Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

RustMaster87 · 11-06-2007, 01:28 PM

I put my 3 inch drop spindles on my frame today and the spindle and the lip of the upper control arm are hitting each other. Is there an adjustment I can make or am I going to have to hit it with the grinder? Is this a common thing?

454HO · 11-06-2007, 01:32 PM

What brand spindles? I didn't have this problem with BellTech spindles on 2 different trucks. Did you replace the upper ball joints? Sure you got Left and Right correct?

RustMaster87 · 11-06-2007, 01:59 PM

The brand is DJM. I have them on the correct sides. I started off with a frame and have replaced every bushing, ball joint, and soon to be tie rod ends. I hope I do not have the wrong spindles. I have the spindles with the 1.25 rotor, and the correct rotor.

RunninLo · 11-06-2007, 02:18 PM

what's going on with the steering stop? on some spindles it's cast and some I've seen it's threaded like a bolt into the casting. If threaded you can back it out some. It's a trade-off with spindles that you'll lose some turn radius.
Did you trim the tab for the stop off the LCA? I know a few people who have made that mistake when cutting off the factory bump stop.

as a last resort I've also had to grind the lip most recently with a set of Chassis Tech Spindles on an '84 burb.

Josh

RustMaster87 · 11-06-2007, 02:36 PM

I have not adjusted anything else on the truck as this is as far as I have gotten in putting it back together. When I turn the actual wheel to the front, sending the spindle in towards the motor, I have no clearance issues. I run into a problem when I turn the wheel back into the frame. I just went out and took another look at it and I noticed that the upper control arm bump stop is bottomed out on the cross Member. I wonder if I got the rest of the suspension on it and got if off of jack stands it would allow the upper control arm to articulate up eliminating this clearance issue.

**N2TRUX** · 11-06-2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustMaster87

..... I wonder if I got the rest of the suspension on it and got if off of jack stands it would allow the upper control arm to articulate up eliminating this clearance issue.

I just re-read this part of your post. Yes, if you "load" the suspension correctly it will no longer hit the upper control arm. It will "probably" hit the lower control arm if you are running 15x8's.

RustMaster87 · 11-06-2007, 10:09 PM

The thing that is confusing me is that I do not have any wheels on the truck, and the upper control arm lip is hitting the drop spindle.

**N2TRUX** · 11-06-2007, 08:11 PM

What size wheels are you running? If you are running 15x8's then they are definitely going to hit at full lock. It's seems weird that it's the upper control arm. Usually it hit the lower arm. Normally you have to remove the lip back to the shock mount to prevent it from grinding.

If you do remove the lip I suggest you make a boxing plate for the bottom of the arm. I have seen them crack.

You know if you run 17" or bigger wheels it will resolve this issue.

**N2TRUX** · 11-06-2007, 11:11 PM

pics please?

RustMaster87 · 11-07-2007, 07:06 PM

I took a few pictures so I could show the problem I am having. The only thing I can think of is that maybe the uppers are on the wrong side of the truck? Any other ideas?

**N2TRUX** · 11-07-2007, 07:41 PM

OK, that's what I thought you meant. You have me stumped there. I have never seen that happen. I have the same spindle on my 77 and have no clearance issues.

Have you considered calling DJM?

RustMaster87 · 11-07-2007, 07:57 PM

I thought about calling DJM, I will give that a shot as a last resort. If I hit the spindle and the control with the grinder it will fit, it looks like the casting of the spindle has a little too much on it where there is a ridge is on the top.

**N2TRUX** · 11-07-2007, 08:08 PM

I think I would clean up the edge of the control arm rather than the spindle. It doesn't look like it would take much to clearence the lip.

454HO · 11-07-2007, 09:39 PM

Here is what mine look like.

Looking at the 'keyhole' slot and the upper bump stop, it does look like you have the upper control arms swapped.

Rc 415 · 11-07-2007, 09:56 PM

Yeah you have the upper ca's on the wrong sides

f.monroe · 11-07-2007, 10:27 PM

The small slot in the upper control arm should face the front . It is the slot that the brake hose bracket mounts to . You can see it clearly in 454HO's post . Frank

RustMaster87 · 11-09-2007, 06:22 PM

Yea I do have the uppers on the wrong side. I figured there had to be a reason for that clearance issue. Thanks for the help

**N2TRUX** · 11-09-2007, 10:33 PM

Flip them around and report back. I have to know for sure...

11-06-2007, 01:28 PM	#1
RustMaster87 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NH Posts: 25	Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA I put my 3 inch drop spindles on my frame today and the spindle and the lip of the upper control arm are hitting each other. Is there an adjustment I can make or am I going to have to hit it with the grinder? Is this a common thing? Last edited by RustMaster87; 11-06-2007 at 01:28 PM.

