I have a complete set of OEM front end parts off my 73 if anyone wants them. Miguel did the bearings on them so they only have about 3000 miles on them before I switched to Manny’s one ton stuff several years ago. Parts are kind of rusty after being outside but still all good.
Gary Worobec
Anza, CA
gtw5
>
> The best example I can give of the 1 ton is on a coach that I worked on
> from the Oregon Coast. The original front end was extensively worn, as was
> the rear bogie top hat thrust bushings and pins, along with drum brakes,
> shocks, bushings, etc.
> I installed a 1 ton front end, a quadra-bag full reaction arm disc
> brake system with rear sway bars, KYB gas shocks, and my wireless remote
> air system.
> It went from an ill handling POS that both hands on the wheel and eyes
> front and center were required to keep it on a twisty 2 lane, to a real
> pleasure to drive.
> Money well spent, in my opinion. But, your expectations and results
> may vary.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Or
> 78 GMC ROYALE 403
>
>
>> The CV joints and boots are commonly available, as are hubs, rotors,
>> bearings, calipers, hoses, and ball joints. The original bearings are much
>> more difficult to service and change, unless you install zerks, in which
>> case they are only somewhat more difficult to service but still much more
>> difficult to replace. And if the bearing has failed, it often takes the hub
>> and knuckle with it, and these are hard to replace (or will be when Dave
>> Lenzi stops rebuilding them, which we of course hope happens later rather
>> than sooner).
>>
>> Bearing adjustment in the original design is critically dependent on the
>> spacer and the machining of the hub and knuckle, and cannot be easily
>> evaluated after required assembly. On the one-ton, the knuckle is slightly
>> modified (I think it’s the upper ball-joint taper, but I may be
>> misremembering) but should never need replacing simply because bearing
>> races are not directly installed in it. The bearing is a cartridge held in
>> place with four bolts and can be replaced at roadside if necessary.
>>
>> The lower control arm is modified, but strengthened (in the places where
>> early A-arms fatigue and also in the torsion-bar receptacle) and should
>> never need replacing short of collision damage. Bushings are unchanged from
>> the original.
>>
>> The bearing was originally designed for the use of a spacer.
>>
>> There are some handling effects, but most people don’t notice them. In
>> return for that, the brakes are bigger and better, and will balance
>> improvements in rear braking that we might make.
>>
>> The handling issue is caused by the two A-arms not being exactly parallel,
>> which causes a small change in camber through jounce and rebound.
>>
>> For me, the decision was made when I looked at just the cost of replacing
>> my fatigue-prone ‘73 control arms. But I was also attracted to the easily
>> replaced bearing and the bigger brakes.
>>
>> Rick “who has the Manny rear kit in hand” Denney
>>
>>
>>> isn't it true that the axles are specifically built for the 1 ton? and
>> you
>>> only have a couple venders that they are available from?
>>> isn't that the same for the A-arms?
>>>
>>> With all the coaches out there I just don't see the 1 ton as being a
>>> replacement for parts availability. If you are trying to save a buck
>> on a
>>> total
>>> front end rebuild, maybe it is a way to go. I still do the math in my
>>> head, and still seem to think I can replace/rebuild OEM for OEM for less
>>> then
>>> a 1 ton kit.
>>>
>>> It is an option, but I just can't see it as the only option as there are
>>> always trade off's.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> I see the one ton as the only hope for the future
>>>> - can no longer buy new parts for the oem front ends
>>>> - can no longer buy oem axles
>>>> - the separate bearing packs are available and plentiful
>>>> - the 12 inch disks supply good brakes
>>>>
>>>> This makes the 1 ton the ONLY hope for the future of my 3 gmcs
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> why do you regret putting the 1 ton front end on your friends coach?
>>>>>
>>>>> ronc
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sun, 21 Oct 2018 06:11:22 +0000 Bob Dunahugh
>>>>>> 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 GMC when they first came out. Now
>>>>>> I regret putting 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
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Ron & Linda Clark
>>>>> North Plains, ORYGUN
>>>>> 1978 Eleganza II
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>> --
>>>> Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
>>>> "Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
>>>> -------
>>>>
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/
>>>> Alternator Protection Cable
>>>>
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
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>>>
>>> --
>>> Jon Roche
>>> 75 palm beach
>>> St. Cloud, MN
>>>
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
>>>
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>> --
>> Rick Denney
>> 73 x-Glacier 230 "Jaws"
>> Off-list email to rick at rickdenney dot com
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