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Stock control arms: Steel or aluminum?

pancepance
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TX14Z71 Enthusiast

TX14Z71

Posted
Posted

"Over the years, many control arms have evolved from their humble stamped steel beginnings to elaborate cast aluminum pieces that are stronger and lighter than ever before. Being cast aluminum, they don't corrode quite like the steel control arms do, but since aluminum is a softer metal, they do bend and crack when things go wrong. This means that simple fender-benders or pot holes can potentially damage them, throwing the alignment way off."

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racerkvn
racerkvn

I was begining to believe it was the early production Z71's were steel control arms and they were making an advancement to using alum on the later release Z71's but from this, there really seems to be

jimmyboy8301
jimmyboy8301

2017 LTZ Z71 stamped steel, but there doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason     Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Z45
Z45

There is a real easy way to tell. Look at it.   Its not a standard Z71 part, comes on the Z60 performance suspension (Denali etc)  

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pancepance Enthusiast

pancepance

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Did a test drive and inspection yesterday.
The control arms on mine are Steel. Not sure how that plays into all the others but for the record. This denali at least, has steel.

racerkvn Enthusiast

racerkvn

Posted
Posted

I was begining to believe it was the early production Z71's were steel control arms and they were making an advancement to using alum on the later release Z71's but from this, there really seems to be no rhyme or reason... I wish somebody FROM GM would chime in with reasoning for the mixed bag of control arms.

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Jon A Senior Enthusiast

Jon A

Posted
Posted

There seems to be a theme where standard bed trucks are getting steel, short beds are getting aluminum. Mine--standard bed CC Denali with Z71--steel.

  • 2 weeks later...
SY2455 Enthusiast

SY2455

Posted
Posted

There seems to be a theme where standard bed trucks are getting steel, short beds are getting aluminum. Mine--standard bed CC Denali with Z71--steel.

Well I think that post #48 has it right. Mine is a 6.2 CCSB LTZ 2wd Z60 high performance suspension with the steel control arms.

  • 3 months later...
  • 3 months later...
Spurshot Senior Enthusiast

Spurshot

Posted
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Has anybody confirmed which models get the aluminum suspension?

 

Yes, the same ones that get steel. :lurk:

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  • 6 months later...
mfbearded Enthusiast

mfbearded

Posted
Posted

2015 LTZ Z71...steel upper and lower... got down, looked and put a magnet to both sides...seemed like the most efficient sure way to tell.

POS VETT Enthusiast

POS VETT

Posted
Posted

Cast iron arms have a black coating/paint. The aluminum arms are bare and silver-ish in appearance.

robvas Enthusiast

robvas

Posted
Posted

2014 Silverado Double Cab Z71 4x4 - steel

2015 GMC Sierra SLT Crew Cab 4x4 - steel

2015 Silverado LTZ Crew Cab 4x4 that I almost bought - steel

Robert.jean1 Enthusiast

Robert.jean1

Posted
Posted

Steel may be a little heavier but the strength benefit provided by steel control arms out weighs the weight benefit in a truck that is used for anything considered " heavy duty " work. The trucks like Denali that aren't intended for rugged off-road use I'm sure benefit from the weight savings while traveling down the highway.

Spurshot Senior Enthusiast

Spurshot

Posted
Posted (edited)

I don't believe there are cast iron control arms. I know the upper arms are forged steel. I'll take another look at my lowers, but I'd bet on forged steel. Same with the knuckles, forged.

 

Also, the aluminum arms and knuckles look forged to me as well.

 

As for which is better, I'd prefer to have the aluminum...assuming they did a good job designing them. But mine are steel. The aluminum arms should provide better suspension control, better road contact, etc..

 

Also, aluminum will, indeed, corrode. Very much so. Road salts will make it much worse. Keep them clean.

Edited by spurshot

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