One Ton Front End. Is it an upgrade.

[Bob Dunahugh]

I don't see it as one. And there are other well respected vendors that ag=
ree. I'm not saying that it's all bad. I can just say that I'll never have=
one of the one ton kits in a GMC that I'll own. As to what you may feel. D=
o what makes you comfortable. All manufactures DO NOT, way over desi=
gn suspention components as was done in days gone by. Our knuckle were des=
igned for a car that weighed in the 5000 pound range. But due to their desi=
gn parameters at that time of over building. These units have served us wel=
l for 41 to 46 years on a motor home that comes in at up to 12,000 lbs. For=
many. Well over 100,000 miles. The bearings haven't been the issue. It's b=
een how the knuckle was machined out to hold the bearing in place. The mach=
ining process left the bearing mounting surface with valleys, and ridges. T=
he ridges get compressed. Then the bearing looses it's interference fit. Da=
ve Linzie, and Jim K can solve that issue at a reasonable price. With the o=
ne ton. The tire of the one ton isn't centered properly over the bearing ce=
nter line as GM designed for it's one ton 4 wheel drive trucks. Then there'=
s a deviation from standard suspention norms. With the upper, and lower A =
frames not being parallel with the one ton. There has been info put out tha=
t parts for our original suspention isn't available anymore. I haven't foun=
d that to be the case. The GMC that I rebuilt 3 years ago. It will last ano=
ther 40 years for the next owner if properly maintained. Bob Dunahugh =
________________________________ From: Bob Dunahugh Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2018 1:11 AM To: gmclist=
org Subject: RE: One Ton Front End The one ton is a cheep way to =
go if about every part is bad up front. That's why I put one in a friends G=
MC when they first came out. Now I regret putting it in. Giving serious tho=
ugh of putting it back to original. I just don't see a good reason to put o=
ne in. Bob Dunahugh

 

[Bob Dunahugh]

Bruce H. Yes. The 1 ton unit has performed well for GM on their trucks. Bu=
t we're not using them in one of the trucks that the assembly was designed =
to function in. All rims have offset. So that the centerline of the tire=
is positioned for proper bearing loading. Having the bearings improperly =
loaded will affect bearing life, and safety of operation. So we have a sp=
acer. And rims with what offset? So how is the offset changed with our app=
lication? If you have about every part that the one ton fixes. It's the c=
heapest way out. If you only need the knuckles/bearings addressed. And mayb=
e the lower ball joints replaced. Then the knuckle with the grease fitting.=
That is a true lifetime fix. I'm sorry. But I'm anal over suspention geome=
try. The best handling GMC will come from a well maintained original GM =
designed front suspention. Bob Dunahugh ___________________________=
_____ From: Bob Dunahugh Sent: Sunday, October 2=
1, 2018 9:43 PM To: gmclist Subject: One Ton Front End.=
Is it an upgrade. I don't see it as one. And there are other well=
respected vendors that agree. I'm not saying that it's all bad. I can ju=
st say that I'll never have one of the one ton kits in a GMC that I'll own.=
As to what you may feel. Do what makes you comfortable. All manufac=
tures DO NOT, way over design suspention components as was done in days gon=
e by. Our knuckle were designed for a car that weighed in the 5000 pound r=
ange. But due to their design parameters at that time of over building. The=
se units have served us well for 41 to 46 years on a motor home that comes =
in at up to 12,000 lbs. For many. Well over 100,000 miles. The bearings hav=
en't been the issue. It's been how the knuckle was machined out to hold the=
bearing in place. The machining process left the bearing mounting surface =
with valleys, and ridges. The ridges get compressed. Then the bearing loose=
s it's interference fit. Dave Linzie, and Jim K can solve that issue at a r=
easonable price. With the one ton. The tire of the one ton isn't centered p=
roperly over the bearing center line as GM designed for it's one ton 4 whee=
l drive trucks. Then there's a deviation from standard suspention norms. Wi=
th the upper, and lower A frames not being parallel with the one ton. Ther=
e has been info put out that parts for our original suspention isn't availa=
ble anymore. I haven't found that to be the case. The GMC that I rebuilt 3 =
years ago. It will last another 40 years for the next owner if properly mai=
ntained. Bob Dunahugh ________________________________ From: Bob=
Dunahugh Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2018 1:11 AM=
To: gmclist Subject: RE: One Ton Front End The=
one ton is a cheep way to go if about every part is bad up front. That's w=
hy I put one in a friends GMC when they first came out. Now I regret puttin=
g it in. Giving serious though of putting it back to original. I just don't=
see a good reason to put one in. Bob Dunahugh