Author Topic: Grounding straps material  (Read 3916 times)

Offline Stepside Billy

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Grounding straps material
« on: June 17, 2015, 08:42:21 AM »
I'm going to replace all the grounding straps on my truck as they are old and I want to head off any problems. May be a dumb question but are negative battery cables good to use? Or should I just use what the truck came with? Don't mind spending more for good parts. Thanks!
1987 G.M.C Stepside 4X4, 350, 700R4

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: Grounding straps material
« Reply #1 on: June 17, 2015, 08:57:26 AM »
i would replace it with whats on it some grounds are only 16 ga. wire some are braided ground straps
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Offline Stepside Billy

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Re: Grounding straps material
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2015, 09:34:24 AM »
Ok, thanks. That's kinda what I figured!
1987 G.M.C Stepside 4X4, 350, 700R4

Offline LTZ C20

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Re: Grounding straps material
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2015, 02:12:33 PM »
On my truck, the small grounds are black 16 GA wire, the negative battery cable goes to the engine and the engine-frame & engine-body grounds are both braided ground straps.
LTZ Cheyenne C20

Offline enaberif

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Re: Grounding straps material
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2015, 04:06:08 PM »
Braided ground strap from head to cab which can be found at any parts store. For battery to alternator bracket I used some 4g wire and made my own up.

Those are the only 2 grounds I'm running.

Offline bd

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Re: Grounding straps material
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2015, 06:14:18 PM »
...Verify that all of the following grounds exist and are making good electrical connection by taking the connections apart and sanding to bare shiny metal - recommended cable sizes are in parentheses.  When you're done cleaning, coat the connections with anti-oxidant as you assemble them:
  • Battery-to-engine (4 gauge is typical, 2 gauge is recommended)

  • Battery-to-right frame rail (10 gauge)

  • Battery-to-radiator support (10 gauge)

  • Engine-to-left frame rail (an optional ground) (10 gauge or 5/16" braided copper strap)

  • Cab firewall-to-back of right cylinder head (10 gauge or 5/16" braided copper strap)

  • Instrument panel and cluster grounds-to-cab sheetmetal next to the parking brake pedal assembly (various gauges ranging 18 to 16 gauge)

The above is an inventory of the factory grounds with wire/cable sizes should you need it.  Any ground cables that are missing could conjure ghosts...   :o  ...lol
Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline Stepside Billy

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Re: Grounding straps material
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2015, 07:59:52 PM »
Cool. Thank you all for the replies!
1987 G.M.C Stepside 4X4, 350, 700R4