help with Offset upper control arms?

[bowtiebreece]

I took my truck after lowering it (with 3 inch springs in the front and relocating the shocks) to get the front end alligned and was told after they put it on the rack that I need offset upper control arms installed before they could allign it. I did some research before lowerig it and never heard of this. should I order the offset arms and if so where should I order them from and how hard are they to install? I know thats alot of questions but any help would be greatly appreciated

[Longhorn Man]

I'd go to another shop first.

[piecesparts]

If all else fails, I would look at CPP. They offer offset A arms.

[neonlarry]

It would be cheaper to take the springs out and use 2.5" dropped spindles than to put in offset A-arms. The spindles will not change the suspension geometry.

[dwcsr]

Are you sure they didn't say offset control arm shaft? If they did part number is MOOG Part # K6184

[Mondo]

I ran into the same problem. Put dropped spindles and 2in dropped springs... aligned and everything ok.

Except I wanted more drop so went to 3in dropped springs and the alignment shop was afraid of putting that many spacers in there for camber. I bought some upper A Arms for dropped trucks from Brothers and now everything is good.

Just wish someone told me earlier so I could of saved on the labor and had it done when I put on the spindles and new balljoints etc..

Guess that's one of the good things about this site. Now someone reading this and thinking of going 5+ inches will know they should get the special A arms too.

[Down south truckin]

I've used the offset control arm shafts before on a lowered 68 camaro I used to have....DST

[fatboys69]

I used to have 3" drop springs in mine ( I just changed it all to 2.5" drop spindles and tubular control arms ) and had no issues in getting an alignment.
I gave them to ORANGE and he put them in his and had the frontend aligned and had no issues gettting it within specs either. IMO, I would go to another shop.They just have to add shims to the uppers to get the camber in the right location.

[ChevLoRay]

This is a good post.

I have mine dropped 2.5 in front, and would like to go an inch lower. My alignment is factory-spec. A one-inch lower spring will give me the additional drop I want. Is the opinion here that I may also need the offset upper control arm shafts, or would that only apply to a shorter spring?

[neonlarry]

My best guess is that a 1" spring drop should be adjustable with additional spacers.
The problem with a larger spring drop is not just camber adjustment but also caster adustment and that is what most of the offset A-arms do is put that caster back within an acceptable range.

[dwcsr]

One thing to take into account is that these trucks have a habit of the frame twisting inward at the upper control arm mounting points, Thats the reason the motor mounts are attached from the cross member to the upper frame flange.

There is a bracket to fix this issue as well so you can get the camber correct.

[ChevLoRay]

Good info. Thanks.