C30 steering knuckles
 

Hoping to get some help. I would like to know if the steering knuckles are the same on both the mid 80's DRW and SRW C30 and GMC 3500's . All I can find is 3 inch drop spindles and I need stock height for a DRW..

Thanks

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

I always thought the DRW and SRW parts were the same and that the Dually rotor just has the spacer integrated.

Here's a link for the parts from GM but they must make them out of gold now.

https://www.gmpartscenter.net/v-1984...ion-components

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Thank you very much Big Chip. All I've been finding is 3 inch drop .I will forward this link to the shop that built my cross member and put me 3 inches lower than I ordered..

John

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

You could also try www.car-part.com and search salvage yards in your area. I don't know if the steering knuckles are the same but I think the control arms are the same for like 64-90. I may have the years wrong but they used the same parts for a long time on the one tons.

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

I had a custom cross member built by Scott's Hot Rods for a 56 Mercury M350 I'm building , I had lowered it 5 inches with the measurements I gave them but they sent me 3 inch drop spindles which puts me far too low..
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...3525cc67f9.jpg

I had suggested to them to source used if they had to but they said they want new..

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Looks nice! You should be able to order them through your local Chevy or GMC dealer then. Good luck!

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

You've been a great help and really appreciate it.

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Is this how its gonna be setup?

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

That is what Scott's Hot Rods sent ,I don't like it but think if I had the stock spindles it would eliminate that.

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Where the drag link hooks up shouldn't have anything to do with the spindle location..
Something just dont look right there...no way would I run that

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

It seems like they are pretty limited if they want to actually steer the thing. Did that truck start with a straight axle?

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

This is a picture I took a screenshot off YouTube with both spindles side by side, I think if the steering arm didn't move the same distance as the spindle it would make contact with the rim when turning. I'm taking these pictures to talk with the shop that will be doing the safety on it to see if they would even pass this..I thank you all for the feed back..
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...bda55b4c19.png

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Yes it did have a straight axle

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Are the spindles on the wrong side and upside down?

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Looking @ this, I wondered the same thing. That being said, I would think the BJ tapers would not allow the possibility but I've never compared the upper/lower BJ shank dimensions for the big trucks & would being assuming w/o doing the homework.

The steering arm should be in relatively the same proximity as the stock spindles lower BJ pad to not jack w/the steering geometry.

It's evident looking @ that pic it's definitely been moved. It's different location vs. the lower BJ is exaggerated as well which made me look again & question if the spindle is indeed flipped.

*EDIT* There is NO WAY I would run a TRE spacer of that length. That Scott's Hot Rod even suggests that is puzzling. Seems that would put a wee bit more leverage/loading @ that point of the spindle.

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

That is the left side spindle and it has cast letters saying L H and the ball joints are different top and bottom..you can actually see the raised letters in that picture..

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

I stopped into the GM dealership I deal with and showed these pictures to the head mechanic and they said they would not pass it on a safety . So I just emailed that info to Scott's Hot Rods..I had questioned that from the start..I'm not feeling good about any of this..:(

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

So I did a quick google on C30 spindles, the ones from Western Chassis do appear to look like those (from online images). I'm going to take a peek under my dually & see if I can get a comparison pic of mine.

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Do any of you guys that have lowered your C30's still have the stock spindles..?

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

I'll check. I know I initially saved them but I can't remember if I still have them or not. I did a decent parts-purge @ the beginning of 2020.

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Scott's are supposed to be looking to get this straightened out but I have to prepare if they leave me hanging and fending for myself..

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Ok, so that eliminates the possibility of it being on the wrong side...but something looks way off ..
Like Scoti said , no way would I run it, and i cant believe Scott's even sent it to you..that looks like the kind of spacer you see on a double shear setup for crossover steering..

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Heres a couple of pics I got off the net of 3in drop spindles
Not sure of the 1st set ,but the 2nd is belltech
You can see how much lower the arm is on these spindles compared to yours

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Thing is I have to get away from these drop spindles, I was counting on a 5 inch drop not the 8 inch these are presenting. If the spindles you post are C30 drops the tie rod position makes a lot more sense to me and eliminating the use of the hiem joint they provided and that extension. The stock spindles would get me to the ride height I hoped for..What's really frustrating is I waiting 16 weeks to have this made by them and now waiting an additional three weeks not working on this project..

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Wow...that's a lot of waiting..

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Yes it is...lol I was old before I started this project, much older now. They were the only shop that said they could build what I was striving for....surprise!!!
LOL

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

There must be different Belltech spindles..
https://www.lmperformance.com/114941...ab-dually.html

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

I took a peek under my Squarebody dually & the steering arm is raised & close to the C/L of the spindle hub so it's like what's pictured in post #8. The units posted in post #23 look like they're for 1/2 ton trucks. The bigger HD spindles don't have holes for caliper pins.

I looked on my parts shelf & it looks like my original/stock dually spindles are gone. I know a guy that might have some stockers though but they're probably an easy find from many wrecking yards.

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Scoti, I'm not sure on the belltech spindle but the other says C30

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

The spindles they sent with this cross member have C30 raised letters cast in the spindles

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

That's okay, I'll do some checking up here in Canada if Scott's don't make this right. I'm sure there are more survivor trucks down your way than around here but we are still buried in snow so makes the searching hard right now..

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Keep it in mind if you strike out.

Another possibility is a C10 guy around the Ontario (?) area. He might have some connections that would make it an easier find. I follow him on IG.

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Have another question, are the spindles on a C30 van the same as the C30 trucks, use the same type of calipers with the slide in key..?

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

I would bet 'yes' if it's the HD 8-lug (depending on year model). Vans had some quirky stuff but most of the core parts were similar to the similar sized trucks for minimizing costs.

I would want to verify that to be 100% accurate though.

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Just to update where I am I do have a set of stock height steering knuckles now. Scott's themselves wouldn't go out of their way to help me but the guy that took my order from them took it upon himself to source a set and sent them out to me and why they came in the condition they were in..I'll never have anything to do with Scott's again and would never recommend them to anyone, not even to someone I didn't like..
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...c41181ac82.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...715e6e1c51.jpg

Still not happy about the use of that Heim joint but working at finding a proper tie-rod end
to work.

I was also wondering if anyone knows where I can purchase the dust covers that bolt onto the steering knuckles , the ones I have are from a 88 C30..

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

I'm not a fan of the heims either but they'll get the job done. I used some on my dually's Panhard bar & haven't had any issues (~7k miles). There are boots available to help keep dirt off of them as well.

Kudos to your parts guy that helped you get what you needed.

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Any idea who sells C30 dust covers. Bought some off Amazon that said they were for a C30 but ended up being ones for a C10 and had to ship them back..

John

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

I can reach out to a guy & see if he has anything laying around. I'm assuming you're referring to the spindle 'dust shields' correct?

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Yes the ones the bolt up to these spindles, 3 bolts hold them in place..I installed one of the rotors today to see what it all looked like, what a heavy brute that thing is..
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...d2f4dae38c.jpg

Re: C30 steering knuckles
 

Yeppers. Heavy things for sure.