Front end rebuild help needed!

[Zxreed]

I am new to the group but I have a 2006 Yukon XL Denali that I have owned for 6 years. It has 174K on the clock, I bought it with 98k. I had it up doing an oil change and noticed that I have some dry rot on the upper control arm bushings. Here are the questions:

First I plan on replacing the Control Arm Bushings, Pittman Arm, Upper and Lower ball joints, Idler arm, Outer and Inner Tie Rods and Sway Bar Links. Would you go ahead and just replace both Control Arms?

Second, Is there anything that you wouldn't bother to replace?

Third, what brand parts do you recommend? I see a full kit on RockAuto.com for $230 from some company called SKP but this seems really cheap.

Finally, am I missing anything or are there parts that you would not replace. Thanks for the help!

 

[Walchit]

I bought the moog kit, thinking about getting idler and pitman arms and a center link, since that is pretty much the only steering /suspension parts I have left, and I want to get it aligned properly.

 

[TollKeeper]

I have never had good luck with SK/SKP parts. I would not suggest them.

Moog used to be a good brand, but not so much anymore.

People are going to think I am crazy, but the best luck I have had is either Duralast GOLD parts, or OEM.

 

[swathdiver]

I am new to the group but I have a 2006 Yukon XL Denali that I have owned for 6 years. It has 174K on the clock, I bought it with 98k. I had it up doing an oil change and noticed that I have some dry rot on the upper control arm bushings. Here are the questions:

First I plan on replacing the Control Arm Bushings, Pittman Arm, Upper and Lower ball joints, Idler arm, Outer and Inner Tie Rods and Sway Bar Links. Would you go ahead and just replace both Control Arms?

Second, Is there anything that you wouldn't bother to replace?

Third, what brand parts do you recommend? I see a full kit on RockAuto.com for $230 from some company called SKP but this seems really cheap.

Finally, am I missing anything or are there parts that you would not replace. Thanks for the help!

If you want these parts to last another 15 years, use GM OE or ACDelco Professional parts whenever possible. If you want another 80-100K, use ACDelco or Moog CK series control arms, their RK series last maybe half that.

It is generally less expensive to replace the entire control arm rather than replace the joints and bushings. The uppers, at least on the 900s, are not rebuildable. Change out all steering components and springs and shocks and their ancillary parts too. Rack and pinion has bushings in it that may need replacing and if 4x4, the mounts for the front differential are probably wore out too by now.

 

[kaysha241]

I have the same issue. Need to replace front end...Detroit Axle has several kits on Amazon, but not sure of the quality. Does anyone have experience with Detroit Axle?
Thanks

 

[swathdiver]

I have the same issue. Need to replace front end...Detroit Axle has several kits on Amazon, but not sure of the quality. Does anyone have experience with Detroit Axle?
Thanks

Yeah, there's a guy on here, forget his name, who had to do the job twice because those Chicom parts were of such poor quality.

GM OE, ACDelco Professional or Moog CK.

 

[OR VietVet]

Why are we talking to a guy from July 12, 2020? I get t that we want to help but if have questions, start another thread.

His whole problem was money spent and quality concerns.

I always have problems with owners wanting cheap and quality at the same time. It just does not happen. After 30+ years in shops, I can guarantee you that.

 

[swathdiver]

Why are we talking to a guy from July 12, 2020? I get t that we want to help but if have questions, start another thread.

His whole problem was money spent and quality concerns.

I always have problems with owners wanting cheap and quality at the same time. It just does not happen. After 30+ years in shops, I can guarantee you that.

I was responding to the fella in post #5.

 

[rockola1971]

I have the same issue. Need to replace front end...Detroit Axle has several kits on Amazon, but not sure of the quality. Does anyone have experience with Detroit Axle?
Thanks

DONT DO IT! I installed Detroit Axle tie rods, ball joints on my Denali and after about 2 years the wife backed out of the driveway (onto a major Highway) and the passenger side lower ball joint broke and the whole wheel flipped out from under the Denali and sat the frame right on the road! The failure was the stud that is part of the ball in the joint. It completely broke about 1 inch above the ball. Ive never seen or heard of one fail like that.

 

[kaysha241]

Why are we talking to a guy from July 12, 2020? I get t that we want to help but if have questions, start another thread.

His whole problem was money spent and quality concerns.

I always have problems with owners wanting cheap and quality at the same time. It just does not happen. After 30+ years in shops, I can guarantee you that.

I've been reading posts here for close to 10 years to help diagnose issues with my Denali and I was never a member. I appreciate all the knowledge I have learned from all the posts on here. It has been very helpful.

I have also read many threads that someone starts, to ask a question, and some a$$hole chimes in and says that a particular issue was addressed already and to search the threads and find it. When you search, you find 10 different threads on that issue with hundreds of answers from 5 years prior

Sometimes its easier to ask a quick question and get some answers than it is to read through hundreds of threads and answers.

BTW - thanks for the info on Detroit Axle. Im thinking about a mild 2" or 3" lift. If I am changing out upper and lower control arms etc, this might be a good time to consider that. Any opinions on it? TIA