Lower Control Arm Drags Ground after drop

[phillipm]

I just finished my 78 Blazer and drove it for the first time last night. 2 biggest things are the lower control arm scrapes the ground on any bump larger than a leaf, and the tires rub the fenders pretty bad. Drop is a 2.5" spindle with a 2" spring. My LCA is 2.75" from the ground. That just seems really low to others on here that I've been looking at. If I swap to a 1" spring will that raise my arm to 3.75"? Or what's the best way to get some more clearance? My fender to ground measurement is 24.75" at the center of the tire..

[bbbc10]

you can raise it up or get some lower control arms

[phillipm]

But does it look lower than other trucks? Just trying to figure out if this is normal or i've got something weird going on.

[bigblock73]

people do 4-5" front drops all the time. I have had 2 trucks, and never had any issues. Something is off. I would think with those tall fronts, you would have fender rub but not LCA issues.

What brand spindles and springs?

[Tom]

Both my 78 and my old 79 were 5" drop in front using 2" springs. Yes, the control arms are close to the ground. But its never been an issues EXCEPT once, crossroad was raised a good 2-3" inches from ours from construction and its really smashed them good. Otherwise I've put 50,000+ miles on the setup with never an issue......

[SkinnyG]

I have 3" spindles, and 1-ton coils cut until the 235/70R15 tires are even with the top fender edge (about a coil and a half - so.... 2 or 3 more inches?).

I cannot slip a 2x4 on edge under the control arms, but I have never hit anything with them.



Mind you, I've been driving lowered vehicles for years. I have one vehicle where the lowest point is 1-1/2" off the ground.

[Mr.Chevy4x4]

Post up a ground view picture from the front looking at the control arms. It looks low, but not low enough to be dragging control arms. Are you sure that they are dragging?

Mike

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

people do 4-5" front drops all the time. I have had 2 trucks, and never had any issues. Something is off. I would think with those tall fronts, you would have fender rub but not LCA issues.

What brand spindles and springs?

Thanks for the reply gentleman. I've owned lowered vehicles my entire life so definitely not something new to me. Went by Switch Suspension today and those guys came out and had a look. Agreed those LCA's are SUPER close to the ground. Sucks cause the truck looks great. I picked up some 1" springs to swap out the 2" drop springs with.

This is a picture of the underside. I know it's not a good one but that lowest part of the arm is 2.75" from the ground.

Thinking of getting some heavy duty shocks too to try and help? What shocks are you guy running?

[SkinnyG]

Shocks won't help the ride height any; they don't hold up the vehicle.

I run stock, cheapie, Monroe blue.

[SkinnyG]

What is the front tire size?

Maybe a larger diameter tire would be easier?

[phillipm]

I agree. Was just thinking it wouldn't drop down so much when I hit bumps. That's all.
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[lilpoindexter]

I have a 78 c10 short step 2wd. I assume the entire front end is the same as your truck. I have 2.5" spindles and 2' springs too... i used whatever the standard size equivalent tire to stock is on a 6.5". My control arms look parrallel to the ground, but they have never touched anything. my tires...however...are always bumping into the inner fenders...They make a loud ass thud that startles me everytime.

[midnight rambler]

I have the same drop on my 74 done by the previous owner I just measured my arms I have 3" clearance with 17's on low profiles. If I go to fast sometime my arms drag as well.

[UKNOWME]

How about you sell me the blazer and I'll worry about the control arms

[bbbc10]

I had 5" drop in the front also an my controls dragged the ground

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by bbbc10

I had 5" drop in the front also an my controls dragged the ground

Did you end up raising it up?

[phillipm]

Here are some pictures you guys wanted to see..


Asphalt on the control arm.


2x4:

[SkinnyG]

What is your front tire size?

[lolife99]

This is all perfectly normal with the drop you have.
That's why the Porterbuilt extreme Dropmembers are so popular.
You gain 3" of ground clearance over what you have at that ride height.
That's your best bet to gain ground clearance.
They make a NICE coil over setup for people that don't want bags,...

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

What is your front tire size?

255 60 R15 Is the tire size

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by lolife99

This is all perfectly normal with the drop you have.
That's why the Porterbuilt extreme Dropmembers are so popular.
You gain 3" of ground clearance over what you have at that ride height.
That's your best bet to gain ground clearance.
They make a NICE coil over setup for people that don't want bags,...

Yeah no doubt. I actually laser engrave their parts so I've seen first hand the quality. Just don't have that kind of cash. it's too bad someone doesn't just make a new lower arm that accepts a stock coil spring but is tubular.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by phillipm

Yeah no doubt. I actually laser engrave their parts so I've seen first hand the quality. Just don't have that kind of cash. it's too bad someone doesn't just make a new lower arm that accepts a stock coil spring but is tubular.

Porterbuilt makes a tubular a-arm that accepts a coil spring.
But that won't help.
This crossmember saddle is still the mounting point for all tubular a-arms as well.
Ground clearance will be the same.

[bbbc10]

No i ended up totaling the frame due to the control arms getting caught on rail road tracks and it threw my truck up in the air an it slammed back down...it bent the frame under the cab an cracked the frame behind the front left shock an the twisted the whole front to the right.....so i got thorbros front crossmember mmw arms an ekstensive rear kit to bag it

[phillipm]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Porterbuilt makes a tubular a-arm that accepts a coil spring.
But that won't help.
This crossmember saddle is still the mounting point for all tubular a-arms as well.
Ground clearance will be the same.

I was thinking that if the center line of the arm is now raised and in line with the bushings that would easily add 1.5" to the ground clearance, if that makes sense.

[SkinnyG]

Your tires are a good 3" shorter in diameter than mine. Which (by radius), means you'd have an inch and a half more clearance with taller tires.