Stock control arms: Steel or aluminum?

[pancepance]

I'm wanting to order my lift kit because my truck is supposed to arrive in a couple of weeks. The issue is, I need to know when ordering if I have aluminum of steel control arms/steering knuckles. I have searched and read every line of the standard equipment list and cannot come up with an answer.
Other than having the truck in front of you, is there a way to know based on options/packages/trim which one it will have? the dealer is useless for this info. According to the salesman they all have "metal". So i'm trying to find out if there is a way to know based on the specifics of what I ordered.
Anyone know?
What does a CC denali, 4wd, standard bed, 6.2, off road suspension package come with?
I can wait until the truck arrives to order the parts but I'd like to do it before if possible.
Or can I find out from GM with the vin? Any info appreciated.

[Last C5]

I'm wanting to order my lift kit because my truck is supposed to arrive in a couple of weeks. The issue is, I need to know when ordering if I have aluminum of steel control arms/steering knuckles. I have searched and read every line of the standard equipment list and cannot come up with an answer.

Other than having the truck in front of you, is there a way to know based on options/packages/trim which one it will have? the dealer is useless for this info. According to the salesman they all have "metal". So i'm trying to find out if there is a way to know based on the specifics of what I ordered.

Anyone know?

What does a CC denali, 4wd, standard bed, 6.2, off road suspension package come with?

I can wait until the truck arrives to order the parts but I'd like to do it before if possible.

Or can I find out from GM with the vin? Any info appreciated.

The off road suspension gets you the aluminum suspension. My double cab LTZ has the standard suspension and I have the steel control arms.

[Full Lock]

Yup stock z71 is aluminum. Not 100% what the denalis have though but I would guess they are aluminum. What kit are you looking to get?

Edited March 29, 2014 by Full Lock

[pancepance]

I was getting the bds 4 most likely. After looking around that seems to fit best what I am looking for. They were very helpful on the phone an were specific about me knowing if I had alum or steel before ordering. Even offered to expedite shipping if I had to wait to have the truck in front of me to order it to lessen delays of getting it done.

At this point i'm not in so much of a hurry because I just heard back from magnuson and the kit is pushed back from April to "summer" so I have time I suppose since I wanted to do everything at once and be done.

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated.

[Full Lock]

no prob I've been eyeing this kit from McGaughys

http://www.mcgaughys-suspension.com/gmc-sierra-1500-4wd-2007-2013-4-lift-kit-w-upper-arms-mcgaughys-part-50762/

[mcnwil]

My Z71 is steel. I thought the alum verses steel was related to whether it is DC or CC?

[Z45]

There is a real easy way to tell. Look at it.

 

Its not a standard Z71 part, comes on the Z60 performance suspension (Denali etc)

 

[fondupot]

My All Terrain Z71 double cab has steel control arms. I checked with a magnet.

 

I think Crew Cabs get the aluminum arms to reduce weight.

Edited March 29, 2014 by fondupot

[LS 1st Gen]

My crew cab Z71 Standard bed has steel, so who knows!!

[punk007]

My crew cab Z71 Standard bed has steel, so who knows!!

Steel on my crew cab Z71 standard bed also.

 

Aluminum is part of the Z60 pkg as elcamino pointed out above.

[Full Lock]

damn I just double checked mine and I could've swore I had aluminum lowers... maybe it was all the staring at the McGaughy's kit got me confused haha

 

does the Z60 only come on Denalis?

 

ok found some info. z60 is more of a on-road tuned suspension and the z71 is obviously off-road tuned.

 

info thread here

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/156378-high-country-vs-ltz-z71/

Edited March 30, 2014 by Full Lock

[bearman95]

My LTZ Z71 4x4 Silverado short bed crewcab has Aluminum. My LTZ Texas Edition 4x4 Silverado with short bed and crewcab has steel. I don't know about GMC since I did not look at them when I bought my Chevy's. Both have the 5.3 motor and 342 gearing.

Edited March 30, 2014 by bearman95

[Full Lock]

My LTZ Z71 4x4 Silverado short bed crewcab has Aluminum. My LTZ Texas Edition 4x4 Silverado with short bed and crewcab has steel. I don't know about GMC since I did not look at them when I bought my Chevy's. Both have the 5.3 motor and 342 gearing.

 

well I'm just totally confused then. Does your RPO have both Z60 and Z71?

[atmotocrosser]

My LT Texas Edition crew cab short bed 4x4 has steel control arms and knuckles. Who knows how they decided what got what lol.

 

 

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[pancepance]

So basically from what I'm reading the answer is that there is no definitive answer based on specifically optioned/configured vehicles?
My obvious last resort is to wait for arrival to determine. I was hoping there was a way to know in advance to save time in ordering but from what I can find (which is nothing specific) it is a crap shoot with regards to what you get.
That is ok. I appreciate the info. It appears to be one of those things that could be one way or the other and GMC/Chevy doesn't have any specific record of how/why something is done. I'm fine with it. I have so many other things to get that this will just have to wait until arrival. There are worse things that can happen. This one wont cause me to lose sleep. When it does arrive I'll certainly post what wound up being underneath it.