Solid Axle HD

blakrapter · July 14, 2004

Hear a rumor that GM may be putting a solid axle on its 4wd HDs soon. Anyone have any info on this? IFS rides good, but ford and dodge have gm beat for heavy duty and/or offroad axles. I hate the cv joints. If they put a solid axle on one, it will seal the deal. No way I would ever consider anything but a 2500HD

snoman · July 14, 2004

I have not heard but it seems that solid front axles made it into some of the K3500's for the first few years the OBS was made. I recall seeing a few on lots back then and my 89 GM service manual that covers burbs and blazers and OBS truck has repair info for a D60 front axle and those axles where never used in a burb or a blazer.

Chevyfreek · July 14, 2004

I have not heard anything about this at all. I don't see GM doing this, but anything is possible. GM has had IFS for more than a decade now and the chances of them bringing the SFA back is probably rare. If they did bring it back I could see it used on the 2500HD and 3500 Silverados. The 1/2 tons would and possibly the 2500 LD's would stay IFS sense both Dodge and Ford are running IFS in their light duty trucks. There is no doubt that IFS provides better handling characteristics and that is why they are more widely used. I could see there being a market though for the return of the SFA...

snoman · July 14, 2004

I would say the posibilty does exist anyway because AA is now suppling front drive axles for Dodge diesels (since 2004 models) that are beefier than a D60, especailly in the ball joint area so there are off the shelf parts out there so to speak.

robsawatsky · July 14, 2004

GM used to have a front solid axle 4x4 available in the OBS 3500HD (not the same beast as the current 2500HD/3500 line), which were mostly Chassis Cab and I believe some Crew Cabs. The only thing I could see being offered now with a front solid axle is if they decide to factory produce a 4x4 4500 series.

snoman · July 14, 2004

GM used to have a front solid axle 4x4 available in the OBS 3500HD (not the same beast as the current 2500HD/3500 line), which were mostly Chassis Cab and I believe some Crew Cabs. The only thing I could see being offered now with a front solid axle is if they decide to factory produce a 4x4 4500 series.

I am not so sure, that Duramax is heavy and it puts a lot of strain on IFS ball joints and tierod ends especailly if a plow is attached too. It really should almost be included with a diesel.

Hecktorx · July 14, 2004

I have not heard but it seems that solid front axles made it into some of the K3500's for the first few years the OBS was made. I recall seeing a few on lots back then and my 89 GM service manual that covers burbs and blazers and OBS truck has repair info for a D60 front axle and those axles where never used in a burb or a blazer.

They didn't change the body style for the crew cabs until 91. So you could get a 88-91 k-3500 CC with a solid axle but it was still the old, old body style. Similar to what the Blazers and Subs. were.

GM used to have a front solid axle 4x4 available in the OBS 3500HD (not the same beast as the current 2500HD/3500 line), which were mostly Chassis Cab and I believe some Crew Cabs. The only thing I could see being offered now with a front solid axle is if they decide to factory produce a 4x4 4500 series.

They did have a solid axle, but never offered it in a 4x4. There was a dealer somewhere in the U.S. that offered it as a dealer installed option.

Now I'm trying to start a discussion here, not a fight. But the people who think a SFA axle is better, please tell me why you think that. Are there failure statistics out there that prove the SFA is better? Are they really stronger?

I don't have the answers either, but Ford has had changes in there front ends because of parts failures(I'm refering to them dropping the Dana 50 and the bearing problems they were having) and now Dodge is doing the same. As far as I know, the GMs are still the way they were introduced. (Please correct me if I'm wrong). What do you guys think? And please share what facts you know that support your opinion.

blakrapter · July 14, 2004

Thanks for the replies guys. Keep them coming.

There are a few reasons I prefer the solid axle (handling isnt one of them)

1. Better articulation for offroad use - This is cool and more important to serious offroaders than me, but I like the option.

2. More travel (part of more articulation). CV and ball joints bind = bad

3. Most important to me, I want to modify it to lower when parked for wheelchair access. It has to lower ~9" and that is much much more easily achieved with a solid axle design than IFS due to ball joint and cv joint misalignment.

