When I went to Napa to get all new balljoints I had to buy both sets for the lower just to make sure which one was the right one...I can't remember why there were 2 different ones though...

 

hmmmmy joints just started squeeking. gtk

 

Good info.Thanks

 

The smaller one is for the stamped steel/welded arm, and the bigger one is for the forged arm

 

The difference is all of 25 thousdandths IIRC.

I went through this in 04 when I was trying to change my stamped lowers, I bought them through Rockauto and had the same issue, only one size listed. At first they wouldn't take them back, but after a bit of arguing they did and low and behold next week they have 2 listings on the website.

 

i dont think i've seen forged arms on any obs lca except the 3/4tons and 1 tons... all the half tons i've seen have the stamped/welded

 

so when doing this on a obs halfton go with the smaller?

 

from what i understand yes...

the guy that helped me put mine in said that it depends on the lca like what Mike said..

 

I bet the forged arms are on the F44 trucks, heavy half.

 

I will see one at work tomorrow... I will consult dat

 

Copy/pasted from an Ebay guide:

1995 - GM introduced a new lower control arm that was supposed to make the ball joint replacement easier. This new lower control arm is the stamped/welded design that is found on most K1500 and K2500 models through 1999. They still were producing the old control arm with riveted ball joints until mid 1995 so both designs are out there for the 1995 models. The control arm has a forged insert at the end where the ball joint is mounted, this ball joint hole diameter is 45.79 mm

1996-1999 GM introduced the Forged lower control arm that was used on W/T trucks and most one ton and diesel models. This arm also has a press-in ball joint and the hole diameter is 47.89mm

 

good info mike

 

I bet the forged arms are on the F44 trucks, heavy half.

As an owner of an F44 rig with stamped lowers, no.

 

Thats wierd, all of the parts stores say that the 1500 and 2500's match.....i guess its just easier to throw the whole parts book at it than to sperate it by model....

 

Thats wierd, all of the parts stores say that the 1500 and 2500's match.....i guess its just easier to throw the whole parts book at it than to sperate it by model....