Stepped control arms

[Hottrucks]

I pm'd reinforcements on this subject if he replies we will be gold'n

I agree thats why I was thinking of making that slice just to the inside of the upper ball joint and bending it down...Just not sure what all the correct amounts of removal should be......I would love to see a pic of the UCA on this truck to see the angle on the ball joint

[Hottrucks]

thats where I want to be!!!!!!!! low...........................with good angles on my control arm/ball joints.....and I want to be good look'n and rich......

maybe I could get at least one of those

[Spray-Bomb]

Ok guys, here I am

First Ill tell you that I didnt read the whole thread, so I may be off track in helping out

Here are the specs of the pic above: 3" cup (8" round) welded in the LCAs, stock 73-87 spindles, stock UCAs, and Slam Specialties RE-7 bags

Now there are pros & cons with what I did to my LCAs, we'll start with the pros: You can ride lower with the bag at the height it is intended to run, which means a better ride & more travel

The Cons: If you blow a bag your LCAs are gonna plummit to the ground & dig in (as with any stock cross membered truck that lays that low), and you do have some camber issues (as with any truck trying to be really low without a Z or PB DM)

My upper control arms were at a insane degree at dump, but I designed those LCAs to run the bag at 6-7 inches at ride height & the control arms be close to level, so youre pretty ok at ride height

Here are a few pics, starting with dump & then ride

The ball joint is in a huge bind at dump here, but if you put drop spindles & bump stops on (or just bump stops) you could remedy that


Note that you cant run stock inner fenders, cuz at dump it almost hits A LOT of things !!!


The front is just at the point of camber in this pic, but it wasnt aligned yet, so that could prolly be ride height with the propper shims


For what you are wanting, I would suggest one or two things: #1 you could cub the LCAs like I did & call it good till you get some drop spindles & bump stops
OR you could do the LCAs like this, by cutting out the bottom of the LCAs & welding plate on the bottom


Pros of the first way is lower, cons are crappy scrub line

Pros of the second way: easier to do & more room around the bag, cons not as low & you would have to step the control arms to get it lower

Now as for BJ angle & scrub line stuff

BJ angle: you can pie cut the upper control arms & get the angle better for your new ride height which will make it fine at dump, but you need to cut from the top & bring the BJ "down" & add metal to the "pie hole" you just created

The reason for cutting it that way is to keep the spindle out, instead of moving it in like it would if you pie cut it from the bottom

Now I have never readjusted the angle of the BJs, but I have read & thought a lot about it, so dont take it to the bank

Ok now for srub line: in either set up, to get the desired ride height you are going to have a crappy scrub line
If you do the cups that will lower the scrub line by about an inch (doesnt sound like much huh) well when you look at it thats an inch over a 8" area, & you can see how I drug a flat spot on mine from trying to roll STUPID LOW

With the plate set up, you wont be as low unless you step the BJ up or running drop spindles (I dont think you can run both a step & drop spindles)

Now, I have the cupped LCAs on my truck Killer & I added some 2.5" drop spindles
If you wanted to run cupped LCAs & drop spindles together I would definately suggest running some bump stops, as the BJs will still bind if you decide to cut the crap out of your truck to get it to lay out

Alright, now if you have made it this far without your eyes bleeding & your head going numb
I would suggest that you either run the cupped LCAs with drop spindles
Or the plated LCAs with drop spindles (not as low)

You really should run bump stops with any set up, but Im nuts enough not to

Just for fun here are a few links for you to look at

Sinister

Killer

Control arm thread

[Hottrucks]

told yea !!!

well I have to admit I'm a bit excited right now and heres why ( besides you answering most of my questions) I made a call to a buddy of mine who has a plasma cutter to ask if he could cut the holes for the cups in the LCA he said no problem bring over what you have.......I showed up with the LCA's from my spare clip a piece of schedual 80 pipe 8"x 2 3/4 " and a piece of rusty flat stock for the bottom of the cup..... well he is the demo guy for Thermal dynamics ( one of the largest plasma comanies in the US) first thing he did was throw everything I had brought exept the LCA in the scrap bin took a few measurements fired up his plasma table and cut 2 pieces of flat stock 2 3/4" fed them into the roller and out popped a 8 " then he cut the bottom plate for the cup with center hole and another for water drain.....when he was done he dropped the LCA's on the table push some buttons the thing trased the A arm spring hole the cut out a 8" circle in them needless to say all the parts fit each other within .001 of and inch
I think I'm in love the hole thing took less than 1 1/2 hours and that includes checking out the new barn inspecting the truck his other half jackknifed with the horse trailer on...he has some very Kool man toys in his garage!!!!!!!!!yee F'n HA!!!!!!!

Now for the next question can or should I step the LCA since I'm not going to lower spindles....yet

[Hottrucks]

one other thing what shocks???

[Spray-Bomb]

I would definitely not step them with the cups, just wait till you get your drop spindles to get the extra drop you want

As for shocks you will need some that are prolly 2-3 inches shorter, cuz the stock ones will bottom out at dump

[Spray-Bomb]

Oh yeah

[MXmaniac]

*cough* Hottrucks *cough*

[Hottrucks]

ummm to late there in the garage with the paint drying on them I bet they are in tomorrow..any idea what a 2 or 3 inch shorter shock might come off of?? ( we all know how smart auto parts store people are??) I thought I read some where that dodge dakota one will work??

and thanx Bomb you have been a great help!!

