stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

scrapmetalart · 10-23-2008, 01:13 AM

anyone done it? I have 3" springs & drum brakes on my 67. I wanna keep the drums cause I'm cheap...

are 67 - 72 lower control arms the same, just the ball joint different? I have a pair off a 72 & would like to do them so I can just swap them out...

powell72 · 10-24-2008, 03:31 PM

Yes, the arms are the same, the ball joints are different. Here's a pic for reference.

67dragtruck · 10-24-2008, 06:27 PM

Never thought of that one before. I've seen the spring pocket lowered, but not that one. Does this cause alignment nightmares?

Tom

Spray-Bomb · 10-24-2008, 09:06 PM

Im pretty sure this used to be a common thing "back in the day", but I wasnt around then

Longhorn Man · 10-24-2008, 09:27 PM

it was common.
If you are working it yourself, i think I'd recomend making the spring pocket deeper. That would be easier to judge how much of a drop you get, and no chance of messing up where the ball joint sits (screwing up the alignment)
I have a set, on the burb. I'm still not 100% sure they are gonna be on there long term. I don't think mine were built right. With no shims in there, I still have my wheels sitting like this;
\----/
Not to that degree, it is very mild, but enough to eat tires if I don't do something soon.

scrapmetalart · 10-24-2008, 09:49 PM

longhorn...yours have the balljoint raised?

any one have pics of the spring pocket lowered?

Longhorn Man · 10-24-2008, 10:18 PM

yeah, i may be mistaken, but that might actually be my photo. not sure.
But I DO know this is mine;

scrapmetalart · 10-24-2008, 11:09 PM

looks like about 1"? I am thinking 2"...I will look into the dropped pocket. There is a guy not to far from me that does a TON of bags & lowered cars & trucks. I may ask him some stuffs...

**SactoJim** · 10-24-2008, 11:19 PM

Had mine for a long time......got them before all this other cool stuff was available.

scrapmetalart · 10-25-2008, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SactoJim

Had mine for a long time......got them before all this other cool stuff was available.

did you need the tube uppers to correct the alignment????

3" lowered springs & 2" stepped lowers?

68C15 · 10-25-2008, 08:15 AM

mine used to have 3" lower buckets. that netted me a 5" drop. I also changed the angle of the ball joints to keep them in the middle of their arc. to do this I did 2 small slits and heated the arm while gently bending the ends. my way ended up with a neutral camber curve. the problem was the coils would rub on the inside of the pocket and make a ugly noise.

chevy_mike · 10-26-2008, 12:37 AM

I had a set of "dropped A arms" from So Low Suspesions (back in the day). The first set were too wide and I could not get my camber even back to 0*. They sent me a second set which worked fine. Only issue I ever had was without any bumpstop, I overflexed a new upper ball joint and distroyed it. I replaced it and sold the truck soon after (not for that reason) so I never made any bumpstops, which would have fixed that issue.

Outside of that, they worked fine.

SCOTI · 10-26-2008, 12:46 AM

My buddies dropped a-arms (aftermarket So-Lo/Chisolm) worked fine up until the day one of the dropped spring pockets snagged a man-hole cover in his neighborhood. Bent the frame like a cartoon. . ..... the damage was baaaaaaaaaaad.

Stepped stock arms (like pictured) will work; but they'll have the same draw-backs vs. upgrading to drop-spindles.

Longhorn Man · 10-26-2008, 08:40 AM

a drop spindle would have snagged on the same thing there.
In a dropped LCA that is properly built, I don't see any drawbacks over a dropped spindle.

SCOTI · 10-26-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

a drop spindle would have snagged on the same thing there.

I disagree.

The reason why is these were aftermarket dropped a-arms (which I indicated). The spring pocket was about 1.5" below the same lowest point vs. the stock lower arm it was swapped for.

Quote:

In a dropped LCA that is properly built, I don't see any drawbacks over a dropped spindle.

I agree.
I feel properly stepping a set of stock arms would be similar to dropped spindles.

Longhorn Man · 10-26-2008, 02:07 PM

I missed that part.
Thanks for the correction.

MickMc · 10-28-2008, 11:58 AM

MY 68 3/4 had steped lower arms from So-Low, I put a lot of miles on that truck and I still see it driving around once in a while.

i still miss that truck...

Steped lower arms and cut coils, back in the day...

