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#1 |
Active Member
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Location: North Highlands. California
Posts: 449
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lowering a arms? front end Q.
Has anyone here used lowering a arms to drop there truck. I been told by one vendor they arent very good. Any one? And is it true that I wont be able to get the front end alined if I go with 3in lowering springs only ,
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67 short step ![]() 71 Custom ![]() Last edited by MARIOS68PANEL; 05-04-2005 at 08:50 PM. |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 95
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I have a pair.. THey are not very good. These things costs a few hundred bucks and the pirch that the spring sits in is too wide. The welds are sloppy... They have a big square base that bolts up where the other a arm went but you can't get full headers in there very good after you put it in. I actually had to bend my ceramic coated headers a little and it was a *****. Your better off with either drop spindles and springs or bags.. there are too many choices to go with other than the tube a arms like I got. It only drops her about 2 1/2 anyway and they are not very attractive. Unless you know of several brands.. The one I got is from LMC. let me know if you guys know of another set .. I'm gettn rid of mine.
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#3 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: North Highlands. California
Posts: 449
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The one vendor I spoke with about them says I wont be able to get my front end alined if I go with 3in lowering springs only Do you think thats true. He said I need to use spndles and springs or a arms and springs . What do you think?
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67 short step ![]() 71 Custom ![]() |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: DFW TX
Posts: 769
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I think you should do like the vendor says. I have never even seen 3" drop springs for the front. Who sells those? None of the vendors ive seen here sell more than a 2.5 drop spring and most of the vendors only sell 2" for the front. Spindles are an easy install and will drop you 2.5" right there and you can get a set of quality ones for the same price you would risk on a set of a-arms of questionable quality. Unless your just hell bent on new a-arms for some reason i would do like everyone says and use a drop spindle and no more than a 2" drop spring or bags.
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#5 |
Got Light Emitting Diode?
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 2,485
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i think it is all in who makes them. i have a set that hasnt been put on yet, but they are made from factory a arms.
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1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's ![]() 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler |
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#6 |
It's a catastrophic success.
![]() Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,077
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You can align a 3" spring drop. the problem lies with jacking it up a short spring will fall out of its holder.
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: NB
Posts: 3,367
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^ what he said
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 95
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If you want to go really low. just go with drop spindles and bags or a lowered pring. I don't think that you will be happy with the a-arms
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#9 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: North Highlands. California
Posts: 449
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Greyhound steve ,GMC Pauls , Mother truckers and brothers all sell 3in front drop springs. Thats just to name a few. 68w/sbc406 Where did you get the lowering a arms and how much. They look way better than what I looked at ( tubes) Mistershotgun , I want to use spindels but I am married ,lol , I have to go the cheapest route. Thanks everyone for the help, Allso , With a 2/4 drop can I use stock shocks?
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67 short step ![]() 71 Custom ![]() |
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#10 |
Got Light Emitting Diode?
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 2,485
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i got them from a local place called charlies drop shop. he said that his internet site is like solo suspension or something like that. they were a present so i dont know the price
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1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's ![]() 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 95
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Yeah.. tubes.. Tubular A arms from LMC. I think they were around 400 for the set. But I would trade them for some drop spindles any day.
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#12 |
Got Light Emitting Diode?
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 2,485
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mine were less than 400 i think around 275-300
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1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's ![]() 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler |
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#13 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Yoncalla Oregon
Posts: 775
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Charlie's drop shop: http://www.dropitnow.net/parts.htm
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 95
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here is a picture of the fron end with the drop A arms. I don't have anything of the arms thenselves but I could get some and you guys would see what I mean.
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#15 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Yoncalla Oregon
Posts: 775
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I'm baggin' Screamin' as soon as this term is over. I'll be running 2.5 drop spindles up front instead of the dropped A-arms and 2" blocks in the rear. I thought the LMC arms looked pretty weak myself.
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#16 |
blood type; Retumbo
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: next to my reloading bench
Posts: 10,269
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I made my own drop arms. just used some 3" long sections of 6" heavy wall tube to recess where the spring sits. then re-configured the ball joint angles on uppers & lowers to get them back in the middle of the travel arc. if needed I can get some pretty good pics since the body is off the frame in pieces. it netted me about a 5 inch drop. now for some 2 1/2 spindles & some bags & I will be set.
BTW, my alignemt took onle 1/16 worth of shims on the rears to get it perfect ![]()
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Man rule #77...if you own a 67 stepside with a caddy 472 you will never be in danger of loosing you man card Last edited by 68C15; 05-05-2005 at 11:14 PM. |
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#17 |
Senior Member
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Location: Rockville,In. USA
Posts: 3,720
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3" front drop springs often max out the studs where you shim upper a-arm for alignment and when maxed out they require off-set ball joints then to complete alignment properly( Off-set ball joints are Extremely Expensive ) and it is true that if you jack truck up anywhere in front other than under lower a-arm your springs will fall out as suspension sags when you raise the truck. Lowering springs of 3" in the front also make a vehicle more prone to bump steer problems not found when front is lowered using spindles.
GMCPaul |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Kent, Wash
Posts: 53
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Charlies stuff works great and is very stout. I just took mine off to go with some lowered spindles for my C20. I also had two inch shorter springs and my truck aligment was fine. After I clean up the dropped lowers I'll have them for sale.
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Bothell, WA
Posts: 548
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There is a lot of resistance to the lowered A-arms. I did a lot of investigation before doing the drop on my 72 LWB. I had two conversations with Charlie at Charlies Drop Shop/SoLow Suspension. I asked him about the concerns regarding alignment and excessive wear. He indicated that they have been doing lowered A-arms on chevy trucks for almost 20 years with no problems. All this being said, I chose to go with spindles and springs as my mechanic was more familiar with that modification. My thought would be that if the A-arms were a bad system he probably would have discontinued their use long ago. Again, just my opinion.
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 95
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I believe that there are good a arms out there.. Just don't get the ones from LMC
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#21 | |
Got Light Emitting Diode?
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 2,485
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Quote:
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1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's ![]() 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler |
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#22 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: North Highlands. California
Posts: 449
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My problem with the spindles is then you have to buy rotors and calipers and lines and prop valve and and and . I want to go as low as possible and stay married too. LOL
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67 short step ![]() 71 Custom ![]() |
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#23 | |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Yoncalla Oregon
Posts: 775
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Quote:
Mario, you can get the 67-70 spindles and retain your current drum brake setup. Its all bolt-on or plug-and-play if you will. ![]() |
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#24 |
Active Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: North Highlands. California
Posts: 449
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Where can I get spindles that work with drums? That is the way I should go.
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67 short step ![]() 71 Custom ![]() |
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#25 |
Got Light Emitting Diode?
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 2,485
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ECE should have them or CPP too
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1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's ![]() 1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler Last edited by 68w/sbc406; 05-06-2005 at 09:17 PM. |
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