GM trucks have slipped

[Jstpssng]

My "Hobby"retirement job is running an uplands preserve/bird dog training ect..Keeps me as busy as I want to be.

I would like to go out in the field someday with a good bird dog just to see it work. I wouldn't even carry a gun, just go to watch the interaction between dog and hunter. Up here we are socially irresponsible; most birds are shot on the ground. "Heater hunting" is the method of choice, but I don't see the attraction. I spend enough time in the truck already.
My last dog taught herself to retrieve and was great at it; often bringing them back alive. My current lab finds downed birds but will eat them if I don't get to him first.
I suspect that goes back to being starved for his first year.

 

[5030]

What’s the use for a 1/2 ton straight axel truck? Either you want a truck to haul heavy load or you want something that drives nice. A half ton doesn’t haul heavy loads so it better drive nice. Maybe I haven’t spent enough time looking under half ton trucks but I’ve never seen a straight axel one. And my ton truck is IFS and rides much better than the straight axel tons I’ve drove. I see no point for anything lighter than a 1.5 ton truck to have a straight axel. They’re probably stronger but I’ve never seen any trouble from IFS ton trucks.

Not until the half shafts or outboard spindle assemblies need replaced that is.... Just did a GM 1500 IFS pickup truck. 60K miles, cassette bearings (outboard spindles shot and sloppy) and the right hand half shaft clicking (indicative of a shot CV joint). Replaced both outboards and both half shafts plus the front brakes (and rears too). No point in doing a half baked job. Do it all because the still 'good' components will soon be 'no good'.

Now, if you took it to a garage, they'd only replace the worn out parts because they want you back for more 'financial assistance. My personal truck has a straight axle in the front (Dana 60 full floater high portal) on leaf springs and a Dana 80 on leaf's out back and yes it rides hard unloaded but it's usually loaded with something anyway.

I do all my own repairs and I'm not 'indentured' to any garage so it is a non issue with me. IFS front axles do ride better in 'grocery getter' poser 1/2 ton trucks but, when it comes down to payload ratings and overall longevity, a real working truck won't be on coil springs and won't have IFS suspension.

 

[4570Man]

Does any ton or lighter trucks built in the last 10 years have a straight axel with leaf springs? If I actually intended on hauling a load I’ll use my straight axel with leaf spring truck but my IFS ton truck rides way better. In any case IFS trucks haven’t proved to be a problem that break all the time. I see them with 300,000-400,000 miles on them all the time. If you want to drive a straight axel leaf spring that rides and turns horrible just to prove a point then fine.

 

[ovrszd]

Again, my solid axle, leaf spring 3/4T truck rides and turns great. Actually rides and drives better than the newer four link coil spring solid front axle trucks. No point proving needed here.

Locally the cattle farmers running GM HD trucks have front end suspension, steering problems constantly. Dodge's Achille's Heel is the track bar.

 

[timswi]

Again, my solid axle, leaf spring 3/4T truck rides and turns great. Actually rides and drives better than the newer four link coil spring solid front axle trucks. No point proving needed here.

Locally the cattle farmers running GM HD trucks have front end suspension, steering problems constantly. Dodge's Achille's Heel is the track bar.

First I've heard of GM suspension problems on the HD's. I've only had mine a few months but I know many people around here that pretty much beat them mercilessly and haven't had any problems.

 

[4570Man]

First I've heard of GM suspension problems on the HD's. I've only had mine a few months but I know many people around here that pretty much beat them mercilessly and haven't had any problems.

Probably because there aren’t any. I wouldn’t take vehicle information from a guy that claims a leaf spring Ford turns good. They’re the worst turning radius trucks on the road. My suburban is at at least 290k mileage new wheel bearings and brakes and drives perfect. My dad’s suburban has 230k miles with only wheel bearings and brake pads and drive perfect. My ton truck 111k with only new brakes and drives perfect. My last Silverado had 225k when I sold it and drove perfect. My buddies Silverado that he’s beat senseless has 270k and he just recently put ball joints in it. A family member drives a Duramax with 110k miles and a completely stock front end. IFS is complete junk... I’m gonna have to put this one up there with HST tractors are junk because they break all the time.

 

[4570Man]

Again, my solid axle, leaf spring 3/4T truck rides and turns great. Actually rides and drives better than the newer four link coil spring solid front axle trucks. No point proving needed here.

Locally the cattle farmers running GM HD trucks have front end suspension, steering problems constantly. Dodge's Achille's Heel is the track bar.

The ride isn’t a lot different on ton trucks but the leaf springs turn awful.

 

[Jstpssng]

Not until the half shafts or outboard spindle assemblies need replaced that is.... Just did a GM 1500 IFS pickup truck. 60K miles, cassette bearings (outboard spindles shot and sloppy) and the right hand half shaft clicking (indicative of a shot CV joint). Replaced both outboards and both half shafts plus the front brakes (and rears too). No point in doing a half baked job. Do it all because the still 'good' components will soon be 'no good'.

Now, if you took it to a garage, they'd only replace the worn out parts because they want you back for more 'financial assistance. My personal truck has a straight axle in the front (Dana 60 full floater high portal) on leaf springs and a Dana 80 on leaf's out back and yes it rides hard unloaded but it's usually loaded with something anyway.

I do all my own repairs and I'm not 'indentured' to any garage so it is a non issue with me. IFS front axles do ride better in 'grocery getter' poser 1/2 ton trucks but, when it comes down to payload ratings and overall longevity, a real working truck won't be on coil springs and won't have IFS suspension.

How old is the truck? In the last 15 years I've driven a 2005 F150; 2007 GMC;2011 Chevrolet; 2013 Chevy; 2015 Chevy; and just took over a 2017 (?) which has lived on gravel roads. Yet none of those has had front end problems although my trucks tend to take a pounding, and they all were near or over 100K miles when traded... usually well over. Solid front ends can have similar problems, and can be a real PITA to fix.

 

[ovrszd]

The ride isn’t a lot different on ton trucks but the leaf springs turn awful.

Certainly don't take vehicle information from me, but, my trucks turn just fine.

 

[ovrszd]

How old is the truck? In the last 15 years I've driven a 2005 F150; 2007 GMC;2011 Chevrolet; 2013 Chevy; 2015 Chevy; and just took over a 2017 (?) which has lived on gravel roads. Yet none of those has had front end problems although my trucks tend to take a pounding, and they all were near or over 100K miles when traded... usually well over. Solid front ends can have similar problems, and can be a real PITA to fix.

No argument, just simple logic. Solid front axle vehicles have considerably less moving parts than IFS. And nothing, nothing about them is a PITA to fix. I'll gladly entertain an example.