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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => The Lows (Lowering/Drops) => Topic started by: Pushrod on June 21, 2006, 12:07:00 am

Title: Done Droppin it (pics up)
Post by: Pushrod on June 21, 2006, 12:07:00 am

Purchased DJMs rear flip kit yesterday. After reading some of the posts here I'm glad I didn't get 3" spindles to.
My step has 15" wheels on it and I'm not gettin any bigger. I'm wondering if 2" or 2 1/2" spindles have wheel rubbing issues like the 3' spindles do.
Any recomendations?

Edited by: Pushrod226 at: 8/12/06 11:57 am

Title: Re: Droppin it
Post by: roundedline on June 21, 2006, 01:03:00 pm

Depending on the manufacturer most all of them require some clearancing or either the lower control arm, brake caliper or both.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

Title: Re: Droppin it
Post by: shaved80 on June 21, 2006, 07:05:00 pm

it's not dropped until you have to start cutting  

Title: Re: Droppin it
Post by: Pushrod on June 21, 2006, 09:54:00 pm

Well my tools are ready and so am I...
Thanks for the replies fellas but they are pretty vague for what I need to know.
I have the tools, and ablity to do all the work myself. I'd like to, within the next year, section the front crossmember. It all depends on where the bolt on goodies get me.
I got the DJM flip kit cause I don't want to weaken the frames integrity. Maybe I'll change my mind later.....All depends wether I'm happy with the stance.  

Title: Re: Droppin it
Post by: roundedline on June 22, 2006, 11:29:00 am

The reply is kind of vague because you question is really broad.

How about assume this:  Every dropped spindle you purchase from any manufacture WILL require some sort of clearancing if you plan to stay with stock wheels.  I have never gotten any that didn't need something clearance to fit the stock wheels.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

Title: Re: Droppin it
Post by: Pushrod on June 22, 2006, 05:15:00 pm

Thanks for straightening me out there. I was hoping I wouldn't have to grind anything but since the duty calls its gonna happen. Time to take some measurements and decide just how much clearancing I want to do.
Have ya got any recommendations for U-bolt suppliers?

Title: Re: Droppin it
Post by: Pushrod on June 22, 2006, 06:11:00 pm

2 inches is as far as I'm goin with the spindles otherwise I'd have to grind into the ball-joint. I'm not into that idea. Looks like I'll be taking a couple more inches out of the springs. I Make that decision after the spindles are installed.

BTW this is my daily driver so weekend thrashings are in order!

Title: Re: Droppin it
Post by: lotopp79 on June 23, 2006, 06:37:00 am

the most I ever had to do with a three inch drop sindle is grind a lttle off the caliper of my brake

Title: Re: Droppin it
Post by: roundedline on June 23, 2006, 10:47:00 am

I have never had to grind into the balljoint on anything.  You have to clearance the lip area around it, but that is all...

I would much rather have 3" spindles than springs with more than 2" of drop.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

Title: Re: Droppin it
Post by: Pushrod on June 23, 2006, 01:36:00 pm

Unless the new spindles kick the wheels out about an inch it looks like anything more than a 2 1/4 inch spindle will have the rim against the ball joint, so.... I'm talkin with 15 inch wheels here.

Title: Re: Droppin it
Post by: lotopp79 on June 23, 2006, 06:32:00 pm

the last drop I did was with the djm drop kit 3 inch spindle and 2 inch coil the only placed that rubbed was the top of the caliper on my barkes and that was on a pair of crager ss my truck was a 79 half ton and alls we end up doing was littly gring the to outer edge where it was rubbing there three or for trucks up here in maine that has the same drop spindles and they dont have any problems with rubbing in the ball joint and cant say in they had any problems with the brakes either I think that might have been more of a back spacing issue that any thing else

Title: Re: Droppin it
Post by: RSBAD454 on June 27, 2006, 11:03:00 pm

I have BellTech 3" drop spindles....they will rub with 15"x8" and a 4.5" back spacing. I cured this problem by ordering new 15"x7" ralleys with a 3.5" back spacing.