Charlie in TX · July 14, 2004

hectorx, I'm with ya. Why take a step backwards to a SFA. The only times I see an advantage to the STA is highly modified motors, high lifted trucks or snowplowing. For the other 99% of us IFS is better.

Further, what is the problem with having a varity to choose from? If you wan't SFA get a Ford or Dodge, if you want IFS get a GM.

bigdogs · July 14, 2004

The only thing I could see being offered now with a front solid axle is if they decide to factory produce a 4x4 4500 series.

They are supposed to have a 4x4 4500 series later this year according to my dealer. They have a 2WD on their lot and I asked if they were coming with 4WD and he said later this year. I would hope that if they put one on there they go bigger than a Dana 60 being they are using a bigger (heavier) Duramax. American makes both a 10.5 (7000lb) and 13.8" (11000lb) units. Rockwell makes some beffy stuff too. (seen a few 2.5ton units on some jacked up street trucks)

Hecktorx · July 14, 2004

Bad Bowtie · July 14, 2004

I wish i wish i can share the gossip about GM but what you see atop is a possiblity ( ) for the 2500HD and the 3500 Duallies and SRW. GM is about surprises unlike Ford and Dodge they show before and after there release there product line.

snoman · July 14, 2004

I have not heard but it seems that solid front axles made it into some of the K3500's for the first few years the OBS was made. I recall seeing a few on lots back then and my 89 GM service manual that covers burbs and blazers and OBS truck has repair info for a D60 front axle and those axles where never used in a burb or a blazer.

They didn't change the body style for the crew cabs until 91. So you could get a 88-91 k-3500 CC with a solid axle but it was still the old, old body style. Similar to what the Blazers and Subs. were.

GM used to have a front solid axle 4x4 available in the OBS 3500HD (not the same beast as the current 2500HD/3500 line), which were mostly Chassis Cab and I believe some Crew Cabs. The only thing I could see being offered now with a front solid axle is if they decide to factory produce a 4x4 4500 series.

They did have a solid axle, but never offered it in a 4x4. There was a dealer somewhere in the U.S. that offered it as a dealer installed option.

Now I'm trying to start a discussion here, not a fight. But the people who think a SFA axle is better, please tell me why you think that. Are there failure statistics out there that prove the SFA is better? Are they really stronger?

I don't have the answers either, but Ford has had changes in there front ends because of parts failures(I'm refering to them dropping the Dana 50 and the bearing problems they were having) and now Dodge is doing the same. As far as I know, the GMs are still the way they were introduced. (Please correct me if I'm wrong). What do you guys think? And please share what facts you know that support your opinion.

But I DO remember seeing a few on dealer lots with with solid axle under OBS trucks (88 to 99) and that is why it caught my eye in very early 90's as I thought that they only came with IFS too. I wish I had looked closer at them and read window stickers.

snoman · July 14, 2004

hectorx, I'm with ya. Why take a step backwards to a SFA. The only times I see an advantage to the STA is highly modified motors, high lifted trucks or snowplowing. For the other 99% of us IFS is better.

Further, what is the problem with having a varity to choose from? If you wan't SFA get a Ford or Dodge, if you want IFS get a GM.

Actually, I kinda prefer IFS for plowing having used one for 5 years now because you do not get the ujoint kickback in a tight turn under power pushing snow. I just have resevations about it longivity. I have a 79 J20 that carried a plow for many years untillretired last year (I plan to restore it sometime) and the 44HD in it is still reasonably tight.

wolfie · July 14, 2004

I plowed snow with my 89 right up until I got the 2002. When I first got the 89 they had a problem with the ball joints which they promptly replaced and gave me a 5 year 100,000 mile waranty on the new ones. Since then I tore a couple of boots but have never had an axle failure of any kind. On the 2002 I already have over 50,000 trouble free miles and expect many more. I wouldn't want to go back to plowing with a SFA.