lowering a arms? front end Q.
 

Has anyone here used lowering a arms to drop there truck. I been told by one vendor they arent very good. Any one? And is it true that I wont be able to get the front end alined if I go with 3in lowering springs only ,

I have a pair.. THey are not very good. These things costs a few hundred bucks and the pirch that the spring sits in is too wide. The welds are sloppy... They have a big square base that bolts up where the other a arm went but you can't get full headers in there very good after you put it in. I actually had to bend my ceramic coated headers a little and it was a *****. Your better off with either drop spindles and springs or bags.. there are too many choices to go with other than the tube a arms like I got. It only drops her about 2 1/2 anyway and they are not very attractive. Unless you know of several brands.. The one I got is from LMC. let me know if you guys know of another set .. I'm gettn rid of mine.

The one vendor I spoke with about them says I wont be able to get my front end alined if I go with 3in lowering springs only Do you think thats true. He said I need to use spndles and springs or a arms and springs . What do you think?

I think you should do like the vendor says. I have never even seen 3" drop springs for the front. Who sells those? None of the vendors ive seen here sell more than a 2.5 drop spring and most of the vendors only sell 2" for the front. Spindles are an easy install and will drop you 2.5" right there and you can get a set of quality ones for the same price you would risk on a set of a-arms of questionable quality. Unless your just hell bent on new a-arms for some reason i would do like everyone says and use a drop spindle and no more than a 2" drop spring or bags.

i think it is all in who makes them. i have a set that hasnt been put on yet, but they are made from factory a arms.

You can align a 3" spring drop. the problem lies with jacking it up a short spring will fall out of its holder.

^ what he said

If you want to go really low. just go with drop spindles and bags or a lowered pring. I don't think that you will be happy with the a-arms

Greyhound steve ,GMC Pauls , Mother truckers and brothers all sell 3in front drop springs. Thats just to name a few. 68w/sbc406 Where did you get the lowering a arms and how much. They look way better than what I looked at ( tubes) Mistershotgun , I want to use spindels but I am married ,lol , I have to go the cheapest route. Thanks everyone for the help, Allso , With a 2/4 drop can I use stock shocks?

i got them from a local place called charlies drop shop. he said that his internet site is like solo suspension or something like that. they were a present so i dont know the price

Yeah.. tubes.. Tubular A arms from LMC. I think they were around 400 for the set. But I would trade them for some drop spindles any day.

mine were less than 400 i think around 275-300

Charlie's drop shop: http://www.dropitnow.net/parts.htm :cool:

here is a picture of the fron end with the drop A arms. I don't have anything of the arms thenselves but I could get some and you guys would see what I mean.

I'm baggin' Screamin' as soon as this term is over. I'll be running 2.5 drop spindles up front instead of the dropped A-arms and 2" blocks in the rear. I thought the LMC arms looked pretty weak myself.

I made my own drop arms. just used some 3" long sections of 6" heavy wall tube to recess where the spring sits. then re-configured the ball joint angles on uppers & lowers to get them back in the middle of the travel arc. if needed I can get some pretty good pics since the body is off the frame in pieces. it netted me about a 5 inch drop. now for some 2 1/2 spindles & some bags & I will be set.

BTW, my alignemt took onle 1/16 worth of shims on the rears to get it perfect :hm:

3" front drop springs often max out the studs where you shim upper a-arm for alignment and when maxed out they require off-set ball joints then to complete alignment properly( Off-set ball joints are Extremely Expensive ) and it is true that if you jack truck up anywhere in front other than under lower a-arm your springs will fall out as suspension sags when you raise the truck. Lowering springs of 3" in the front also make a vehicle more prone to bump steer problems not found when front is lowered using spindles.
GMCPaul

Charlies stuff works great and is very stout. I just took mine off to go with some lowered spindles for my C20. I also had two inch shorter springs and my truck aligment was fine. After I clean up the dropped lowers I'll have them for sale.

There is a lot of resistance to the lowered A-arms. I did a lot of investigation before doing the drop on my 72 LWB. I had two conversations with Charlie at Charlies Drop Shop/SoLow Suspension. I asked him about the concerns regarding alignment and excessive wear. He indicated that they have been doing lowered A-arms on chevy trucks for almost 20 years with no problems. All this being said, I chose to go with spindles and springs as my mechanic was more familiar with that modification. My thought would be that if the A-arms were a bad system he probably would have discontinued their use long ago. Again, just my opinion.

I believe that there are good a arms out there.. Just don't get the ones from LMC

:agree:

My problem with the spindles is then you have to buy rotors and calipers and lines and prop valve and and and . I want to go as low as possible and stay married too. LOL

Mario, you can get the 67-70 spindles and retain your current drum brake setup. Its all bolt-on or plug-and-play if you will. :metal:

Where can I get spindles that work with drums? That is the way I should go.

ECE should have them or CPP too