2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 - wheel

[Ed Vandekrol]

I have a 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 -  Duramax RST. While driving the ball joint that connects the wheel to the control arm broke and the wheel basically collapsed. Since it is a fairly new car with only 35,000 miles it was quite a surprise to me the wheel would just come off like that while driving. I was driving at low speed so the damage was limited, if I had been on the interstate it might have been quite different.  It is a standard Chevy with the only modification made by the prior owner is rancho shocks. 

 

Again, quite a surprise to me that the wheel would come off like that while driving, and I wonder if I should have all the other wheels checked as well.

[Tom73]

Don’t know about the wheel but I would get the ball joints checked. 

[GETGONE]

If it's a Z71 truck the Ranchos are stock. Ball joints seem to be a known weakness in these trucks. I'm wondering if they had a lift in it previously and took it off. Stock I haven't seen them break. Generally it's when they're lifted or leveled that it causes the ball joints to fail.

[newdude]

8 hours ago, Ed Vandekrol said:

I have a 2021 Chevy Silverado 1500 -  Duramax RST. While driving the ball joint that connects the wheel to the control arm broke and the wheel basically collapsed. Since it is a fairly new car with only 35,000 miles it was quite a surprise to me the wheel would just come off like that while driving. I was driving at low speed so the damage was limited, if I had been on the interstate it might have been quite different.  It is a standard Chevy with the only modification made by the prior owner is rancho shocks. 

 

Again, quite a surprise to me that the wheel would come off like that while driving, and I wonder if I should have all the other wheels checked as well.

 

 

Are you leveled?  They don't really fail often on a stock truck, but leveled they will fail the arms.  

[Transient]

A leveled RST might explain this, especially if they retained the OE upper control arms on the vehicle.  Would OE Trail Boss upper control arms remedy future issues?  If so, I have some that are taking up space on my work bench that I'd be willing to part with.  They were on my truck for approximately 60,000 miles. 

[GETGONE]

I'm told Trail Boss control arms are the same as standard Silverado ones. They both have the same part number.