Airbagit Drop Spindles - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

todd99 · 02-18-2011, 10:02 PM

I have spent all day trying to install the 3" drop spindles I ordered from airbagit. They are still not fully installed. I had to do A LOT of grinding to make the brakes fit. I would recommend buying from someone else.

BHBurban · 02-18-2011, 10:05 PM

Junk. everything they sell is junk.

**lolife99** · 02-18-2011, 10:07 PM

Got any pics of the problem areas?
Did the balljoints and outer tie rods fit?

todd99 · 02-18-2011, 10:17 PM

No, I don't have any pics. The ball joints, tie rods, and disk fit fine. The shoes on both sides required a lot of material to be removed. The weird part was that the left and right spindles had problems in completely different places. They actually made two completely different designs for the left and right.

**lolife99** · 02-18-2011, 10:42 PM

shoes???

dave2953 · 02-18-2011, 10:43 PM

My thoughts exactly...pads maybe? Could it be that the pads you had were for the 1" rotors instead of the 1 1/4"? Just a WAG...

todd99 · 02-18-2011, 10:51 PM

Sorry I meant to say calipers

71swb4x4 · 02-18-2011, 11:03 PM

Unfortunately this is one of those "you get what you pay for" things. Those guys sell cheap junk, and you learned the hard way. I do commend you for posting it on the board. Hopefully others will read this before they buy them.

**lolife99** · 02-18-2011, 11:08 PM

Just curious,... how much the spindles cost?
The other problem with AirBagit.com is they normally have a restocking charge on anything you want to send back,... no matter who screwed up the order or quality of the part.

AirBagit.com is also the same company as Aim or ChassisTech.
(these are the previous names of this company)

todd99 · 02-18-2011, 11:14 PM

http://www.airbagit.com/Chevrolet-Lo...les-s/1771.htm

$289 - 1971 C20

**chevy2tom** · 02-18-2011, 11:24 PM

Todd, I had the same problem with my 71 3/4 ton, what I found was that I had the wrong calipers&rotors on my truck from the po. I went to the local parts store & ordered rotors&calipers for a 71/72 & that took care of it.
Posted via Mobile Device

todd99 · 02-18-2011, 11:57 PM

My brakes are definitely the originals. I would guess they used a truck with the wrong calipers when they designed their spindles. I would rather just file some metal off than go through the hassle of buying and installing new calipers. Thanks anyways.

todd99 · 02-19-2011, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevy2tom

Todd, I had the same problem with my 71 3/4 ton, what I found was that I had the wrong calipers&rotors on my truck from the po. I went to the local parts store & ordered rotors&calipers for a 71/72 & that took care of it.
Posted via Mobile Device

Did you have any alignment issues after installation? I've heard that anything more than a two inch drop on a 3/4 ton will be un-alignable.

**leddzepp** · 02-19-2011, 12:13 AM

Dropped spindles will not adversely affect your alignment....drop springs will.

tcb-1 · 02-19-2011, 12:40 AM

airbagit sucks. period.

**chevy2tom** · 02-19-2011, 12:49 AM

No problems with having my front end alignment done. I have the stock front springs & shocks. I also bought & installed 5" drop coil springs from GMC Pauls.

72rustbucket · 02-19-2011, 01:49 AM

I installed mine my like 3 years ago and had no problems w/calipers. But i dont know if you noticed they have two types of spindles clip on or bolt on for caliper. This might be your problem.

**leddzepp** · 02-19-2011, 03:26 AM

Moving to Suspension Forum...

todd99 · 02-19-2011, 10:26 AM

I bought the right spindles, bolt on. Maybe I just got a bad casting.

BHBurban · 02-19-2011, 12:50 PM

If one casting is bad, they are all bad.

**lolife99** · 02-19-2011, 02:15 PM

When I originally read this thread,... I didn't realize they were C20 drop spindles.
(I assume they are?)
There are not many choices for the c20 trucks.
I do know that Performance Online sells them,... but they are a little more money.
(I assume,... due to lack of demand,... the supply and demand issue negates the price)
Sounds like they would've been worth the money, in this case.

leftcoast66 · 02-20-2011, 12:22 AM

Sorry to hear you got taken by them. I'm glad to hear yours are somewhat close to fitting. I ordered a set for my 66 when I first got it. I got a set of disc spindles that didn't fit any c10 discs or balljoints in 6 or 5 lug and they wanted us to pay the 30% restock fee even though they were advertised as working with factory drum brakes when I ordered. I hope you're able to get them to fit and good luck with the truck.

todd99 · 02-20-2011, 10:13 AM

Thanks, I managed to install them. After seeing how much better my truck looks it was worth the frustration.

02-18-2011, 10:02 PM	#1
todd99 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: prescott, az Posts: 225	Airbagit Drop Spindles I have spent all day trying to install the 3" drop spindles I ordered from airbagit. They are still not fully installed. I had to do A LOT of grinding to make the brakes fit. I would recommend buying from someone else. __________________ 1971 C20 Longhorn Custom Camper Last edited by N2TRUX; 03-15-2013 at 10:48 AM.

