Anyone run into this before...

LB- · March 4, 2020

Hi all, looking for a little help. I searched around and couldnt find my answer. Just bought a 2014 GMC SIERRA Z71. The used car lot replaced the lower control arms and ball joints. The truck came from the factory with Aluminum uppper and lower control arms, however they installed a steel lower arm but used the correct ball joint. So to be clear, it has steel lower control arms but the ball joint is for the aluminum knuckle/arms. It drives down the road straight and I dont notice anything wrong over bumps. My question is: Is this acceptable/Okay to do?? I think I know the answer.....thanks for the help!

Darmichar · March 5, 2020

They installed "A" steel lower A-arm or "THE" steel lower A-arm? Was it aftermarket or OEM? If it's aftermarket, the material doesn't matter as long as the geometry is correct.

LB- · March 5, 2020

Sorry for the confusion. They replaced both side lower control arms (A-arms) with steel units. I can't tell if they are factory or not, Ill have to take a closer look when I get a chance. Thanks!

swathdiver · March 5, 2020

18 hours ago, LB- said:

Hi all, looking for a little help. I searched around and couldnt find my answer. Just bought a 2014 GMC SIERRA Z71. The used car lot replaced the lower control arms and ball joints. The truck came from the factory with Aluminum uppper and lower control arms, however they installed a steel lower arm but used the correct ball joint. So to be clear, it has steel lower control arms but the ball joint is for the aluminum knuckle/arms. It drives down the road straight and I dont notice anything wrong over bumps. My question is: Is this acceptable/Okay to do?? I think I know the answer.....thanks for the help!

On the previous generation, nobody makes the aluminum arms anymore, they went with steel as replacements for aluminum. The ball joints are different, so there's no way they used ball joints specified for aluminum arms in steel arms, won't fit. Until I could positively identify them, if it were mine they would not be expected to last more than a year or so, that's about as long as the least expensive ones last, if you are lucky! Do you feel lucky? LOL Did you replace 5 bushings or 6... LOL

newdude · March 5, 2020

18 hours ago, LB- said:

Hi all, looking for a little help. I searched around and couldnt find my answer. Just bought a 2014 GMC SIERRA Z71. The used car lot replaced the lower control arms and ball joints. The truck came from the factory with Aluminum uppper and lower control arms, however they installed a steel lower arm but used the correct ball joint. So to be clear, it has steel lower control arms but the ball joint is for the aluminum knuckle/arms. It drives down the road straight and I dont notice anything wrong over bumps. My question is: Is this acceptable/Okay to do?? I think I know the answer.....thanks for the help!

GM discontinued the aluminum arms. They are replaced by the newer style stamped steel arms. Not sure why they would have used a different lower joint as the OEM stamped steel replacements come with ball joints installed and its the only way to service a joint on the stamped arm.

Edited March 5, 2020 by newdude

LB- · March 5, 2020

Haha...I'm going to rock it for a while and see what happens. I'll have the alignment double checked and keep an eye on tire wear. There are two different lower ball joints listed for that vehicle depending on the arms/steering knuckle (steel/aluminum). They both mic out the same where it goes into the arm; one is splined the other is not. The brass colored ball joint is for aluminum arm/knuckle and that is what is installed on the truck. I think swathdiver is correct, it will probably last me a year or so and I will be changing everything out. Was just curious if anyone has run into it before.

It's Tim · March 5, 2020

37 minutes ago, LB- said:

They both mic out the same where it goes into the arm; one is splined the other is not.

Those aren't interchagable.

LB- · March 5, 2020

Did some more crawling around...the a-arms are actually hitting the knuckle on a full turn so this cant be done (no surprise). Have to get some new aluminum arms as I expected.

It's Tim · March 5, 2020

Take it back to the seller for repair or get them to cover the tab for the correct parts.

LB- · March 5, 2020

I knew it when I bought it...I know I know....I negotiated it into the price. Its easier for me to pay the $215 to fix it myself than to drive back to him and get into a argument about it. I was just hoping I could wait a bit before I had to do it but now that I see the damage it is doing I'll just fix it the right way. I guess in the end this was a waste of everyones time on this board because I knew it could'nt have been right. I suppose that it did answer the question on whether or not you can use the steel arm in replace of the aluminum though. Anyways, thanks for those who responded.

It's Tim · March 5, 2020

19 minutes ago, LB- said:

I was just hoping I could wait a bit before I had to do it but now that I see the damage it is doing I'll just fix it the right way. I guess in the end this was a waste of everyones time on this board because I knew it could'nt have been right. I suppose that it did answer the question on whether or not you can use the steel arm in replace of the aluminum though. Anyways, thanks for those who responded.

Not a waste of time it's a serious safety issue. Hopefully now if anyone seaches they will happen on this thread.