lower control arm trimming - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

powerbench · 05-12-2008, 06:49 AM

Does any one have a picture of how much they had to grind to fit 15 inch ralleys on. Going to do 2 and 1/2 spindle with 1 inch coil in front ,and 6 out back from ece. I just bought 6 1/2 for the front and 8's for the back. If i have to do any grinding , i'd like to do it now before i sand blast and paint the control arms. Also should i reinforce the inside if it needs clearancing? Thanks

dieselarmy13 · 05-12-2008, 08:01 AM

What year truck?

powerbench · 05-12-2008, 08:05 AM

70 gmc...with 72 chevy suspension. 1/2 ton

dieselarmy13 · 05-12-2008, 08:16 AM

You shouldn't have to do any trimming at all, especially if you are running 6.5's on the front. The only time you have to trim them is with some aftermarket wheels.

**lolife99** · 05-12-2008, 07:02 PM

I would trim them anyway. You never know when you might have to bolt on a different wheel. (as in spare tire?) Anything with more than 3 1/2 inches of backspacing will require trimming with a 3" drop spindle. I'm not sure about the 2 1/2" spindles. I have done it to all of them regardless of the year. Also remove the metal bumpstop bracket. I like to trim off ONLY the part that holds the "factory" rubber bumpstop,... and leave the steering stop. If you had a picture of the lower a-arm,... I could show you where to trim it.

powerbench · 05-12-2008, 07:30 PM

cool , i'll try and get some pics after i go see mom..thanks

hotrodhomi · 05-12-2008, 08:15 PM

I had to grind my spindle a little but not my arms, I swapped them out for '73+ though.

70c10 · 05-13-2008, 04:54 AM

I run 3.5" B.S. on a 8" rim with 275/60/15 tires. My 2.5" drop spindles needed 1/8" at most trimmed to clear my wheel weights on the backside of the rims. If my rims would have been 7" I would have been fine.

powerbench · 05-13-2008, 08:03 AM

ok shoot, didn't get home from mom's until now but went out and mesured the back space on the truck rally's looks like 4 and a1/4...i'll have to get some pics of the rims here when i finsh up making a late dinner

powerbench · 05-14-2008, 06:48 AM

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Well i hope these pics will do as far as cutting the bump stop and where to slim down the lower arm ..if i need

**lolife99** · 05-14-2008, 02:48 PM

Here's a bad picture of the trimmed area.

**lolife99** · 05-14-2008, 04:55 PM

Here's a top view,...

hotrodhomi · 05-14-2008, 06:55 PM

I cut mine off with a sawsall and then used a grinder to make it flush

SCOTI · 05-14-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerbench

Well i hope these pics will do as far as cutting the bump stop and where to slim down the lower arm ..if i need

Just so you know.... the 4.25" BS measurement sounds like a truck wheel. In the pics you posted, there are 2 truck wheels & 2 van wheels. The van wheels should fit up front w/2.5 drop spindles & no cutting.

powerbench · 05-15-2008, 02:59 AM

Thanks for all the help guys. Ya thats what i had heard Scoti , but when i check both rear and front rims ,they have the same back spacing . The rears have ,(Iguess) the extra 3 and 3/4of depth to make 8 inch , and the fronts have the 2 inches to make up 6 and a 1/2 ? sound right? Kinda going for that hot rod ,drag race , tough truck look Again thanks .

SCOTI · 05-15-2008, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerbench

Thanks for all the help guys. Ya thats what i had heard Scoti , but when i check both rear and front rims ,they have the same back spacing . The rears have ,(Iguess) the extra 3 and 3/4of depth to make 8 inch , and the fronts have the 2 inches to make up 6 and a 1/2 ? sound right? Kinda going for that hot rod ,drag race , tough truck look Again thanks .

6.5's & 8's.

flamingbig10 · 05-15-2008, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTI

6.5's & 8's.

