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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Hello All,
I posted this in the suspension foprum and didn't get any bites -- hoping I'll have better luck here. Looking to drop my '65 c10 front end 3.5" or 4" and I need some advice. I've been reading threads on here for hours and I'm getting lots of conflicting information. How are you successfully dropping your 60-66 front ends without having any clearance issues? I need to do it without converting to disc brakes in the front (wheels are drum only). 2.5" drop spindles and 2" springs would be ideal, but I believe spindles are out of the question because of the drums brakes, correct? My concerns are clearance issues inside my stock inner fender and drivability. Here are my stats: 236 75/R15 tires Drum Brakes 15x6" steel wheels with 3.625" backspacing Thanks a million in advance!
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Slemmy "Annie" - '69 Chevy C10 396 "Louise" - '65 Chevy C10 6 Banger "Victoria" - '65 Mustang Notchback "Haley" - '62 Mercury Comet S-22 |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: central California
Posts: 2,742
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Slemmy, the truth is....the lower you go, the more it costs to do it right. The amount of drop you are wanting is best accomplished with a drop spindle/spring combo and yeah, disc brakes. Then you have to bring the back down to match....6" or more if you want it balance out well. More $$ in springs, drop shocks, shock and panhard bar relocators, and probably a pipe notch on the frame. You said yourself that you were concerned with driveability. Slamming a truck and having driveablity require some modifications and upgrades.
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Los Altos Hills, California
Posts: 170
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Slemmy, I feel your pain.
Lately, I have been pestering vendors to make a drop spindle for drum brakes. They always say there isn't enough interest. I tell them to check the forums! There are plenty of guys who are happy with drum brakes and don't want to go down the road of new calipers, rotors, master cylinders and/or proportioning valves, etc, etc. |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 606
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
I would buy a set of spindles for my 63 with drum brakes in a heart beat if someone would make them
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: central California
Posts: 2,742
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
I agree, I lowered my longbed front end with 2" springs and drop shocks but a 2.5" spindle would of been a better alternative. Then I could of had full spring travel with standard shocks and that extra half inch drop probably would have resulted in the perfect rake after the rear came down by 4".
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#6 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Quote:
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Slemmy "Annie" - '69 Chevy C10 396 "Louise" - '65 Chevy C10 6 Banger "Victoria" - '65 Mustang Notchback "Haley" - '62 Mercury Comet S-22 |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: central California
Posts: 2,742
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
The ride is decent. The 2/4 drop kit included kyb drop shocks, rear relocators and an adjustable panhard bar. Its sits almost level. (Longbed).
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#8 |
Never Ending Projects
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,836
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
With drum brakes, your choices are dropped springs or the old school way (before spindles were available) is dropped A arms. I don't think anyone is making these anymore but you could build your own (or have a fab shop do it).
This was my '68 C10 I did almost 20 years ago. SoLow built the arms but easy to replicate. Cut the end off the arm with the BJ and raise it up 2 1/2" and then gusset it up. ![]() ![]()
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. 1965 C10 Panel, ![]() 1968 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod Hauler http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313233 SOLD 1965 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415702 SOLD We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason... listen twice as much and speak half as often... |
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Los Altos Hills, California
Posts: 170
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Chevy Mike:
Very cool. Did you run into any other issues such as the tie rod angles getting funky with the stock spindle moved up? Regards, Cris |
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#10 | |
Never Ending Projects
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,836
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Quote:
The only issue I ran into, which could have easily been fixed is, since the upper control arm sits higher and I didn't have any bump stops for the lower, I once hit a dip too fast and caused the upper arm to rotate further than the ball joint was designed for. This cause it to loosen up and start making a knocking noise. Replace it and was fine but I should have installed correct bump stops to prevent that.
__________________
. 1965 C10 Panel, ![]() 1968 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod Hauler http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313233 SOLD 1965 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415702 SOLD We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason... listen twice as much and speak half as often... |
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#11 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Quote:
__________________
Slemmy "Annie" - '69 Chevy C10 396 "Louise" - '65 Chevy C10 6 Banger "Victoria" - '65 Mustang Notchback "Haley" - '62 Mercury Comet S-22 |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Do you have a picture of that drop?
