'17 All Terrain w/ Steel Control Arms

[Bayou-AllTerrain]

I thought all of the All Terrains had Aluminum control arms?? I know my '14 did. Was about to order the RC 3.5" kit and just decided to double check and it has Cast Welded Steel arms. They list that the kit will not work with these. Anyone have ant experience with this?

 

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

From my understanding after reading the thread about this, there's really no common denominator on what had steel and what had the aluminum ones. Not sure if anything changed for '16 or '17, but I'm pretty sure '14s and '15s there wasn't anything in common with which ones had what.

 

I also remember that the difference between the 2 when it came to leveling and lift kits was because the aluminum arms are a little thinker so the bolts are longer. So if that's correct (which I'm not 100% sure it is) then I would think an aluminum arm kit could work on steel arms, but steel arm kits wouldn't work on aluminum arms. So if that again is true then you might have to cut the longer bolts a little shorter, but you might not even have to.

[Silvern Sentry]

Cast Welded is an oxymoron.

 

They are either steel cast (one piece no welds) or stamped steel (2 pieces welded together). If you see any welds it is the latter.

[Silvern Sentry]

From my understanding after reading the thread about this, there's really no common denominator on what had steel and what had the aluminum ones. Not sure if anything changed for '16 or '17, but I'm pretty sure '14s and '15s there wasn't anything in common with which ones had what.

 

 

The denomonator is (or at least was) if your vehicle build lists premium suspension. There are 3 options, Stock, Offroad tuning (Z71) or premium suspension. ex) High Country and Denali come with premium suspension stock so offroad tuning is not even an available option and they have aluminum. It is also available as an option on other trim lines.

[camcamaro1991]

My Sierra's

 

2013 Sierra Denali AWD 6.2L w/6speed = Steel (cast) upper / Aluminum (cast) lower, truck was built 12/2012

 

2016 Sierra Denali 4WD 6.2L w/8speed = Steel (cast) upper / Steel (cast) lower, truck was built 3/2016

 

^ went and confirmed, very easy to see the cast lines, no welds.

[Silvern Sentry]

My Sierra's

 

2013 Sierra Denali AWD 6.2L w/6speed = Steel upper / Aluminum lower

 

2016 Sierra Denali 4WD 6.2L w/8speed = Steel upper / Steel Lower

 

Are your 2016's stamped ie) welded? Far as I can tell they started using these in 2015.5 build after June 2015. Any before should be cast steel or aluminum. Could be on the 2wd come with premium suspension do you have any idea if your 2016 build sheet says offroad tuning (far as I know it is not even a denali option but never built a 2016)

[huntr1117]

My 17 Ltz has the stamped steel.

 

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[f8l vnm]

Where are you guys seeing the stamping .?

[Silvern Sentry]

Where are you guys seeing the stamping .?

 

Cast does not have welds. Hence if you see welds = stamped.

[MOhunter92]

The problem with stamped steel arms is the upper control arm doesn't clear the strut if it's lifted more than 2 inches. It's really easy to tell if they are stamped or cast. These are cast, I'm glad my 16 has them. I know rough country said they are coming out with kits for stamped arms, it most likely will include replacement UCAs.

 

 

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[MOhunter92]

 

These are stamped arms. Notice the more tubular look and significantly less clearance on the upper control arm.

 

 

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[Bayou-AllTerrain]

Cast Welded is an oxymoron.

 

They are either steel cast (one piece no welds) or stamped steel (2 pieces welded together). If you see any welds it is the latter.

 

Yes Stamped is what I meant to say. All 3 were listed on RCs site but they said the kit will not fit with the stamped ones.

 

[Silvern Sentry]

Should be noted that the stamped are fine even though look cheaper but from a strength / engineering standpoint even better in some ways. MoHunter92 makes a good point about the kits but most good kits (eg. MgGaughys or Cognito Or BDS) will replace the control arms anyway and they all used fabbed control arms (multi pieces welded not cast because cast is not the best). I personally would not recommend a cheaper lift without control arms for either stock option but to each their own.

[MOhunter92]

Should be noted that the stamped are fine even though look cheaper from a strengh / engineering standpoint even better in some ways. MoHunter92 makes a good point about the kits but most good kits (eg. MgGaughys or Cognito Or BDS) will replace the control arms anyway and they all used fabbed control arms (multi pieces welded not cast because cast is not the best). I personally would not recommend a cheaper lift without control arms but to each their own.

With a full suspension lift the arms are kept near their factory angles anyway, so it's not a problem. Any kit that's 2.5-4 that doesn't fully drop the control arms and have new spindles will cause the issue of not clearing the strut. Bds kits for instance work with the stamped steel arms. But any smaller kit won't without replacing the arms

 

 

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[Bayou-AllTerrain]

The problem with stamped steel arms is the upper control arm doesn't clear the strut if it's lifted more than 2 inches. It's really easy to tell if they are stamped or cast. These are cast, I'm glad my 16 has them. I know rough country said they are coming out with kits for stamped arms, it most likely will include replacement UCAs. /quote]

 

Yep I get that but if I'm buying the kit with replacement upper arms that issue would be solved, right? I guess I'll have to call them tomorrow or Tuesday.