Lengthening / shortening 1-ton control arms for air ride

[D.FENS]

Some 1-ton owners narrow the lower control arms an inch or so and keep the DRW rotors.

Some swap over to 1-ton SRW front rotors and lengthen the control arms about maybe 2".

The HOW seems pretty clear to me, just wondering about the WHY.

Is it to keep the steering geometry (tie rods), getting the front wheels to sit where you want them, or is it just because the SRW front rotors are about 1/3 the price of the DRW front rotors?




^ Narrowed / stepped arm



^ Lengthened arm

[lolife99]

It's to tuck the wheels inside the fenders.
(stock 8-lug dually wheels or 10-lug Semi wheels with adapters)

It's all about getting the front down.

[D.FENS]

Narrowing the front track is the objective of either method, I'm clear on that much. Probably should have added in my original post that this modification is pretty much specific to trucks running semi wheels.

What I'm after is what makes one method more desireable over the other (besides the cheaper brake rotors LOL).

[lolife99]

Do you hang out at www.duallyscene.com?
You might find your specific answer there.
Seems like I also remember them "stepping" the lower balljoint for added clearance while turning those big rims.

[D.FENS]

Went through this forum and the duallyscene tech forums, there's plenty of how but not much why.

About all I can figure out is lengthening the arms doesn't create the problem with running out of adjustment on the tie rods, like it can when you go the other way.

[cajundragger]

man I know a bunch of dually just run SRW rotors in the front with stock arms to tuck semi's.

I think its all a game of track width, and where exactly you want it.