__________________
Slemmy "Annie" - '69 Chevy C10 396 "Louise" - '65 Chevy C10 6 Banger "Victoria" - '65 Mustang Notchback "Haley" - '62 Mercury Comet S-22 |
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: central California
Posts: 2,742
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
I need to get a good side shot for you.Maybe this weekend if I get a chance....Oh what the hell....I'll go get you one now. Just gotta get the truck out. It's a mess of dust but this isn't a thread about soap and water. Gimme a while and I'll be back. Ok finding level ground around my house for a pic was not too easy, the truck is parked level but the ground slopes fore and aft.
Last edited by AcampoDave; 06-01-2017 at 09:49 PM. |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: central California
Posts: 2,742
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
I did have a couple angle shots stored in my tablet which show the bumper heights
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#15 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: oceanside CA
Posts: 706
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Quote:
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: central California
Posts: 2,742
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
What the Wolfman just said is why I only went with a 2/4. I still have some travel before the bumpstops hit. For general crusing around the ride is good although bigger bumps will hit the stops. They seem to take it pretty well tho'.
Last edited by AcampoDave; 06-02-2017 at 12:04 AM. |
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#17 |
Moderator
![]() ![]() Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: China Spring, TX
Posts: 7,280
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
I think a company called DJM makes lowered control arms for our trucks also:
https://www.summitracing.com/search/...oview=SKU&ar=1
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Master Chief, US Navy, Retired 1964 C10 Step-side Short Bed - In Progress 2009 2500HD Duramax LTZ 1948 GMC Panel 1956 Big Window Stepside 1953 5 Window Chevy Stepside 1932 Coupe New Seat Foam for Bench Seats? |
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#18 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Quote:
Can anyone recommend shocks? I've been recommended to do some research on Monroe Magnum shocks by my mechanic. He's had great successes using them on some of his restoration projects. Any suggestions are of course welcomed! Here are some pics of the ride height now, including a pic of the hack job the PO did with the rear suspension (spring retainer cups are gone and springs are resting on the trailing arms) Front springs are shorter than stock (not sure how much) and the ride quality ain't bad, but I'd like to bring the front end down and have the rear sit about where it is now, which by my estimation is about a 5" drop. This forum has provided a wealth of resources and info, especially when I was doing my T5 swap. Saved a bunch of time and money. Happy to be a part of the community! Posted via Mobile Device |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: central California
Posts: 2,742
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Nice truck. The main reason new wheels are needed (even though 6 lug rotors are available) is because the o.e.m style 6 lug rims wont clear a caliper. Good luck on your project. Youll be glad you did it right.
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#20 | |
Never Ending Projects
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,836
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Quote:
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__________________
. 1965 C10 Panel, ![]() 1968 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod Hauler http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313233 SOLD 1965 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415702 SOLD We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason... listen twice as much and speak half as often... |
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#21 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Quote:
Posted via Mobile Device |
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#22 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: oceanside CA
Posts: 706
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Quote:
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Great looking truck. I have a '69 longbed myself. Thanks for digging that up for me.
So my options seem to be : 1. $$$$ Dic brake conversion, drop spindles, new wheels (or spacers and caliper grinding), etc or: 2. $$ 3" drop Lower control arms (with bump stops per Chevy Mike's input). These seems to fit the bill: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/d...del/c10-pickup I feel like the brakes on my truck are more than adequate, so I'm considering the control arm route. Any other things I should keep in mind here? I feel like both of these options are giving me a drop without sacrificing travel, right?
__________________
Slemmy "Annie" - '69 Chevy C10 396 "Louise" - '65 Chevy C10 6 Banger "Victoria" - '65 Mustang Notchback "Haley" - '62 Mercury Comet S-22 |
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#24 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: central California
Posts: 2,742
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
Chevymikes control arms are 2.5" dropped (not 3")
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Miami
Posts: 39
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Re: Drum brake '65 seeks attractive front end drop....
I saw that. The link to the arms on Summit Racing are 3" drops, which is exactly where I want to be.
__________________
Slemmy "Annie" - '69 Chevy C10 396 "Louise" - '65 Chevy C10 6 Banger "Victoria" - '65 Mustang Notchback "Haley" - '62 Mercury Comet S-22 |
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