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Old 04-23-2013, 10:29 PM   #1
LEEVON
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Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

Just finished up with McGaughy's 2.5" drop spindles and a single coil cut on my '87. I was expecting to have to clear the lower control arm lip, but to my surprise the tie rod end hits the wheel. These are standard 15x8 rally wheels, with 4.25" backspacing and the boot is tight enough the wheel won't spin freely. No grinding will fix this. I've never had this problem with 2.5 spindles. I guess I'm going to have to get different wheels. That's not so exciting...

As an added bonus the lower ball joint taper on one of the spindles was not complete and I had to drill it out myself. This drop has been a real pain and I've done a bunch of them.

Anybody else have tie rod clearance issues?
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Old 04-23-2013, 10:36 PM   #2
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

Will a 1/4" spacer fix it?
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Old 04-23-2013, 10:51 PM   #3
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

Probably, that was my first thought but I have reservations about wheel spacers. I have a set of 88-98 rally wheels that are 7" wide, but they're ugly.
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Old 04-24-2013, 01:00 AM   #4
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

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Originally Posted by LEEVON View Post
Probably, that was my first thought but I have reservations about wheel spacers. I have a set of 88-98 rally wheels that are 7" wide, but they're ugly.
And probably have close to the same backspacing.
I would call McGaughy's.

I always use Belltech Spindles on 73-87 trucks.
Belltech spindles are cast with the tie rod arm moved in slightly, to help eliminate the contact with the rim.
(It also makes your wheels "toed out" after installation)
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Old 04-24-2013, 07:22 AM   #5
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

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And probably have close to the same backspacing.
I would call McGaughy's.

I always use Belltech Spindles on 73-87 trucks.
Belltech spindles are cast with the tie rod arm moved in slightly, to help eliminate the contact with the rim.
(It also makes your wheels "toed out" after installation)
sheeesh, Belltech's are almost twice as much as Mcgaughy's
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Old 04-24-2013, 08:24 AM   #6
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

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sheeesh, Belltech's are almost twice as much as Mcgaughy's
And worth the investment depending on your wheel choice.

Leevon... Would 6.5" van ralleys be an option for you?
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Old 04-24-2013, 09:07 AM   #7
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

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And worth the investment depending on your wheel choice.

Leevon... Would 6.5" van ralleys be an option for you?
Just a heads up, 6.5in van and 8in truck rallys have the same 4.25in back space.
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Old 04-24-2013, 08:51 AM   #8
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

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Originally Posted by lolife99 View Post
And probably have close to the same backspacing.
I would call McGaughy's.

I always use Belltech Spindles on 73-87 trucks.
Belltech spindles are cast with the tie rod arm moved in slightly, to help eliminate the contact with the rim.
(It also makes your wheels "toed out" after installation)
I just installed a pair of DJM 3 inch spindles ($239 from Summit) and found the same thing. The truck had about 1.5" of toe out once I set it on the ground. I've never seen a set of spindles do it nearly that far. But, it's easy to adjust toe back to spec and the wheel clearance is welcomed.
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Old 04-24-2013, 11:11 AM   #9
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

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Originally Posted by lolife99 View Post
And probably have close to the same backspacing.
I would call McGaughy's.

I always use Belltech Spindles on 73-87 trucks.
Belltech spindles are cast with the tie rod arm moved in slightly, to help eliminate the contact with the rim.
(It also makes your wheels "toed out" after installation)

Moving the tie rod inward will increase the turning radius of the vehicle, considerably. The only real solution is to use the correct back spaced wheels or larger diameter to clear. 1st gen Camaros have the same issue.
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Old 04-24-2013, 11:17 AM   #10
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

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Moving the tie rod inward will increase the turning radius of the vehicle, considerably. The only real solution is to use the correct back spaced wheels or larger diameter to clear. 1st gen Camaros have the same issue.
I'm trying to follow you on this. But, the steering still goes lock to lock whereas the spindles rotate fully to contact the stops on the control arm. How would the new steering radius be changed ?

I'm not saying you're wrong, just trying to figure it out in my head.
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Old 04-24-2013, 01:15 PM   #11
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

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I'm trying to follow you on this. But, the steering still goes lock to lock whereas the spindles rotate fully to contact the stops on the control arm. How would the new steering radius be changed ?

I'm not saying you're wrong, just trying to figure it out in my head.
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Depending on the spindle design, most have the stops as part of the arm and all of that gets moved inward. I guess if the stops are located elswhere and were not changed then it would be OK. All that I have seen have stops cast with the arms but this is mainly on cars, maybe the truck spindles are different.
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Old 04-24-2013, 06:04 PM   #12
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

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I'm trying to follow you on this. But, the steering still goes lock to lock whereas the spindles rotate fully to contact the stops on the control arm. How would the new steering radius be changed ?

