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Is there a pattern to which trucks have steel or aluminum control arms

99-ls1-ss

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99-ls1-ss Enthusiast

99-ls1-ss

Posted
Posted

I'm going to have a leveling kit put on my truck at the dealership, once it arrives. He said there were 2 options, steel or aluminum. I'm assuming if you have steel control arms you need a steel leveling kit and vice versa with the aluminum control arms needing the aluminum leveling kit.

My truck will have the Max Trailering option, which leads me to believe that it would probably be steel, but that is strictly an assumption on my part. Is there some option or group of options that always has one type or the other?

 

newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted

I know a lot of crew cab Z71 have them. The 3 or 4 double cab Z71 5.3's we've sold had aluminum arms. Most of the 14 and 15 doubles I have seen had steel arms.

99-ls1-ss Enthusiast

99-ls1-ss

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Grab a magnet its not hard to figure out which you have.

I won't have the truck for a month. I was asking to get some sort of clarification since I haven't found any yet.

robvas Enthusiast

robvas

Posted
Posted

I won't have the truck for a month. I was asking to get some sort of clarification since I haven't found any yet.

Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.

 

The leveling kit 'blocks' are the same for both control arms. The only difference is the bolts are longer in the aluminum kit because the arms are thicker than the steel arms.

CptMcSaug Enthusiast

CptMcSaug

Posted
Posted

Just get the Aluminum kit. The only difference per Rough Country is the aluminum come with longer bolts. I have steel arms and used the Aluminum kit just fine lol

Half_ton Enthusiast

Half_ton

Posted
Posted

aluminum and steel together = corrosion. Get the correct kit, maybe just take delivery first and find out what you really need.

Jlm02a3094 Enthusiast

Jlm02a3094

Posted
Posted

I've had a 15 DC Sierra all terrain and a 15 CC Sierra SLT with Max trailering. Both have steel so I'm not sure of any pattern.

 

Josh

robvas Enthusiast

robvas

Posted
Posted

Just get the Aluminum kit. The only difference per Rough Country is the aluminum come with longer bolts. I have steel arms and used the Aluminum kit just fine lol

Some guys have said the bolts they get are too long and have to either cut the bolts or install them upside down

CptMcSaug Enthusiast

CptMcSaug

Posted
Posted

aluminum and steel together = corrosion. Get the correct kit, maybe just take delivery first and find out what you really need.

Aluminum Kit refers to if it's for the Aluminum or Steel arms. The block is composite on bith.

 

I had no issues with the longer bolts. Had it on for about 12k miles so far.

POS VETT Enthusiast

POS VETT

Posted
Posted

My '15 Z71 2WD Short Crew had steel arms. My '16 4WD (not Z71) Standard Crew also has steel arms.

Vic15 Enthusiast

Vic15

Posted
Posted

My brother & I have 2015 SLT Z71 4X4 CCSB trucks. His is 5.3 with aluminum arms and mine has a 6.2 with steel arms.

Jlm02a3094 Enthusiast

Jlm02a3094

Posted
Posted

All Z71's should have aluminum control arms, past that I can't verify if you get steel or aluminum

I do not think this is correct. I had a 2015 DC Sierra All Terrain with steel arms. The all terrain package consists of the Z71 features plus extras.

oscyjack Enthusiast

oscyjack

Posted
Posted

All Z71's should have aluminum control arms, past that I can't verify if you get steel or aluminum

My Z71 has steel

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