Toys are my game

Title: Re: Droppin it
Post by: Pushrod on July 11, 2006, 12:14:00 am

I'm under pressure now to get the front end dropped. I found a set of 15" rims locally within my budget with 3.75 backspacing.

Will these work with 3" drop spindles (yeah I changed my mind) or should I continue the search for rims with 3.5 BS..

Title: rims
Post by: RSBAD454 on July 12, 2006, 06:27:00 pm

You can trial fit them to make sure they will fit...I wouldn't guarantee they would fit, but you still might have to grind some of the lower A arm around the ball joint.

Title: Re: rims
Post by: Pushrod on July 12, 2006, 07:31:00 pm

ebay  has a kickin deal on a set of 3" drop spindles. NOS from some 4x4 company that doesn't make em anymore. $75

I think I'll keep lookin for a set of rims, I'm not to kean on their appearance anyway.

Thanks!

Title: Re: rims
Post by: Pushrod on July 17, 2006, 11:53:00 pm

Got my spindles in today. Good deal!! Hopefully have a set of rims soon. I'll be gettin down with the front end in two weeks I think...... I'll post pics of my junk when finished with the drop.

Title: It's Done!
Post by: Pushrod on August 06, 2006, 03:04:00 pm

Short story......
  The fronts done and the truck is lookin better than ever!

Long story......
  My rims came in last week so I went to a tire shop to get um swapped on. The kids there got to learn how to make cross threaded lugs go on from there manager. I didn't know anything about it till I got home and took their work apart. I was po'd to say the least.
  I changed all the front end bushings out for energy suspensions stuff. Replaced a couple more ball joints, cut one loop off of the springs, and swapped the 3" drop spindles on. I only had to cut the lower lip of the control arms, not bad at all.
  Unfurtunatly the rims I got are all 15x8 so the drivers side tire was dragging on the fender lip. Foolish mistake on my part, I've never lowered one of these trucks before. While attempting to remedy the situation by rollin the lip up I found that the only thing holding the fender together in that area was the paint. So I just knocked all the rust out and no more scraping there. No problems on the passenger side cause the fender already had deteriorated there and fell off a year or two ago.
  I know some of you guys out there are thinking why didn't you do the body work first. The drivetrain needed more attention than anything so that came first. Then the suspension, this thing is 29 years old and not one balljoint nor any bushings had been changed since new, so natrually safety is an issue there for me. The body work will come into play next year.

I finished in the rain today so I'll get some pics up later when its nice out.

Edited by: Pushrod226 at: 8/6/06 2:07 pm

Title: Re: It's Done!
Post by: lowc10 on August 06, 2006, 02:56:00 pm

can't wait to see the pics

Title: Re: It's Done!
Post by: dknine on August 11, 2006, 02:58:00 am

Same here can't wait to see your pics

Title: Re: It's Done!
Post by: Pushrod on August 12, 2006, 12:11:00 pm

Shot a couple yesterday. 5/5 drop. Thinkin about 5/7....

Edited by: Pushrod226 at: 8/12/06 12:01 pm

Title: Re: It's Done!
Post by: lowc10 on August 13, 2006, 01:13:00 pm

I love the low raked look, it makes them look fast. I should have my 6/6 on no later than oct.

Title: Re: It's Done!
Post by: Pushrod on August 13, 2006, 05:54:00 pm

Nothin to it but to do it!!

Title: Re: It's Done!
Post by: 123 pugsy on August 14, 2006, 12:16:00 pm

Got a nice stance now.Stepsides look good like that.

Just a couple minor things left I guess.

Just kiddin, one step at a time.

Title: Re: It's Done!
Post by: Pushrod on August 15, 2006, 12:11:00 am

Man you ain't kiddin! At least you don't have to look at it every day!!

Thanks for the good words fellas! I saved it from the crusher

Next thing on the list is replacing all the body bushings and repairing anything that they mount to..... thats for another thread though...