02-18-2011, 10:05 PM	#2
BHBurban Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: new york Posts: 88	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles Junk. everything they sell is junk. __________________ "94 Suburban '89 Dually '00 Tahoe 88 shortbox

02-18-2011, 10:07 PM	#3
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,700	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles Got any pics of the problem areas? Did the balljoints and outer tie rods fit? __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

02-18-2011, 10:17 PM	#4
todd99 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: prescott, az Posts: 225	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles No, I don't have any pics. The ball joints, tie rods, and disk fit fine. The shoes on both sides required a lot of material to be removed. The weird part was that the left and right spindles had problems in completely different places. They actually made two completely different designs for the left and right. __________________ 1971 C20 Longhorn Custom Camper

02-18-2011, 10:42 PM	#5
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,700	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles shoes??? __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

02-18-2011, 10:43 PM	#6
dave2953 Dave's not here, man Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Winder, Georgia Posts: 2,000	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles My thoughts exactly...pads maybe? Could it be that the pads you had were for the 1" rotors instead of the 1 1/4"? Just a WAG... __________________ - 2014 VW Jetta - 2015 VW Jetta - 1966 Ford F-250

02-18-2011, 10:51 PM	#7
todd99 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: prescott, az Posts: 225	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles Sorry I meant to say calipers __________________ 1971 C20 Longhorn Custom Camper

02-18-2011, 11:03 PM	#8
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles Unfortunately this is one of those "you get what you pay for" things. Those guys sell cheap junk, and you learned the hard way. I do commend you for posting it on the board. Hopefully others will read this before they buy them. __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

02-18-2011, 11:08 PM	#9
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,700	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles Just curious,... how much the spindles cost? The other problem with AirBagit.com is they normally have a restocking charge on anything you want to send back,... no matter who screwed up the order or quality of the part. AirBagit.com is also the same company as Aim or ChassisTech. (these are the previous names of this company) __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823 Last edited by lolife99; 02-18-2011 at 11:08 PM.

02-18-2011, 11:14 PM	#10
todd99 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: prescott, az Posts: 225	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles http://www.airbagit.com/Chevrolet-Lo...les-s/1771.htm $289 - 1971 C20 __________________ 1971 C20 Longhorn Custom Camper

02-18-2011, 11:24 PM	#11
chevy2tom Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wheeling, Illinois Posts: 703	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles Todd, I had the same problem with my 71 3/4 ton, what I found was that I had the wrong calipers&rotors on my truck from the po. I went to the local parts store & ordered rotors&calipers for a 71/72 & that took care of it. Posted via Mobile Device

02-18-2011, 11:57 PM	#12
todd99 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: prescott, az Posts: 225	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles My brakes are definitely the originals. I would guess they used a truck with the wrong calipers when they designed their spindles. I would rather just file some metal off than go through the hassle of buying and installing new calipers. Thanks anyways. __________________ 1971 C20 Longhorn Custom Camper

02-19-2011, 12:13 AM	#14
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 20,033	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles Dropped spindles will not adversely affect your alignment....drop springs will. __________________ 1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man RIP FleetsidePaul

02-19-2011, 12:40 AM	#15
tcb-1 Nothing to see here..... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 4,625	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles airbagit sucks. period. __________________ Doug THANK YOU to our American Soldiers & Veterans - POW MIA "You will NEVER be forgotten". The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

02-19-2011, 12:49 AM	#16
chevy2tom Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wheeling, Illinois Posts: 703	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles No problems with having my front end alignment done. I have the stock front springs & shocks. I also bought & installed 5" drop coil springs from GMC Pauls.



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02-19-2011, 01:49 AM	#17
72rustbucket Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: san antonio texas Posts: 29	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles I installed mine my like 3 years ago and had no problems w/calipers. But i dont know if you noticed they have two types of spindles clip on or bolt on for caliper. This might be your problem.

02-19-2011, 03:26 AM	#18
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 20,033	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles Moving to Suspension Forum... __________________ 1972 C/10 Cheyenne Super SWB. Restored, loaded, slammed. 1968 C/10 50th Anniversary LWB. Unrestored, stock, daily driver/work truck. RIP ElJay RIP 67ChevyRedneck RIP Grumpy Old Man RIP FleetsidePaul

02-19-2011, 10:26 AM	#19
todd99 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: prescott, az Posts: 225	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles I bought the right spindles, bolt on. Maybe I just got a bad casting. __________________ 1971 C20 Longhorn Custom Camper

02-19-2011, 12:50 PM	#20
BHBurban Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: new york Posts: 88	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles If one casting is bad, they are all bad. __________________ "94 Suburban '89 Dually '00 Tahoe 88 shortbox

02-19-2011, 02:15 PM	#21
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,700	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles When I originally read this thread,... I didn't realize they were C20 drop spindles. (I assume they are?) There are not many choices for the c20 trucks. I do know that Performance Online sells them,... but they are a little more money. (I assume,... due to lack of demand,... the supply and demand issue negates the price) Sounds like they would've been worth the money, in this case. __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823 Last edited by lolife99; 02-19-2011 at 02:16 PM.

02-20-2011, 12:22 AM	#22
leftcoast66 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Covington, WA Posts: 770	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles Sorry to hear you got taken by them. I'm glad to hear yours are somewhat close to fitting. I ordered a set for my 66 when I first got it. I got a set of disc spindles that didn't fit any c10 discs or balljoints in 6 or 5 lug and they wanted us to pay the 30% restock fee even though they were advertised as working with factory drum brakes when I ordered. I hope you're able to get them to fit and good luck with the truck. Last edited by leftcoast66; 02-20-2011 at 12:23 AM.

02-20-2011, 10:13 AM	#23
todd99 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: prescott, az Posts: 225	Re: Airbagit Drop Spindles Thanks, I managed to install them. After seeing how much better my truck looks it was worth the frustration. __________________ 1971 C20 Longhorn Custom Camper

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