ece drop spindles - I have issues, what did I do wrong

[brandy hickman]

Installed the passenger side drop spindles today, everything went as planned, no issues at all. I drove it out of the garage to turn it around to start on the other side and i heard grinding noises. Bottom of the spindle practically touch my lip of the wheels (stock 15 inch rims). Shaved off one of the lead wheel weights also - see first pic. I have no clue what I did wrong. Do I need wheel spacers?
I have never heard of drop spindles not fitting a stock chevy wheel.

Some pics from stock spindle as well

[chuckmc8]

You didn't do anything wrong- these wont work with 15" rims due to the lower A arm hits the wheel. I had this same issue with my 2wd Blazer. My other set of drop spindles was 2" drop and worked with the 15" rims, but the ECE spindles are 2 1/2" and puts the A arm in contact with the wheel

[brandy hickman]

I wish I knew that before I started. I was fixing to order a set of 20s this week, I guess Olive will set in the garage until they arrive. Looking very hard at a set of TTIIs. Any suggestions?

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by chuckmc8

You didn't do anything wrong- these wont work with 15" rims due to the lower A arm hits the wheel. I had this same issue with my 2wd Blazer. My other set of drop spindles was 2" drop and worked with the 15" rims, but the ECE spindles are 2 1/2" and puts the A arm in contact with the wheel

These are no different than any other 2.5" or 3" drop spindle.
Grind some clearance on the tierod part of the spindle and trim the lower a-arm a little,... and they will be fine with 15" wheels with 4" of backspacing.
You also have to tweak the steel line on the brake hose, where it makes contact with the upper ball joint.
Belltech spindles seems to have more clearance at the tierod than other brands, but people shy away from them because they cost more.


I bought my first set of drop spindles in 1986 and they haven't changed since then.
Same issues.
Just takes a little prep work before installing.


Run a 15" wheel with less backspacing and no trimming is necessary.
Run a CPP modular 2" drop spindle and you won't trim anything either.

I would make them fit your 15" wheels in case you have to remove your 20's for some reason.
I ran my 2wd blazer for 3 years with ECE spindles and 15" wheels.

[bigd65]

I just put some DJM 2.5 drop spindles and the only thing I had to do was straighten the brake line. But I don't have the rally's either. AMERICAN RACING 5 spoke but don't know the back spacing
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