Mick

MT71c-10 · 10-30-2008, 07:51 PM

Post deleted
New thread started

10-23-2008, 01:13 AM	#1
scrapmetalart Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: DAYTON Posts: 505	stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? anyone done it? I have 3" springs & drum brakes on my 67. I wanna keep the drums cause I'm cheap... are 67 - 72 lower control arms the same, just the ball joint different? I have a pair off a 72 & would like to do them so I can just swap them out... __________________ frontstreetcycle on Instagram

10-24-2008, 03:31 PM	#2
powell72 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Loveland Co. Posts: 3,098	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? Yes, the arms are the same, the ball joints are different. Here's a pic for reference. __________________ Chris 74 Custom Deluxe SWB 350/350/3.73’s 99 2wd Silverado RCSB 5.3/4L60/3.90’s http://www.classictrucks.com/feature...short_bed.html

10-24-2008, 06:27 PM	#3
67dragtruck Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Bethlehem, GA, USA Posts: 389	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? Never thought of that one before. I've seen the spring pocket lowered, but not that one. Does this cause alignment nightmares? Tom __________________ No more dragtruck for me. I'm building a new ride though. It's a '71 fleetside, 400 sbc, 700R4. Working on it now, finally. Soon to have Edelbrock Pro Flo EFI, Vintage Air, 1 piece windows, buddy buckets, etc. My new build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...17#post2861817 Best pass with the old dragtruck: 5.32 @ 131.6 mph 1/8 mile w/ a 1.25 60' Fogger/Plate 2003 Best pass with the street 406 hydraulic roller motor w/ mild plate tuneup 5.93 @ 114 mph 1/8 mile w/ a 1.29 60' 2003 or 2004

10-24-2008, 09:06 PM	#4
Spray-Bomb Texas Big Wig Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mineola, Texas Posts: 5,620	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? Im pretty sure this used to be a common thing "back in the day", but I wasnt around then __________________ Just not low enough... ----------------------------- Sinister Killer

10-24-2008, 09:27 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? it was common. If you are working it yourself, i think I'd recomend making the spring pocket deeper. That would be easier to judge how much of a drop you get, and no chance of messing up where the ball joint sits (screwing up the alignment) I have a set, on the burb. I'm still not 100% sure they are gonna be on there long term. I don't think mine were built right. With no shims in there, I still have my wheels sitting like this; \----/ Not to that degree, it is very mild, but enough to eat tires if I don't do something soon.

10-24-2008, 09:49 PM	#6
scrapmetalart Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: DAYTON Posts: 505	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? longhorn...yours have the balljoint raised? any one have pics of the spring pocket lowered? __________________ frontstreetcycle on Instagram

10-24-2008, 10:18 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? yeah, i may be mistaken, but that might actually be my photo. not sure. But I DO know this is mine;

10-24-2008, 11:09 PM	#8
scrapmetalart Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: DAYTON Posts: 505	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? looks like about 1"? I am thinking 2"...I will look into the dropped pocket. There is a guy not to far from me that does a TON of bags & lowered cars & trucks. I may ask him some stuffs... __________________ frontstreetcycle on Instagram

10-24-2008, 11:19 PM	#9
SactoJim Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,970	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? Had mine for a long time......got them before all this other cool stuff was available. Attached Images __________________ 72 Cheyenne SWB Fleet Nut & bolt frame off in progress...99.9999% - supercharged 383 - 4 wheel discs - relocated fuel tank - My Build Thread

10-25-2008, 08:15 AM	#11
68C15 blood type; Retumbo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: next to my reloading bench Posts: 10,269	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? mine used to have 3" lower buckets. that netted me a 5" drop. I also changed the angle of the ball joints to keep them in the middle of their arc. to do this I did 2 small slits and heated the arm while gently bending the ends. my way ended up with a neutral camber curve. the problem was the coils would rub on the inside of the pocket and make a ugly noise.

10-26-2008, 12:37 AM	#12
chevy_mike Never Ending Projects Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,836	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? I had a set of "dropped A arms" from So Low Suspesions (back in the day). The first set were too wide and I could not get my camber even back to 0. They sent me a second set which worked fine. Only issue I ever had was without any bumpstop, I overflexed a new upper ball joint and distroyed it. I replaced it and sold the truck soon after (not for that reason) so I never made any bumpstops, which would have fixed that issue. Outside of that, they worked fine. __________________ . 1965 C10 Panel, Tiki Express http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=506580 SOLD* 1968 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod Hauler http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313233 SOLD 1965 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415702 SOLD We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason... listen twice as much and speak half as often...

10-26-2008, 12:46 AM	#13
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,071	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? My buddies dropped a-arms (aftermarket So-Lo/Chisolm) worked fine up until the day one of the dropped spring pockets snagged a man-hole cover in his neighborhood. Bent the frame like a cartoon. . ..... the damage was baaaaaaaaaaad. Stepped stock arms (like pictured) will work; but they'll have the same draw-backs vs. upgrading to drop-spindles. __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

10-26-2008, 08:40 AM	#14
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? a drop spindle would have snagged on the same thing there. In a dropped LCA that is properly built, I don't see any drawbacks over a dropped spindle.

10-26-2008, 02:07 PM	#16
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? I missed that part. Thanks for the correction.

10-28-2008, 11:58 AM	#17
MickMc Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 359	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? MY 68 3/4 had steped lower arms from So-Low, I put a lot of miles on that truck and I still see it driving around once in a while. i still miss that truck... Steped lower arms and cut coils, back in the day... Mick



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10-30-2008, 07:51 PM	#18
MT71c-10 Too many toys,not enough money Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bozeman,MT Posts: 237	Re: stepped lower control arms/ raised ball joints??? Post deleted New thread started Last edited by MT71c-10; 10-30-2008 at 08:02 PM. Reason: started new thread. Too many questions

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