Rebuilding frame/suspension

[pat]

Im in the process of gathering parts to redo my frame once school is out. Im going to lower it and do discs up front and change to 5 lug. I already have dropped front spindles, dropped rear springs, rotors and parts off a 71 truck, and a C-notch kit. Im going to get dropped front springs soon also. I think I will need shocks for a lowered truck too..

What are some basic things that you think should be done when redoing a suspension?
Anything that helps handling/performance, whatever.
Thanks
Pat

[BigDaddyCMU]

You're going to need all the steering parts for that 71 as well (inner/outer tie rods, centerlink, idler arm, pitman arm). Might as well go buy all new ones. Not worth messing with used ones. The other option you have is to use 71 outer tie rods and buy the adapting sleeve from Mothertrucker's to use your 67 inners and centerlink. I think they're like $18 a piece.

[pat]

All Im going to use from the 71 is the rotors probly, I already bought McGaughys drop spindles that require 71-2 spindles so Im going to be able to use my original stuff, I think.

Originally posted by BigDaddyCMU
You're going to need all the steering parts for that 71 as well (inner/outer tie rods, centerlink, idler arm, pitman arm). Might as well go buy all new ones. Not worth messing with used ones. The other option you have is to use 71 outer tie rods and buy the adapting sleeve from Mothertrucker's to use your 67 inners and centerlink. I think they're like $18 a piece.

[BigDaddyCMU]

Do a search on here using the word "centerlink". There are quite a few posts about the same thing you're doing. Because you have 71-72 spindles, you'll need 71-72 ball joints and tie rod ends. They changed the design from 70 to 71.

[pat]

On McGaughys site, it lists 63-70 drop spindles and lists 71-72 spindles. It says both must use 71-87 rotors. I was told that the spindle I bought was a direct replacement of the factory one except that it was lowered and was machined to accept the 71-87 rotors. So I have been thinking that all Im going to have to do is bolt up the spindles to the stock arms and rods.

If not, I still have all the parts from the 71 front end.

[BigDaddyCMU]

From what I've read, I take it you bought 71-72 spindles. If that is the case, you have to also use 71-72 balljoints and tie rod ends. They are different from the ones you have on your truck right now. If you wanted to reuse your parts, you should have bought the 63-70 spindles. Yes, they all use the same rotors, but the holes in them are different.

[pat]

Sorry if I wasnt specific, but I did buy the 63-70 spindles.

[BigDaddyCMU]

Then I apologize Back to your original post, if you don't already have one, I would add a sway bar. That will help prevent body roll. I believe you can use one from a later model truck, up to an 87.

[pat]

Originally posted by BigDaddyCMU
Then I apologize Back to your original post, if you don't already have one, I would add a sway bar. That will help prevent body roll. I believe you can use one from a later model truck, up to an 87.

No problemo. I also forgot to mention I got a sway bar, off a 73 3/4 ton, made a huge difference.
thanks

[BigDaddyCMU]

Hmmm sounds like you're pretty much all set then. There's not too many other things you can do to improve handling. You go go with polygraphite bushings, but they're not gonna do all that much besides make it ride harder. What you're doing will help for sure, but remember, it's always gonna be a truck, not a corvette