C-Arm ground clearance, 15's and ??? drop?

[SkinnyG]

How low can I drop the front before the lower control arms hang below a 15" rim?

I should have measured before I ripped the front all apart, but hindsight is always 20/20.

[Mikec10]

Depends on the whole diameter of the wheel not necessarily just the size of the rim.

[SkinnyG]

Ah, right, yes. That makes sense.

Let me try again:

At what amount of drop does the control arm hang lower than the edge of a 15" rim?

Reason I ask, is up here it's is illegal for anything to hang below the rim, and I don't want a fix-it ticket quite yet.

[mgchevyparts]

Only drop spindles and lowered lower control arms will lower the control arm, springs don't. How much you going to drop? If you do spindles and springs the control arm will not come close to being lower then the rim.

[mkdesign]

Also depends on if you are trimming the coils alone or in conjunction with dropped spindles. With my two full coils trimmed ( 3/4 ton coils and 16" rims mind you) I still had descent clearance,but when I installed my 2 1/2" dropped spindles it put my lowerer control arms very close to the ground. My options now are taller tires than my 235/60-15's (nope), bigger rims (maybe 20's), heavier springs (probably) or raise it (no way!) I would probably go with the standard 1 1/2 coils with your 15's to start with.

[SkinnyG]

I have 3" spindles (still in box), and am/was planning on trimming half or one coil off the stock (1/2 ton) springs. Rear is a flip kit on HD leafs.

It's not really ground clearance I'm worries about (despite my poorly worded thread title), it's the hanging below the rim. I'd ~like~ to keep the stock 15" rallys, but I need the front low enough to match the flip kit in the back without hassle from the popo.

I can always buy larger rims..... but I'm trying to keep the truck on a budget.

[SkinnyG]

Wait. I checked out your truck at LordCo today. And the blue short box across the street.

[mgchevyparts]

You will be OK with the spindles as far as where the lower A arm is, lowered coils will not effect the lower a arm position. Depending on the rim back space they may not fit the drop spindles, I think 4" BS is max to clear with drop spindles

[SkinnyG]

The inner pivot won't sit below the rim?

I have read that I may need to trim the control arms to fit stock 15's. I'm ok with that. I short-boxed and notched the frame in the back.

[mgchevyparts]

Your a arm will be 3" lower to the ground with those spindles, springs will not change that. Springs lower the body only.

[wraprail]

Originally Posted by mgchevyparts

Your a arm will be 3" lower to the ground with those spindles, springs will not change that. Springs lower the body only.

He is not asking about ground clearance, his concern is keeping it legal to avoid a ticket.
Most states that I am aware of do not allow any part of a vehicle to hang below the bottom of the wheel/rim. It's for safety

When I was static dropped I had 15" wheels, a 2.5 drop spindle & 3" drop springs and my lower control arms were way below my wheels. Very dangerous in the event of a tire falure.
Then I bolted 20" rims on with no other changes and had mucho clearance.
Tire size makes no difference at all. It is wheel size that makes the difference. (as well as springs and spindles)

[Reziel_1983]

Here's a picture of mine, I think this is what you're looking for. I have 3 inch djm drop spindles and 1 cut coil with 15 inch rims.

[SkinnyG]

That is exactly what I'm looking for, and it's not looking good.

I've shortened and notched the frame already, which is questionably legal in these here parts. It's not going to help me having control arms arms below the rim.

Guess I better look for bigger rims.

[SkinnyG]

And this is before the springs were cut?

[Reziel_1983]

No, that's with only the rear dropped I think. This is with drop spindles but no springs cut. Sorry, I don't have a picture of the front to give a view of the control arms.

[SkinnyG]

Thank you so much.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Well if you have the time the skill and the patience and if need be money. You could section the crossmember 1.5-2in to lower the truck so that you can gow low without making anything lower than the rim
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[SkinnyG]

I have actually been looking into that. Either Z the frame, or raise/pancake the crossmember. Or a combination of both (to affect the steering less).

Or put on a later plastic deflector to hide it

[tony58]

I measured a bone stock 76, there is 2.5" between the edge of the 15" wheel and the bottom of the A arm, so a drop spindle will put your A arm on the ground with a 15" wheel(in case of flat tire). Easiest to buy bigger wheels, or use lowering springs only. Use air bags!

[KQQL IT]

Drop member
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[SCOTI]

Bigger diameter wheels & spindles would get my vote for best approach.