11-06-2007, 01:32 PM	#2
454HO Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,223	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA What brand spindles? I didn't have this problem with BellTech spindles on 2 different trucks. Did you replace the upper ball joints? Sure you got Left and Right correct? __________________ - Greg

11-06-2007, 01:59 PM	#3
RustMaster87 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NH Posts: 25	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA The brand is DJM. I have them on the correct sides. I started off with a frame and have replaced every bushing, ball joint, and soon to be tie rod ends. I hope I do not have the wrong spindles. I have the spindles with the 1.25 rotor, and the correct rotor.

11-06-2007, 02:18 PM	#4
RunninLo 3DrDwn--the 'burb not the band Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: missoula, mt Posts: 598	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA what's going on with the steering stop? on some spindles it's cast and some I've seen it's threaded like a bolt into the casting. If threaded you can back it out some. It's a trade-off with spindles that you'll lose some turn radius. Did you trim the tab for the stop off the LCA? I know a few people who have made that mistake when cutting off the factory bump stop. as a last resort I've also had to grind the lip most recently with a set of Chassis Tech Spindles on an '84 burb. Josh

11-06-2007, 02:36 PM	#5
RustMaster87 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NH Posts: 25	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA I have not adjusted anything else on the truck as this is as far as I have gotten in putting it back together. When I turn the actual wheel to the front, sending the spindle in towards the motor, I have no clearance issues. I run into a problem when I turn the wheel back into the frame. I just went out and took another look at it and I noticed that the upper control arm bump stop is bottomed out on the cross Member. I wonder if I got the rest of the suspension on it and got if off of jack stands it would allow the upper control arm to articulate up eliminating this clearance issue. Last edited by RustMaster87; 11-06-2007 at 02:51 PM.

11-06-2007, 10:09 PM	#7
RustMaster87 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NH Posts: 25	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA The thing that is confusing me is that I do not have any wheels on the truck, and the upper control arm lip is hitting the drop spindle.

11-06-2007, 08:11 PM	#8
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA What size wheels are you running? If you are running 15x8's then they are definitely going to hit at full lock. It's seems weird that it's the upper control arm. Usually it hit the lower arm. Normally you have to remove the lip back to the shock mount to prevent it from grinding. If you do remove the lip I suggest you make a boxing plate for the bottom of the arm. I have seen them crack. You know if you run 17" or bigger wheels it will resolve this issue. __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra" Last edited by N2TRUX; 11-06-2007 at 08:15 PM.

11-06-2007, 11:11 PM	#9
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA pics please? __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

11-07-2007, 07:06 PM	#10
RustMaster87 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NH Posts: 25	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA I took a few pictures so I could show the problem I am having. The only thing I can think of is that maybe the uppers are on the wrong side of the truck? Any other ideas? Attached Images Last edited by RustMaster87; 11-07-2007 at 07:07 PM.

11-07-2007, 07:41 PM	#11
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA OK, that's what I thought you meant. You have me stumped there. I have never seen that happen. I have the same spindle on my 77 and have no clearance issues. Have you considered calling DJM? __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

11-07-2007, 07:57 PM	#12
RustMaster87 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NH Posts: 25	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA I thought about calling DJM, I will give that a shot as a last resort. If I hit the spindle and the control with the grinder it will fit, it looks like the casting of the spindle has a little too much on it where there is a ridge is on the top.

11-07-2007, 08:08 PM	#13
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA I think I would clean up the edge of the control arm rather than the spindle. It doesn't look like it would take much to clearence the lip. __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

11-07-2007, 09:39 PM	#14
454HO Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,223	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA Here is what mine look like. Looking at the 'keyhole' slot and the upper bump stop, it does look like you have the upper control arms swapped. __________________ - Greg

11-07-2007, 09:56 PM	#15
Rc 415 Flat Black, & Chrome! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 852	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA Yeah you have the upper ca's on the wrong sides __________________ 1983 Chevy C10 Stepside Sold http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/rc_415/

11-07-2007, 10:27 PM	#16
f.monroe Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Caldwell,Tx. Posts: 3,648	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA The small slot in the upper control arm should face the front . It is the slot that the brake hose bracket mounts to . You can see it clearly in 454HO's post . Frank __________________ Born and proudly residing in a Red State !



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11-09-2007, 06:22 PM	#17
RustMaster87 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NH Posts: 25	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA Yea I do have the uppers on the wrong side. I figured there had to be a reason for that clearance issue. Thanks for the help

11-09-2007, 10:33 PM	#18
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Re: Drop spindle help needed, rubbing on upper CA Flip them around and report back. I have to know for sure... __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.