3/4 ton Ball Joints - Front end rebuild - lowering

[19Hoosierdaddies68]

Im planning to lower my 3/4 ton 68, which has 71 disc brake front suspension on it, complete uppers, lowers, ball joints etc. Before installing my drop spindles and drop springs I figured I need to rebuild the front suspension as there is play in the tires and suspension. First thought was to buy kit from CPP (Approx. $280), their kit is for 1/2 ton only so would need to piece it all together on my own for 3/4. Truck and Car shop in orange, CA has everything I need as well, however cheaper than CPP (approx. $230). Before buying anything my dad suggested that I stop by Lee and Sons alignment in Fullerton to have them take a look, get a quote for them to do the work as my back is jacked and I don't seem to have the time or space to get it done as quick as I want. They seem like a great group of guys and I would love to have them work on my truck, except they are normally priced ( I wont say expensive because I am sure they do good work and are worth the cost) It just may be outside my budget. The good news is that I don't need to replace everything, just upper shafts both sides, lower shaft on drive side and just the lower ball joints. The factory upper ball joints are apparently still good and so are the tie rod ends, idler arm etc. Lee and Sons say do not buy the junk at local parts stores as it is crapola. They said they provide a better product and this is where I get unsure. I thought they said Schlitzer direct, but it could have been slippy, slappy, samsonite, I dont know Im probably way off. Is there a parts supplier/manufacturer close to Schlitzer?...

Anyway, so my other question is where can I buy quality ball joints that are not Chinese(no offense) made cheap stuff? I feel bad asking Lee and sons to sell me their stuff and then not use their labor, that's how they make money, I just cant pull together $1,100.00 dollars for the parts and the labor. They would install my spindles and springs all the way around for this price to be fair. So are the parts from CPP and Truck and Car Shop sub par? Has anyone used these parts? If I can find the parts myself for a reasonable price I might be forced to break my back and do the job myself to save $750 in labor, which is what I planned to do anyway, now Im just scared to put crap on the front that wont last.

Sorry for the book. thanks for you help in advance.

Jerry

[lolife99]

If you are rebuilding the front end of a 3/4 ton truck you need 3/4 ton parts.
Ball joints and tie rods are different from 1/2 ton parts.
I would do the work yourself.
But Moog parts and you will be fine.
I would also rebuild the entire front end.
Jst replacing a few pieces here and there is just asking for more work later.
Rebuild everything and it will be all good for another 40 years.

Sometimes people are more conserned witha adding their cool lowering stuff,... when they should be more concerned with getting the truck in good shape first.
(believe me I know)
Rebuild the front.
Add your lowering springs and spindles.

Just to clarify,... you are keeping your truck 3/4 ton?
Not switching to 1/2 ton?

[erikh09]

Hey Jerry,

I am in the process of going through the same thing with my 67 GMC 3/4 ton. I am looking to purchase a 1/2 ton disc brake conversion kit from Early Classic Enterprises. It is complete from the spindle (1/2" drop) out to the caliper. It also includes the master cylinder and proportioning valve plus all of the hardware. As far as the rest of the front end, I am going to rebuild using 3/4 ton stuff since my upper and lowers are staying 3/4 ton......that is unless someone can tell me if 1/2 ton upper and lowers will bolt up to a 3/4 ton frame using the existing boltholes. Then I may change everything to 1/2 ton rather than use the conversion kit.

Thanks all!

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by 19Hoosierdaddies68

...I thought they said Schlitzer direct, but it could have been slippy, slappy, samsonite, I dont know Im probably way off...

This made me giggle- GREAT movie!

Sounds like your truck is already converted to 1/2 ton, which means you need to buy rebuild parts for that. I would verify what you actually have before purchasing anything.

Use MOOG parts- you won't be sorry...

[19Hoosierdaddies68]

Originally Posted by lolife99

If you are rebuilding the front end of a 3/4 ton truck you need 3/4 ton parts.
Ball joints and tie rods are different from 1/2 ton parts.
I would do the work yourself.
But Moog parts and you will be fine.
I would also rebuild the entire front end.
Jst replacing a few pieces here and there is just asking for more work later.
Rebuild everything and it will be all good for another 40 years.

Sometimes people are more conserned witha adding their cool lowering stuff,... when they should be more concerned with getting the truck in good shape first.
(believe me I know)
Rebuild the front.
Add your lowering springs and spindles.

Just to clarify,... you are keeping your truck 3/4 ton?
Not switching to 1/2 ton?

Originally Posted by gringoloco

This made me giggle- GREAT movie!

Sounds like your truck is already converted to 1/2 ton, which means you need to buy rebuild parts for that. I would verify what you actually have before purchasing anything.

Use MOOG parts- you won't be sorry...

Haha one of my favorite movies of all times! Anyway, my truck is still all 3/4 ton, just with 71 3/4 ton discs instead of the 68 drums it had originally. I plan to keep it all 3/4 ton and drop it. I agree with the thoughts of rebuilding the front end, not just adding lowering parts. The shop I took it to said that the upper Ball Joints rarely go out, said he wouldnt replace them as the factory stuff is better than anything out there. So my main concer was buying crappy parts from CPP or Truck Stop. So far sounds like Moog is recommended a lot on this site, however I have seen a comment that they wear out fast too and the recommendation was Splicer. Anyhoo, I think I will definitly save the $750 and have to do the work myself at the very least. thanks for the replies so far, any other thoughts or advice is appreciated.

Thanks,

Jerry

[leddzepp]

I bought all of my stuff from Star Auto parts here in Riverside. Their house brand is called "Partsmaster" All of that stuff was made in the USA. Ball joints, tie rod ends, front end stuff is hit and miss as far as where it is made. My dad just bought Moog parts for the front end of his truck from Rockauto.com and ALL of the parts boxes were stamped "Made in Mexico"

[stsalvage]

Never could understand why lower a 3/4 ton if your going to lower it buy the 1/2 ton drop spindles ad get the 1/2 ton parts ans if you have leaf springs any 1971--93 rear ends will work and plus you have a better gear for MPG But if you have a coil rear end its a little more work I'm converting my 1968 3/4 ton longhorn that was a 396 with a 400 fully loaded with AC to 1/2 ton it has leaf springs using a 1981 chevy 12 bolt rear end putting a 250 inline 6 with a 4 bb carb with HEI with 700R4 or 200R4 to make it a cool Long long bed 8 1/2 foot bed to get up to 17-18 MPG i'm hoping

[19Hoosierdaddies68]

Stsalvage - For me lowering the 3/4 ton is a bit different than what most do which is what you suggested. Also, it is ultimately going to be cheaper for me as I already have disc brakes on the front so all I had to do is buy 3/4 drop spindles and I am just putting in the 1/2 ton drop springs on all 4 corners. To change to 1/2 ton I have the same expenses plus the new disc brakes and converting my rear end. Gas mileage is nice but wasn't my ultimate goal considering I have a factory 396 and don't plan to swap that out for a 6 banger anytime soon... To each his own I guess, good luck with you project, sounds interesting.

[19Hoosierdaddies68]

So I spoke with another parts shop here local in SoCal and they said they sell Partsmaster and Moog. He said they sell more of the Partsmaster now as they have discovered they are simply re boxed Moog parts anyway at half the cost. Anyone else heard this or can confirm?

[knucklehead562]

i bought a front disc conversion for my 70 c-20 about two years ago from cpp and prob paid about 800 bucks for it i think. cust service was pretty good and all the parts seemed solid and well made. i dont think it was in their catalog, u gotta ask for it. their staff seemed very knowledgeable.