I'm not saying you're wrong, just trying to figure it out in my head.
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Google "ackerman steering". There is a lot to it.
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Old 04-24-2013, 12:11 AM   #13
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

Same thing happened to me. Forced me to buy wheels before I wanted to.....
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Old 04-24-2013, 08:49 AM   #14
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

I've become fairly loyal to McGaughy's in the last couple of years, I think these spindles are top notch but I know they all have little differences in design. I am definitely going to let them know about the ball joint taper and I'll make a suggestion about the tie rod location. Keith, that makes sense on the tie rods, the McG spindles stayed exactly the same width as stock. It would be smart of them to move in just a hair.

Scoti, ideally I would find some 15x7's with the 3 5/8" backspacing, but the van 6.5's might work. I think they're 4" backspacing and the 15x8's are 4 1/4". That 1/4" would make all the difference. There is a set locally that I'm chasing today. Do you have some?
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Old 04-24-2013, 09:28 AM   #15
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

Stock steelie wheels with hubcaps are easy and they clear by a mile. It's what all the coolest guys are doing now. Well, me and Yetti, but trends gotta start somewhere.


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Old 04-24-2013, 09:52 AM   #16
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

Kevin, great minds think alike! I've been contemplating that actually. There was a brand new take-off set complete with GMC hub caps for sale. I had somebody photoshop them on to a similar truck in my build thread. Are they 15" or 16" though?
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Old 04-24-2013, 10:02 AM   #17
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

Mine are just 15 inch stock wheels. The neat thing is that even with 3 inch drop spindles I had to clearance nothing. Not the spindle or the lower control arm. They fit with much room to spare lock to lock.

My stuff is crap though. Look at Yezzis trucks. He is a rock star at steel wheels and skinny tires.
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Old 04-24-2013, 04:23 PM   #18
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

Hi Leevon. It sucks about the clearance issue with your spindles. When i installed my 3/4 ton to 1/2 ton dropped spindles it took me a while to figure out why I got the toe out situation. My Early Classic spindles appear to be engineered for wheel clearace as well. I know that a lot of people don't like the idea of spacers much less adaptors, but I have used them numerous times with no issues. Granted, I am not pushing a ton of horsepower or exposing any substantial driveline shock to them so a spacer may be something to consider on the front. As for steel wheels and hub caps that Tx Firefighter suggests, I'm on board. I sometimes miss the way my truck looked with the factory hucaps, so the thought struck me of making some clips much like a vintage wheel has so I can run my 3/4 caps on a ralley wheel. I've mocked this setup on a Corvette ralley wheel just to see and I kind of like it.
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Old 04-24-2013, 05:44 PM   #19
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

heres mine with the same spindles and 2" springs 6.5' rallys, granted i will be swapping for 1" springs and it still needs to be aligned. and my control arms need to be massaged
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Old 04-24-2013, 05:46 PM   #20
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

and a 6.5 compared to an 8, hope it helps. they are about 1/4" difference
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Old 04-24-2013, 10:06 PM   #21
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

Wow, thanks for all the info, photos and suggestions guys! I love this forum, would be lost if left to my own devices. I test fit an 88-98 15x7 wheel that has about 4" backspace and it solves the tie rod clearance issue, so I could run those temporary. I also have a line on a set of van 6.5's, since they are 4" also they should work. I won't be able to get them until Friday.

What do you think about the 88-98 wheels? Black, white, or rally style? My trim rings fit but I would have to drill/tap for the center caps or use the later ones and there are no nubs for hub caps.
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Old 04-26-2013, 09:54 AM   #22
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

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Originally Posted by LEEVON View Post
Wow, thanks for all the info, photos and suggestions guys! I love this forum, would be lost if left to my own devices. I test fit an 88-98 15x7 wheel that has about 4" backspace and it solves the tie rod clearance issue, so I could run those temporary. I also have a line on a set of van 6.5's, since they are 4" also they should work. I won't be able to get them until Friday.

What do you think about the 88-98 wheels? Black, white, or rally style? My trim rings fit but I would have to drill/tap for the center caps or use the later ones and there are no nubs for hub caps.
I think the 88's look ok..That's what the PO left me with..Guess I kinda lucked out, I didn't have any clearence issues with the DJM 3" spindles.
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But for some reason I would love to see some dog dishes on her..No nubs#%*^%$
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Old 04-24-2013, 10:30 PM   #23
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

Friday is the day after tomorrow. I don't think I would bother mounting a tire on those wheels, unless it is a spare.
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Old 04-25-2013, 01:30 PM   #24
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

DJM and Belltech both make them.

Summit has the DJM 3 inch drop spindles for the heavy brake rotor for 229. You're gonna be right at 240 dollars or so delivered to your door.

I just bought a pair recently myself.
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Old 04-25-2013, 02:57 PM   #25
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Re: Rally wheel / 2.5 spindle clearance (unhappy camper)

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DJM and Belltech both make them.

Summit has the DJM 3 inch drop spindles for the heavy brake rotor for 229. You're gonna be right at 240 dollars or so delivered to your door.

I just bought a pair recently myself.
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Someone else posted this Ebay ad here, they sell the DJM spindles for $199 with free shipping any where USA. Can't beat that. They list them as 2.5" but DJM website does say 3". At that price I have to believe it's DJM selling them on Ebay. All their stuff is DJM.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120915318775...84.m1438.l2649
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