C30 steering knuckles

[cheford]

Hoping to get some help. I would like to know if the steering knuckles are the same on both the mid 80's DRW and SRW C30 and GMC 3500's . All I can find is 3 inch drop spindles and I need stock height for a DRW..

Thanks

[Big Chip]

Originally Posted by cheford

Hoping to get some help. I would like to know if the steering knuckles are the same on both the mid 80's DRW and SRW C30 and GMC 3500's . All I can find is 3 inch drop spindles and I need stock height for a DRW..

Thanks

I always thought the DRW and SRW parts were the same and that the Dually rotor just has the spacer integrated.

Here's a link for the parts from GM but they must make them out of gold now.

https://www.gmpartscenter.net/v-1984...ion-components

[cheford]

Thank you very much Big Chip. All I've been finding is 3 inch drop .I will forward this link to the shop that built my cross member and put me 3 inches lower than I ordered..

John

[Big Chip]

Originally Posted by cheford

Thank you very much Big Chip. All I've been finding is 3 inch drop .I will forward this link to the shop that built my cross member and put me 3 inches lower than I ordered..

John

You could also try www.car-part.com and search salvage yards in your area. I don't know if the steering knuckles are the same but I think the control arms are the same for like 64-90. I may have the years wrong but they used the same parts for a long time on the one tons.

[cheford]

I had a custom cross member built by Scott's Hot Rods for a 56 Mercury M350 I'm building , I had lowered it 5 inches with the measurements I gave them but they sent me 3 inch drop spindles which puts me far too low..
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...3525cc67f9.jpg

I had suggested to them to source used if they had to but they said they want new..

[Big Chip]

Looks nice! You should be able to order them through your local Chevy or GMC dealer then. Good luck!

[cheford]

You've been a great help and really appreciate it.

[mongocanfly]

Is this how its gonna be setup?

[cheford]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Is this how its gonna be setup?

That is what Scott's Hot Rods sent ,I don't like it but think if I had the stock spindles it would eliminate that.

[mongocanfly]

Where the drag link hooks up shouldn't have anything to do with the spindle location..
Something just dont look right there...no way would I run that

[Big Chip]

It seems like they are pretty limited if they want to actually steer the thing. Did that truck start with a straight axle?

[cheford]

This is a picture I took a screenshot off YouTube with both spindles side by side, I think if the steering arm didn't move the same distance as the spindle it would make contact with the rim when turning. I'm taking these pictures to talk with the shop that will be doing the safety on it to see if they would even pass this..I thank you all for the feed back..
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...bda55b4c19.png

[cheford]

Originally Posted by Big Chip

It seems like they are pretty limited if they want to actually steer the thing. Did that truck start with a straight axle?

Yes it did have a straight axle

[mongocanfly]

Are the spindles on the wrong side and upside down?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Are the spindles on the wrong side and upside down?

Looking @ this, I wondered the same thing. That being said, I would think the BJ tapers would not allow the possibility but I've never compared the upper/lower BJ shank dimensions for the big trucks & would being assuming w/o doing the homework.

The steering arm should be in relatively the same proximity as the stock spindles lower BJ pad to not jack w/the steering geometry.

It's evident looking @ that pic it's definitely been moved. It's different location vs. the lower BJ is exaggerated as well which made me look again & question if the spindle is indeed flipped.

*EDIT* There is NO WAY I would run a TRE spacer of that length. That Scott's Hot Rod even suggests that is puzzling. Seems that would put a wee bit more leverage/loading @ that point of the spindle.

[cheford]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Are the spindles on the wrong side and upside down?

That is the left side spindle and it has cast letters saying L H and the ball joints are different top and bottom..you can actually see the raised letters in that picture..

[cheford]

I stopped into the GM dealership I deal with and showed these pictures to the head mechanic and they said they would not pass it on a safety . So I just emailed that info to Scott's Hot Rods..I had questioned that from the start..I'm not feeling good about any of this..

[SCOTI]

So I did a quick google on C30 spindles, the ones from Western Chassis do appear to look like those (from online images). I'm going to take a peek under my dually & see if I can get a comparison pic of mine.

[cheford]

Do any of you guys that have lowered your C30's still have the stock spindles..?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by cheford

Do any of you guys that have lowered your C30's still have the stock spindles..?

I'll check. I know I initially saved them but I can't remember if I still have them or not. I did a decent parts-purge @ the beginning of 2020.

[cheford]

Scott's are supposed to be looking to get this straightened out but I have to prepare if they leave me hanging and fending for myself..

[mongocanfly]

Ok, so that eliminates the possibility of it being on the wrong side...but something looks way off ..
Like Scoti said , no way would I run it, and i cant believe Scott's even sent it to you..that looks like the kind of spacer you see on a double shear setup for crossover steering..

[mongocanfly]

Heres a couple of pics I got off the net of 3in drop spindles
Not sure of the 1st set ,but the 2nd is belltech
You can see how much lower the arm is on these spindles compared to yours

[cheford]

Thing is I have to get away from these drop spindles, I was counting on a 5 inch drop not the 8 inch these are presenting. If the spindles you post are C30 drops the tie rod position makes a lot more sense to me and eliminating the use of the hiem joint they provided and that extension. The stock spindles would get me to the ride height I hoped for..What's really frustrating is I waiting 16 weeks to have this made by them and now waiting an additional three weeks not working on this project..

[mongocanfly]

Wow...that's a lot of waiting..