regards,

MIGUEL NIETES
SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVISOR

"

I clearly bed to differ after doing this. Thanks again to everyone on here overall for this amazing tech info, you all really saved me from what was supposed to be a friday night swap that turned into long term project!

indexcow · Jan 31, 2023

@k20chevy Thank you for documenting this, I am tired and I had to read this chain a couple times but I understand that Astro arm is a direct replacement for a k1500 lower control arm?

Rustbucket79 · Jan 31, 2023

I had my alignment done as well now (finally), no issues.
Only thing I had to do was to grind away 1-3 mm on the LCA to get the knuckle to hit the stop when turning.

So works fine on a 1991 K2500, 6-lug at least.

k20chevy · Jan 31, 2023

indexcow said:
@k20chevy Thank you for documenting this, I am tired and I had to read this chain a couple times but I understand that Astro arm is a direct replacement for a k1500 lower control arm?

The measurements appear the same. It does look slightly different than a 1st design 88-95 arm. I was looking at a 91 k1500 and it has a slightly different end on it where the ball joint bolts on. Because I have the 2nd design LCA it took a lot more grinding to get the steering angle back. If I were to do this again, I would get 1st design knuckles to make it fit better.

wb292 · Feb 17, 2023

im still lost/ confused on how yall took off the lca without taking off both torsion bars. LCALDERA,

All you need to do is take the tension off of the keys. I used a 2 jaw puller to get the arms off of the bars. Mine were stuck. I left the bars in the keys and let them hang while disassembled. I posted a photo in either this thread or the other LCA thread.

k20chevy · Feb 20, 2023

wb292 said:
All you need to do is take the tension off of the keys. I used a 2 jaw puller to get the arms off of the bars. Mine were stuck. I left the bars in the keys and let them hang while disassembled. I posted a photo in either this thread or the other LCA thread.

Based on the age and the 251,000+ miles, I can honestly say it was well worth changing to new torsion bars over reusing them. My passenger side adjuster was over an inch in compared to the drive side before doing all of this work so I knew they were long shot. It rides so much better after doing everything, going to another shop to get the alignment re-done today and I'll post feedback sinch I got the new Mickey's on it.

tylerlesjak · Aug 27, 2023

454cid said:
That was me, and I stand by what I said. I live in Michigan where we salt the roads before it snows, after it snows, and seemingly just for the fun of it. I know what rust is. If a control arm is that rusty, then the entire frame needs to be carefully looked at.

Everytime you press a balljoint in and out you remove material from the arm. Control arms are a widely and commonly replaced part. Not sure what you do for work but if it was a mechanic youd understand this. I find it laughable because ive had to weld balljoints in tons of vehicles for this reason. Which is greasy and a last resort and should never have to be done but here we are

h3ad tr9p · Sep 13, 2023

k20chevy said:
So as promised, I got the alignment today at Car-X and I did tell them I wanted 0* of camber as I had the terrible outside tire wear when I got my new set of tires and alignment 8 years ago... But here are the results.

LF camber -.1 : RF Camber 0.0
LF Toe .03 : RF Toe .16

Now I have a new set of Mickey's on order which I should have done in a few days, but the truck drives great! If anyone has questions please post as I have notifications turned on and would be happy to help out others. Again, not sure why Mevotech said this

"Mevotech does not manufacture lower control arms for the 1996-1999 GM K1500 platform.

Chevrolet Astro AWD arms are not a direct fit for the K1500 platform. While they may appear similar in shape and share ball joints, they vary in critical dimensions (centerpoint of ball joint sphere to bushing plane), therefore a correct alignment is not achievable.

Regards,

MIGUEL NIETES
SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVISOR

"

I clearly bed to differ after doing this. Thanks again to everyone on here overall for this amazing tech info, you all really saved me from what was supposed to be a friday night swap that turned into long term project!

I have a 98 k1500 was looking to get control arms only because I’m getting a 4” lift and powder coating everything and thought why not do lca’s… so are you saying the 1st gen will require lil to no grinding? Was curious on fitnent due to 98 had a press in lower ball joint instead of the rivets.

Caman96 · Sep 13, 2023

h3ad tr9p said:
I have a 98 k1500 was looking to get control arms only because I’m getting a 4” lift and powder coating everything and thought why not do lca’s… so are you saying the 1st gen will require lil to no grinding? Was curious on fitnent due to 98 had a press in lower ball joint instead of the rivets.

Wouldn’t you have to use bolt on ball joints then?

Front Lower Control Arms

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