Which front lower kit?
 

Which would you do for approx. 5" drop:
1) Front 3" lower arms with cut 1 coil springs
OR
2) 3" spindles with cut 1 coil springs.

Re: Which front lower kit?
 

I would never suggest drop arms for anything. Unless they are the sole lowering part they always drag when added with spindles. That and I haven't seen any quality ones

First off what do you have for wheels right now?
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Re: Which front lower kit?
 

Option #2
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Re: Which front lower kit?
 

18" wheels. I realize the spring pocket is lowered by 3", adding springs doesn't change the position of the lower a arms to the ground.

Re: Which front lower kit?
 

You are correct, however it does make the spring pocket hang down below the arms. You can always spot a truck with drop arms driving down the street. You can see the two lower pockets hanging below the truck.

You can buy 3 inch DJM spindles from summit for 240 a pair delivered.
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Re: Which front lower kit?
 

Using any lowering spindle will drop the entire A arm closer to the ground by 3". Seems that there is no difference between lowered A arm or spindle as far as ground clearance.

Re: Which front lower kit?
 

Appearently you have never looked at a truck with Lowered A-Arms. The spring pocket hangs lower than the arm. Trust us old guys when we tell you, dropped spindles are your best choice.

Re: Which front lower kit?
 

The thing is, if your lower arms rake the ground, and they will if you drive it enough, nothing really happens. That arm is very substantial and resists damage. But the spring pockets of a dropped arm tend to get ripped off or at the least hammered back and deformed.
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Re: Which front lower kit?
 

Unfortunately, I am an old guy. Not my truck/lowering kit we're talking about but I'm comparing the physical differences. When you use a lowering spindle you raise the axle up by what ever the drop amount, which in turn lowers every thing attached to it, so the lower ball joint which is attached to the A arm gets lowered by that amount. The entire A arm is now closer to the ground. Now with a lowered A arm you drop the spring pocket by said amount and the spring pocket is now closer to the ground by the same amount. in either case the A arm is closer to the ground, with the spindle it's the entire arm with the lowering arms it's just the pocket. With, say 28" tall tires 3" drop by either method is not putting the components in a dangerous position. If you add a few more inches of drop then the components become very close to the ground. The only diffence between the two is the lowered spring pocket becomes the first thing that makes contact vs the entire A arm, which would explain damage to the pocket. Either way, hitting the ground with a stock A arm is not a good thing either.
I used some Belltech lowered A arms years ago, I don't remember if that was it or if I had additional drop, probably it was the lower A arms only, since I had no problems driving.
As far as which to use, I think they're both the same relative to the A arms hitting the ground, except for I can see the exposed pocket having a slight issue. Spindles are cheaper then lowered A arms which is probably why they're more popular.
All in all, I'll vote for spindles and springs.:exit:

Re: Which front lower kit?
 

I had 2 inch drop springs and later elected for the spindles...

Re: Which front lower kit?
 

The reason they made drop control arms is because its basic fabrication that any good fab shop could do. Some of the companies didn't have big enough britches to step up and have a foundry and machine shop manufacture spindles for them so they made and manufactured a product that was within their capabilities.
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Re: Which front lower kit?
 

so when does a company put on big boy britches and sell a combo of lower control arms for more caster and a taller drop spindle for more camber gain

Re: Which front lower kit?
 

5000lb road race vehicle?
My trucks are trucks, I can't see any reason to have tall spindles etc.
Isn't the upper arm used for castor gain?

Re: Which front lower kit?
 

I was drawn towards the new lower a arms because I would get new ball joints and new bushings already installed with an easy install, but after looking at mine I don't need new bushings. I will probably get the spindles and cut 1 coil for my drop.