Proper Front End For Plow

buster208 · July 21, 2008

Hello GM Tech,

I want to put a plow on my 1997 Suburban 2500. Two of my associates who plow for a living claim that the front end of my Sub is not made for plowing as it has a torsion spring suspension. they also claim that HD designated trucks do not have a torsion spring front end and therefore are better suited for heavy plowing.

Can you shed any light on this discussion? I had originally purchased the Sub thinking that someday it would become my plow/work truck replacing my 1990 1500 Sub. Is my 2500 only good for light duty plowing, or is it designed to handle multiple hours of plowing every storm in CT?

Thanks

2000DV4.8 · July 21, 2008

I'm not a GM tech, or an expert on plows by any means, but I think you should have no problem plowing with your Burb. All 4x4 HD trucks (GM, that is) have torsion bar sprung independent front suspension, unless you're talking about pre-GMT400 trucks, Ford, or Dodge trucks, which all have solid front axles. Not sure exactly what your friends are talking about with that one.

98silvz71 · July 21, 2008

I'm not a GM tech, or an expert on plows by any means, but I think you should have no problem plowing with your Burb. All 4x4 HD trucks (GM, that is) have torsion bar sprung independent front suspension, unless you're talking about pre-GMT400 trucks, Ford, or Dodge trucks, which all have solid front axles. Not sure exactly what your friends are talking about with that one.

+1, They might have been talking about Dodge or Ford. But not too worry, the torsion bars are plenty strong enough to handle the plow. How much plowing are you talking about. Just the driveway of a couple of people or helping clean up the town?

buster208 · July 22, 2008

I'm not a GM tech, or an expert on plows by any means, but I think you should have no problem plowing with your Burb. All 4x4 HD trucks (GM, that is) have torsion bar sprung independent front suspension, unless you're talking about pre-GMT400 trucks, Ford, or Dodge trucks, which all have solid front axles. Not sure exactly what your friends are talking about with that one.

+1, They might have been talking about Dodge or Ford. But not too worry, the torsion bars are plenty strong enough to handle the plow. How much plowing are you talking about. Just the driveway of a couple of people or helping clean up the town?

I'm looking at 3-4 driveways and 4 parking lots. Probably 6 hours of plowing per storm. Ironically, it is taking the place of a 1990 Sub 1500 which does the work fine. The 2500 will have a much heavier plow, but I should think it can handle it. Do you know what front end is on the 1990?

98silvz71 · July 22, 2008

I'm not a GM tech, or an expert on plows by any means, but I think you should have no problem plowing with your Burb. All 4x4 HD trucks (GM, that is) have torsion bar sprung independent front suspension, unless you're talking about pre-GMT400 trucks, Ford, or Dodge trucks, which all have solid front axles. Not sure exactly what your friends are talking about with that one.

+1, They might have been talking about Dodge or Ford. But not too worry, the torsion bars are plenty strong enough to handle the plow. How much plowing are you talking about. Just the driveway of a couple of people or helping clean up the town?

I'm looking at 3-4 driveways and 4 parking lots. Probably 6 hours of plowing per storm. Ironically, it is taking the place of a 1990 Sub 1500 which does the work fine. The 2500 will have a much heavier plow, but I should think it can handle it. Do you know what front end is on the 1990?

If it is a 4wd it should be the same torsion bar setup. Thats not too bad for it to plow. We had guys plowing along with the city with 1990-1992 1500s and they had no problems and they were plowing on brick paved streets.

Here is a picture of what it should look similar too underneath. The torsion bars are circled. (Forgive my mad paint skillz.)

buster208 · July 23, 2008

I'm not a GM tech, or an expert on plows by any means, but I think you should have no problem plowing with your Burb. All 4x4 HD trucks (GM, that is) have torsion bar sprung independent front suspension, unless you're talking about pre-GMT400 trucks, Ford, or Dodge trucks, which all have solid front axles. Not sure exactly what your friends are talking about with that one.

+1, They might have been talking about Dodge or Ford. But not too worry, the torsion bars are plenty strong enough to handle the plow. How much plowing are you talking about. Just the driveway of a couple of people or helping clean up the town?

I'm looking at 3-4 driveways and 4 parking lots. Probably 6 hours of plowing per storm. Ironically, it is taking the place of a 1990 Sub 1500 which does the work fine. The 2500 will have a much heavier plow, but I should think it can handle it. Do you know what front end is on the 1990?

If it is a 4wd it should be the same torsion bar setup. Thats not too bad for it to plow. We had guys plowing along with the city with 1990-1992 1500s and they had no problems and they were plowing on brick paved streets.

Here is a picture of what it should look similar too underneath. The torsion bars are circled. (Forgive my mad paint skillz.)

thanks for the help & info

95Sierra2500 · July 23, 2008

I'm looking at 3-4 driveways and 4 parking lots. Probably 6 hours of plowing per storm. Ironically, it is taking the place of a 1990 Sub 1500 which does the work fine. The 2500 will have a much heavier plow, but I should think it can handle it. Do you know what front end is on the 1990?

If it is a 4wd it should be the same torsion bar setup.

NO. A 1990 Suburban should have a solid front axle if it's a 4x4, regardless of 1500 or 2500. In '88, 1500 and 2500LD's went to IFS for the 4x4, but the 2500HD and 3500's didn't switch until '92, which is when the Suburbans switched to IFS as well.

I should know, I drove one for 6 years - my parents still own the thing.

98silvz71 · July 23, 2008

Ya know, I never thought about the change difference in the years. I forgot when the Burbs and HDs changed over to the new style. I just remembered the LDs changed and guessed it didn't take 4 years for the Burbs and HDs too.