Starting the GMT800 brake swap on K3500

[run96k3500]

Today I’m picking up a complete setup from a 2000 K2500 non-HD. I think I’m going to go the route by using the GMT800 lower arm. And since I have the non-HD spindles I’ll get to reuse my current tie-rods. So from everything I’ve gathered it’s should be a straight forward swap. All I have to do is ream the upper spindle to allow the upper ball joint to fit. My one question...

What size reamer or drill do I use to on the spindle? I’ve seen some discussions on a 2” per foot reamer but I believe that was on a k1500 setup.



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[JayMB]

I'm doing something similar but on a K2500 Suburban. Holding one of the new upper ball joints up to the light with my protractor, they look to be at about a 7 degree angle. 1.5" per foot is just a hair more than 7*. 2" per foot is close to 10*. I would say 1.5" per foot is what you want. I think the LOWER ball joint taper on a 3/4 or 1 ton GMT400 is 2" per foot (don't quote me on that - I have both reamers and I can't remember which I've used where). Good luck!

 

[JayMB]

I may be wrong. I've seen 2"/FT mentioned in other threads too.

 

[454cid]

I'm not familiar with many of the 800 parts, but wouldn't you want the HD knuckles? Isn't the non-HD stuff basically 1/2 ton stuff?

 

[Supercharged111]

Yeah, I thought if it was 8 lug it was HD? As in no such thing as am 8 lug that isn't HD? Not counting the 800 8 lug heavy half of course, God knows what combination that has.

 

[bornchevy]

They did have non HD 8 lug 2500's, they came with the 14b semi float, the 2500 suburbans and trucks with the 6.0 had a 10.5" full floater and the 8.1 and diesels had the 11.5 full float all factory disk brake with internal parking brake from what I have seen. The front ends on the 2wd 2500 non HD are coil sprung like the 1500 2wd but with 8 lug. The 4x4 I believe shared the same knuckles as the HD (dont quote me on that, just from what I have seen on my friends 2004 4x4 non HD 2500) the non HD's also had a lower gvw than the HD, pretty much the same as a 1500hd.

 

[Supercharged111]

Are they kind of a rare thing?

 

[bornchevy]

Are they kind of a rare thing?

The 2wd 2500 non HD? I dont think so, probably less common than the 2500HD but the one my grandpa has sitting next door I think is a 2001, I dont know the year range on them someone else will have to chime in with that kind of info, and the 4x4 2500 non HD I have seen very few of too.

 

[Tavi]

In the 800 series the 1500HD was the same as a 2500LD. Both are on a frame heavier than a 1500 lighter than a 2500HD/3500. Both are 8 lug with 10.5 rear ends.

The 400 series stay in class 2 of truck rating (excluding 3500HD). Where as the 800 series and beyond stated pushing the HD trucks into class 3 ratings.

So it would make sense the 800 series LD matches up with the 400 series trucks.

I have read they only came this way and in personal experience only seen them configured as 1500HD are ccsb and the 2500LD are eclb.

 

[slothbear607]

Any updates for this. I have a 1 ton that I want to do this to also.


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