I WISH the front of my truck was that low in the front it would look alot better

powerbench · 05-15-2008, 07:42 AM

Thats the look scoti....I like the 18's and 20' look , but my style is kinda the tough stock look...almost sleeper. I found a bunch of examples on ece web site . Time to place an order. Thanks

05-12-2008, 06:49 AM	#1
powerbench Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Surrey B.C Posts: 432	lower control arm trimming Does any one have a picture of how much they had to grind to fit 15 inch ralleys on. Going to do 2 and 1/2 spindle with 1 inch coil in front ,and 6 out back from ece. I just bought 6 1/2 for the front and 8's for the back. If i have to do any grinding , i'd like to do it now before i sand blast and paint the control arms. Also should i reinforce the inside if it needs clearancing? Thanks

05-12-2008, 08:01 AM	#2
dieselarmy13 Phone's ringin Dude. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 1,426	Re: lower control arm trimming What year truck? __________________ I pitty the fool with only two headlights!! 2003 SILVERADO SS--THE NEW GIRL 1972 GMC--THE OLD GIRL

05-12-2008, 08:05 AM	#3
powerbench Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Surrey B.C Posts: 432	Re: lower control arm trimming 70 gmc...with 72 chevy suspension. 1/2 ton

05-12-2008, 08:16 AM	#4
dieselarmy13 Phone's ringin Dude. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 1,426	Re: lower control arm trimming You shouldn't have to do any trimming at all, especially if you are running 6.5's on the front. The only time you have to trim them is with some aftermarket wheels. __________________ I pitty the fool with only two headlights!! 2003 SILVERADO SS--THE NEW GIRL 1972 GMC--THE OLD GIRL

05-12-2008, 07:02 PM	#5
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,700	Re: lower control arm trimming I would trim them anyway. You never know when you might have to bolt on a different wheel. (as in spare tire?) Anything with more than 3 1/2 inches of backspacing will require trimming with a 3" drop spindle. I'm not sure about the 2 1/2" spindles. I have done it to all of them regardless of the year. Also remove the metal bumpstop bracket. I like to trim off ONLY the part that holds the "factory" rubber bumpstop,... and leave the steering stop. If you had a picture of the lower a-arm,... I could show you where to trim it. __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

05-12-2008, 07:30 PM	#6
powerbench Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Surrey B.C Posts: 432	Re: lower control arm trimming cool , i'll try and get some pics after i go see mom..thanks

05-12-2008, 08:15 PM	#7
hotrodhomi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 3,737	Re: lower control arm trimming I had to grind my spindle a little but not my arms, I swapped them out for '73+ though. __________________ '72 2wd blazer, bagged w/ watts link & EDC '72 C10 "Lowered Farm Truck" STOLEN 5-18-11 '66 impala ht

05-13-2008, 04:54 AM	#8
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,856	Re: lower control arm trimming I run 3.5" B.S. on a 8" rim with 275/60/15 tires. My 2.5" drop spindles needed 1/8" at most trimmed to clear my wheel weights on the backside of the rims. If my rims would have been 7" I would have been fine. __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

05-13-2008, 08:03 AM	#9
powerbench Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Surrey B.C Posts: 432	Re: lower control arm trimming ok shoot, didn't get home from mom's until now but went out and mesured the back space on the truck rally's looks like 4 and a1/4...i'll have to get some pics of the rims here when i finsh up making a late dinner

05-14-2008, 06:48 AM	#10
powerbench Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Surrey B.C Posts: 432	Re: lower control arm trimming Well i hope these pics will do as far as cutting the bump stop and where to slim down the lower arm ..if i need

05-14-2008, 02:48 PM	#11
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,700	Re: lower control arm trimming Here's a bad picture of the trimmed area. Attached Images __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

05-14-2008, 04:55 PM	#12
lolife99 67-72 parts collector,… Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-MO Posts: 22,700	Re: lower control arm trimming Here's a top view,... Attached Images __________________ Keith Convert to disc brakes. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

05-14-2008, 06:55 PM	#13
hotrodhomi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 3,737	Re: lower control arm trimming I cut mine off with a sawsall and then used a grinder to make it flush __________________ '72 2wd blazer, bagged w/ watts link & EDC '72 C10 "Lowered Farm Truck" STOLEN 5-18-11 '66 impala ht

05-15-2008, 02:59 AM	#15
powerbench Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Surrey B.C Posts: 432	Re: lower control arm trimming Thanks for all the help guys. Ya thats what i had heard Scoti , but when i check both rear and front rims ,they have the same back spacing . The rears have ,(Iguess) the extra 3 and 3/4of depth to make 8 inch , and the fronts have the 2 inches to make up 6 and a 1/2 ? sound right? Kinda going for that hot rod ,drag race , tough truck look Again thanks . Last edited by powerbench; 05-15-2008 at 03:01 AM.

05-15-2008, 07:42 AM	#18
powerbench Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Surrey B.C Posts: 432	Re: lower control arm trimming Thats the look scoti....I like the 18's and 20' look , but my style is kinda the tough stock look...almost sleeper. I found a bunch of examples on ece web site . Time to place an order. Thanks



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