[Spray-Bomb]

No problem bro

I really dont know, it has been brought up before, so you may can find it in a search (ha ha) or just put out a new thread asking bout shocks

P.S. We still want pics

[Hottrucks]

I'll work on it but I can't seem to up load pics to this sight I can't even post them in my build post.........but I'll snap some tomorrow and take some measurements...right now the truck is c notched rear and on the stock a arms with bags up front...I running 31x10.5's rear ( close but no rubbing) and 235x75 on the front on stock 15" ralley's

[el curioso]

Ok here I come with what may be a stupid question...

Can you run drop spindles, cupped lowers and fliped uppers with bump stops to help the binding issue ??

[Hottrucks]

still cant do picks but this is what I came up with for some heights

top of wheel well front ( bags plates and perches) 30" ( 235x75x15 tires)
bottom of front bumper 12"
rain gutter above vent window 5' 31/2"
top of rear wheel well ( bagged with C notch) 26 1/2" ( 31X10.5 X 15 tires)

well as you can tell (maybe) my truck is a tail dragger so I'm going to add the cupped A arms ...my cups are 2 3/4" deep and 8" round.......when they are on the floor the sides are about 1/4" off the ground...I hope to put them on this weekend and well see how much more drop it gives me as it is now with the bags dumped it sits on the bags hopefully the cups will get me low and level,
my tail pipes (3 1/2") exit about 18" behind the cab because I couldn't get over the rear axle and was to cheap to get custom so there pretty close to the ground and I think this will make me low enough for this project, I also plan on running a piece of 3" wheel well flair ( you now like the 4x4 guys use to keep the mud in) under he truck from the back of the front wheel well ( fender) to the rear wheel well with a small space in it from the cab to bed then a short piece ( cut with a hole saw to give a matching curve for the tail pipe ) then back ....this will give the illusion of it being lower than it is and if it hit going over a bump it's just rubber..............

sorry for being so long but maybe this will help someone

[Spray-Bomb]

Ha ha, Im 7.5" lower than you <juvenile RACIST remark removed>

Dont try to beat me man, it tends to make your truck a never ending project that is never low enough

el curioso I really dont know anything about flipping the UCAs... Sorry

[Hottrucks]

dam!!!!!!!!! but you cheated and Z'd it... I want to see how much more I get with the cups and I still can use drop spindles but that will bring me to your level.....I want to keep the stock floor in this truck so I can use my slide in camper haul crap to the dump and move some wood chips...but I have my eye on one with a decent body that.....well lets say 500 catty and sparks and tubs!!!

[Shane]

Spray Bomb, that comment was WAY out of line. There is NO room here for that type of thing, whether it was posted in an attempt to be cute and come across as a rapper/ganster or if you were being serious in an attempt to be a racist bigot.

Either way it was WRONG and not cool regardless of how many smiley faces you put at the end.

[tucn1ton]

why cant you run spindles with stepped control arms ?

[Shane]

Originally Posted by tucn1ton

why cant you run spindles with stepped control arms ?

Cause you will have stuff scrapping the ground that you don't necessarily want to to scrape the ground.

[Spray-Bomb]

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

I still can use drop spindles but that will bring me to your level.....

You can still use the drop spindles to get a better alignment and / or ride lower, you will just have to run bigger bump stops so you dont lay your tires into your hood hinges & heater box

P.S. The <juvenile RACIST remark removed> wasnt meant in any sort of rude or racist way toward you or anyone else

[Shane]

Doesn't matter IF it was meant that way or not, the negativity that particular word has associated with it in society over rides ANY and ALL innocent intentions you may have had.

I would be very careful with the words I choose to use in public if I were you. Take this as a stern warning or friendly advice, it doesn't matter to me, but know that it will NOT be tolerated again.

[Hottrucks]

thanx Bomb...seeing how I'm building a getto budget truck maybe you could say Getto Low .....LMAO......

your a bad boy!!!

[Hottrucks]

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

still cant do picks but this is what I came up with for some heights

top of wheel well front ( bags plates and perches) 30" ( 235x75x15 tires)
bottom of front bumper 12"
rain gutter above vent window 5' 31/2"
top of rear wheel well ( bagged with C notch) 26 1/2" ( 31X10.5 X 15 tires)

my tail pipes (3 1/2") exit about 18" behind the cab

new #'s are in ..I put them in tonight ( dam I need a life tolal time including checking brakes 2 1/2 hours

top of wheek well 24" a drop of 6"
front bumper 6" a drop of 6"
rain gutter 59" drop of 4 1/2"


I will say I got the drop I wanted and it's looking sweet I'll snap a pic tomorrow and post it as my avatar

Swwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!

[Hottrucks]

some more #'s

cross memeber 2"
exhaust at header collector 3/8" ( with headers I can't go lower)
rocker edge 5"

[Spray-Bomb]

Sounds good man

Did it get rid of your "nose bleed" problem you had ???

[Hottrucks]

yep...nice level ride ....I need to address the sway bar issue, it seems like it will hit the air bags (dumped) so some mod will be made there...I think Im going to move it forward by straighting the front of the U mount (on the frame) and drilling a hole for the bolt in the front of the hanger and driling a new hole for the the back hole this should move the bar forward about 3/4" and cure that (first it's getting paint) then new shocks (9" short and 13" long)

check out my avatar........... I finally got to drive it only about a mile to the gas station ( it has been running on the gas that was in the tank) then back with only 1 front shock and no sway bar but hey its the first 2 miles on this old girl since being left out in a field in 02...... did I mention that theres no interior and I was riding the old milk crate LMAO!!!!!! when I got to the gas staion I did my first public dump and got the thumbs up but the the milk crate really got them!!!