Tire size

Wardsilverado · February 8, 2015

Take ownership? I didn't blame anyone for this. I broke it and I fixed it at my buddy's garage. He is a mechanic and he gave me his opinion as to why it broke. I broke it and I paid for it and took it apart and put it back together myself in my mechanics garage as he was busy on another job. I took the two back rims and tires off my other truck because it had caught fire and burnt but the back end sustained no fire damage. I only did his after checking online. I know better and was in a rush to finish plowing. I have since put the matching rims and tires on the back and it's working fine. I have been plowing with this truck for years and have never had a major breakdown. The breakdown was my fault and I admit it. I know how I broke it- I was plowing and pressed the gas before it had a chance to shift into reverse and when it did the truck was revving about 2000 rpm and in four low the torque caused the cast diff case to break. My fault for being in a rush

Wardsilverado · February 8, 2015

I maintain my truck very well. It is an 07 silverado crew cab 1500 Z71 with only 106,000kms on it. The truck is in excellent shape and I do 99% of the work to it so I don't know why you said I don't maintain my truck. Like I said I was in a rush and I know it was my fault. All I was asking on the original post was that if had been the diff size tires which caused my breakdown wouldn't I have seen some damage to the gears, splines on the output shaft axle etc.. I used all the same gears when I put it back together. All I had to change was the case and output shaft. I know when I was rushing I didn't wait for it to shift into reverse before I stepped on the gas and when it did shift the torque caused my case to break where it bolted to the bracket that bolts to the frame. Then when the case dropped the output shaft case broke. Like I said no gears were broke or looked the least bit wire or damaged. I would love to have a larger truck for work but this half ton has been a gem for the past 7 years. I hear ya about people not maintaining their vehicles but that isn't the case with me. The rugs, seats and dash are PERFECT in this 07 and look new. They aren't even faded as the rugs, seats and dash have been covered since new. I know a larger truck would be better for pushing snow but if I have been plowing for 7-8 years with this half ton and this was my first breakdown it is a pretty good job. Lots of snow each winter here in New Brunswick, Canada.

Wardsilverado · February 8, 2015

Not a prob LaserBlueZ71. I understand your point. I wasn't being cheap I was being in a rush. It was after supper and all tire shops were closed and I had no way of buying a new tire till the next day and still had a lot of customers that needed plowing. Your right about the front diff being pretty poor from the factory. The cast aluminum looks pretty weak. It snapped where the heavier and stronger mount bolted onto the case on the top drivers side. Even the output shaft case looks week. Anyways I got it all fixed. Front diff and output shaft cost me $550 and two litres of gear oil and some bearings and gaskets. Labor didn't cost me as I did it myself but gave my mechanic friend a few bucks for the use of his hoist and tools. So all together it was about $700.

seansharley · February 9, 2015

Best driveway plow truck ever was my 93 reg cab short box. I tightened up the torsion bars, and re aligned it every fall. I had a 8' western on it, kept 500# in the bed, and that truck was a beast!! Not sure if the new one's are built as well, but sounds like you're doing something right if this is your 1st breakdown in 8 years.

Wardsilverado · February 9, 2015

Yes sir this 1500 series Silverado has been great to me. I also put some weight in the back of the truck as close to the tailgate as possible so it's behind the rear axle for like ballast, probably four to five hundred pounds. This is the eigth winter plowing with it and was my first major breakdown and like I said it was my fault. I do not push it hard. In light snow I take half a blade maybe a little more and in wet heavy snow I try to take less than half a blades width. I also spray the blade regularly with the Fisher blade spray to keep snow from sticking to it. Mind you I have changed a few parts like front pads plus rotors and plugs and wires but that is normal wear and tear. Still has original ball joints in it as I'm waiting for them to go so I can put ones in it with grease nipples I only use the truck for plowing and and hunting during the fall which is why it only has 106,671 kilometres on it which is pretty good for an 8 year old truck. Only other modifications I have done is a larger alternator, cold air intake, short tube headers, dual exhaust and Superchips flashpaq performance programmer. For day to day use I use the performance setting but use the tow setting on the programmer for plowing. I find that it works well with the tow/haul button engaged on the truck shifter as well. We get quite a bit of snow here each winter in New Brunswick, Canada so for a 1500 series truck it has done very well. With light snow or anything less than six inches I use four high with the tow haul button engaged. For heavy deep snow I will use four low. I also run winter studded tires on the truck for plowing.

kstruckcountry · February 9, 2015

I bet it scoots good with studded snows

Wardsilverado · February 10, 2015

Yes it does. Four wheel drive with studded tires works great in icy/snow conditions. Usually always ran studded tires on the wife's car but just started running studded tires on my trucks last winter. Will never go back to all season or plain winter tires without studs. The code in the dash of my truck for the rear end is GT4 and G80 meaning it has 373 gear ratio with the locking rear end. With the locking rear end and studded tires it takes off great even on slippery roads. On my last post I meant to say I had long tube headers instead of short tube. I had short tube on my previous truck that burnt and feel the long tube headers offer much better performance gains.

Wardsilverado · April 29, 2015

Well just thought I would post an update on how my 1500 series silverado made it through the winter using it to plow snow. Looking back we had 15 storms here in NB. The truck is an 07 and the broken front diff case at the beginning of January was the first major breakdown since new. It was my fault for stepping on the gas pedal before it went into reverse and the truck was revving around 2500rpm when it went into reverse and I had it in four low. There was a lot of torque which resulted in the bracket to the frame snapping off where it bolts to the front differential. After repairing it we had 10 more storms and a few of them were blizzards which dumped two feet of snow. I know a lot of people say 1500 series four wheel drives shouldn't be used for plowing because they aren't strong enough but I have to disagree. I've used this truck since new in 07 and it still has all the original front end-ball joints, tire rod ends, wheel bearings etc... Still gonna use it for working and plowing next winter.