determining chassis

DB59 · Jun 12, 2020

I have a project on a suburban chassis and at this point unsure of the components it requires. bolt pattern is 5x5 and brakes are 1 1/4 thk. rear leafs springs have 5 leafs plus the large helper at the bottom. I was told it was a 86/87 suburban chassis.

I want to make sure i order the correct control arm, rear spring and steering parts to refresh the suspension. What are there a difference from 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton and 1 ton.

Looking to get complete upper control arms and rebuild the lowers.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Vbb199 · Jun 12, 2020

5x5 would be 1/2 ton 2wd.
6 lug is 1/2 ton 4x4 (obviously would have a front axle)
8 lug would 2wd and 4x4 3/4 and 1 ton.

1/2 ton 2wd would use rubber control arm bushings,
While I believe 3/4 Ton 2wd would use brass or bronze (can't remember) front bushings.

Vbb199 · Jun 12, 2020

Pictured here is a a 3/4 Ton leaf pack next to a 1/2 ton leaf pack. (1/2 ton having less leafs)

1/2 ton will have a 10 bolt (10 differential cover bolts) or 12 bolt rear end.

3/4 Ton will have a 14 bolt semi floating rear axle usually (14 diff cover bolts, axle shafts are non removable via the hubs with 6 bolts)

To add to this 3/4 Ton and 1/2 ton frames are the same on a suburban I do believe, and to identify its year... That one is gonna take someone else who knows more about it to answer that question.

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Craig 85 · Jun 12, 2020

I know most of our trucks have a partial VIN in the top of the passenger frame rail behind the cab near the gas tank. I'm not sure about Suburbans though.

Vbb199 · Jun 12, 2020

Craig 85 said:
I know most of our trucks have a partial VIN in the top of the passenger frame rail behind the cab near the gas tank. I'm not sure about Suburbans though.

K5 does. Don't see why a burb wouldn't

It's just more under the section of the truck where the doors are.

Keith Seymore · Jun 12, 2020

They do.

it will have an "F" for Flint Assembly, the model year, and the sequential portion of the VIN.

A = 1980
B = 1981 etc
So G = 1986 and H = 1987.

I supervised the area on the line where the frames were VIN stamped, as an engineering student.

K

DB59 · Jun 13, 2020

1/2 ton and 3/4 control arms are different though? it seems i can find them for 1/2 ton only or 3/4 and 1 ton the same part number.

Keith Seymore · Jun 13, 2020

DB59 said:
1/2 ton and 3/4 control arms are different though? it seems i can find them for 1/2 ton only or 3/4 and 1 ton the same part number.

Yep.

1/2 and 3/4 ton are totally different animals (except for G van).

K

Termite_Delight · Jun 13, 2020

5 X 5 bolt pattern would be 1/2 ton 2wd, unless it was swapped. :shrug:

determining chassis

DB59

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Vbb199

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DB59

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