Vannin' Home Forums Chevy How to.... Drop spindles question

MY QUESTION IS FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE USED DROP SPINDLES!!!

So let’s start with my 95 g20 (4.3l v6) 15x7 cragars with 4” backspace and 215/65r15 tires, also new shocks up front as well. I lowered the front by cutting 2 coils (was way too much and buried the bump stops) so now I have 1” belltech lowering springs installed and pulled the bump stops out since I only had 1” of clearance on them with these springs. I also have a pair 3” belltech Drop spindles I can put in.

My question for those of you that have done this is with stock Length springs and the 3” drop spindles will I have clearance/rubbing issues with the rim/tire combo I currently have? I can’t find a definitive answer reading all the threads on lowering here (yes I used the search function before you tell me to)

I have to tear the front end apart again to replace a lower control arm and feel it’s still too high in the front with the lowering springs in. So I’d like to put stock springs and the spindles in but don’t want anymore hidden surprises like my junk control arm.

Below is the setup I'm running on mine and I've found it to be very close to the usable limits without causing myself headaches. Granted, your front tires are much smaller than mine, so your tire-to-fender gap will probably be fine, but the wheel to control arm clearance is still going to be an issue with 3" knuckles I'm pretty sure.

-I am using 2.5" drop spindles and Moog replacement stock springs.
-Front wheels are Torque thrust II 15x8 with +3.75" backspace
-Front tires are 255/60/15
-Front tires do slightly rub on the fenders, but only very slightly and only on the hardest dips. (They are also a bit larger than your tire size)

-The bigger issue you will run into is the lower control arm to wheel clearance. The wheels (Both the 8" Rally wheels I had previously as well as the Torque Thrusts) are extremely close to the control arm. In fact, I actually had to grind a bit of a notch into the arm or else the wheel would contact while turning tightly. I thought I had the issue solved when I went to the Torque thrusts, but upon leaving my driveway the first time, it wipes all of the sticky wheel weights off the inside of the wheel. I re-balanced them and positioned them more inboard with no more issues, but keep in mind that I only have 2.5" drop spindles. You are looking at 3" with potentially the same size wheel. You may be able to get away with using a wheel spacer, but that's your call.

Here are pics of just how close the wheels sit to the LCA as well as the steering arms on the knuckles:




And this is the height from the outside.





Hope this gives you some useful numbers for at least a starting point!

Ok so to compare, my tires are 1” shorter and 1.5” narrower, my rims are 1” narrower than yours. However, my spindles are 1/2” lower than yours and my backspacing is 1/4” deeper than yours. So that being said with how tight your clearances are on your van. I should be roughly 1/2” - 3/4” from the control arm (will probably still need to clearance it a bit) and have a 1/2” more clearance on the top the tire as well as 3/4” - 1” more sidewall to fender lip? Also just noticed in your photo your tires say 255/70r15 which If true means a 3” height difference changing the numbers to 2.5” more clearance for me on top..correct me if I’m wrong.

I believe your math is correct given the differences in wheel specs.

The 255/70 tires that was pictures is the tire that was originally on the van and was way too big after I lowered it. Ended up tearing chunks out of the tread going over some railroad tracks. They were later replaced with the 255/60 which is what is in most of the pictures.