2003 2500hd Front End Melt Down

Havasubum · February 21, 2008

Hello everyone

I just thought I would share a recent incident with you. My son bought my 2003 GMC CC Sierra 4x4 Duramax 3 years ago. I put BFG 285's with Weld wheels before he bought it. At 60K miles the front end failed. Both front bearings and hubs, the pitman arm, idler arm, and steering box required replacement. These tires and wheels are a VERY conservative aftermarket set up. The truck has NEVER been offroad and has only been used to tow a 25' boat and 33' toy box 5th wheel that weighs 9600 lbs. I cannot believe that these parts could not last longer with this set up.

I can only speculate what problems guys are having with body lifts and huge 33" tires with reversed wheels.

ATMINF · February 21, 2008

That does not sound right. To me it sounds like there is somthing missing to the story. I know several guys that have a similar setup and have not had any issues. Not calling BS, but it does not add up with that low of miles, to have that many front end issues. On my old 2001 3/4ton Burban I had larger tires on the Factory rims and when I sold it with just under 50,000 miles on it the front end was fine. There was no "loose" feeling, and all the front end conponents were good to go. Was the front end damaged before you got the truck? Was there some balanceing problems with the rims and tires?

Killerbee · February 21, 2008

If the wheel offset is not correct, there are large loads on the steering controls, and bearings. You need at least a 10 mm offset, and 5.4" backspacing. Do you notice it is difficult to steer when stopped with foot on the brake?

This is not uncommon. The torsion lifting adds to issue. This truck suffers tremendous bump steer stress when lifted 2". Tie rods are quickly toast.

Havasubum · February 21, 2008

The Weld wheels are spec'ed for the truck and nothing exotic. ATMINF that's the story! There is nothing to add. The dealership is first class and not crooked. They report that they have seen many trucks with "custom" wheels with bad front ends. Here's URL to the wheel model: http://www.weldracing.com/wheels/details.a...lloy%20Polished

ATMINF · February 21, 2008

So the Weld rims were speced for the truck and the dealer is saying that this is common, correct? The only trucks that I have seen the front end components that messed up, were when the wheels were not properly made for the truck(as stated in the previous post), or when the wheels had major balancing issues, or when there was front end damage (off-roading etc). I just have not seen it on "regular trucks" with basic aftermarket rims and 285's. Granted if you say your son did not do any crazy stuff then, you know him better than me. Also I am not a dealership so the number of trucks that I have been around is alot less than the dealership that you know.

But again, if it was my truck, the story does not add up. I still think that the rims were off, or your son did something to it, or the front end had some damage to it, that is screwing up the front end components. I hope you get it all fixed up, and that you can pin down the cause of the problem. Good luck!

Havasubum · February 22, 2008

ATMINE

Thanks for the feedback. I was wondering if anyone else experienced trouble with front end components failing.

asilverblazer · February 22, 2008

I've never seen or heard of anything like that.

Silverado4x4 · February 22, 2008

Yeah I agree also that something doesnt add up here, does the truck have any tuners in it? If so he may have been doing a few 4 wheel drive hole shots and with that motor he will greatly tweak and twist the frontend with the added traction from the tires, mostly the tierods will go first and it can be also done on a stock motor. Sounds like he has been hotroding around while in fourwheel drive.

cvandegna · February 23, 2008

Yeah I agree also that something doesnt add up here, does the truck have any tuners in it? If so he may have been doing a few 4 wheel drive hole shots and with that motor he will greatly tweak and twist the frontend with the added traction from the tires, mostly the tierods will go first and it can be also done on a stock motor. Sounds like he has been hotroding around while in fourwheel drive.

I gotta agree with 96vette on this one. I had a '99 1500 with 3" body lift, cranked torsions and 33s - and no issues that you describe up to when i got rid of it at 70K. My current '04 2500 has 6" suspension lift and 35s and no issues either up to 52K. It is in/out of 4WD all the time, and used alot to tow my RV.

Sounds like 4WD hole shots to me. When these trucks are in 4WD, they are really hooked up. Not good for heavy foot and dry pavement.