Why and how did it happen?

[yellowGT]

I had my truck lowered the cheap way but i have since replaced the springs with 2 inch lowering springs and put 2 in lowering spindles. Now for some reason the passenger side wheel is pushed out further than before and rubs on fender lip. Can someone explain that one.

[78maliburat]

springs and spindle wouldnt cause this problem i'd look into the bearings maybe theryre not seated correctly ,

[hessian18]

I have read around that some spindles DO increase the track width.



This may be your problem, which DS's did you use ?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by hessian18

I have read around that some spindles DO increase the track width.



This may be your problem, which DS's did you use ?

If that was the case here, it would likely rub on both sides.

[lolife99]

Spindles increase the track width compared to the stock drum brake front end.
I assume the front frame horns are straight/square?
My '71 swb parts truck's wheel base is 1" shorter on the left side due to some frame damage that was covered up with replacement sheetmetal and a paint job.

[hessian18]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

If that was the case here, it would likely rub on both sides.

True, thats would also depend if the chassis is square.


With stock spindles it may have went unnoticed, and now with the additional width it became apparent.


Just my thoughts




Find anything unusual ? Hope you find your problem.


Bob

[yellowGT]

Well the rain came down again and didnt get a chance to mess with the truck. I had 22s on the truck then went with 20s and no problems. Went back to 22s and still no problem only until I lowered it correctly. Its going to bug me til mother-nature allows me to mess with it.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by hessian18

True, thats would also depend if the chassis is square.


With stock spindles it may have went unnoticed, and now with the additional width it became apparent.


Just my thoughts




Find anything unusual ? Hope you find your problem.


Bob

Ditto.

Usually the "frame" itself is square but the cab is not set on the frame straight. As a result the hood (which is fixtured by the cab) goes shooting off to one side. In order to set the fender to hood gaps, the fenders themselves (and the rad support) get skewed in that same direction. That's why you could have a rub on one side and not the other.

You can usually verify this by measuring from the fender to the end of the bumper on one side and comparing to the other side, The bumper, which is attached to the end of the frame, will be the component that stays centered in all this.

Regular cab pickups are particularly susceptible to this (becuase the cab is so short). Crew cabs, Blazers and Suburbans have more length which desensitizes them to this issue.

K

[JohnC]

Since you changed how it was lowered could your alignment be off? Allowing the top of the tire to be kicked out more on that side.

[SCOTI]

You changed how it was lowered. The causes for the interference could be the additional track width of drop spindles, the body to chassis alignment, or a tweaked frame.

Did you change the amount of drop?

[ccreddell]

+2 on possible cab/fender alignment problem exacerbated by the increased track width caused by some brands of spindles (even though they all claim that they dont-they do).

[yellowGT]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

You changed how it was lowered. The causes for the interference could be the additional track width of drop spindles, the body to chassis alignment, or a tweaked frame.

Did you change the amount of drop?

No the amount of drop did not change. It was just done correctly this time making the front end stiffer but the passenger side just got pushed out for some strange reason. I cant figure out why other than the width of the spindle. By the way Scoti im the one you were talking to sat. at kellers.

[Rob73-87]

I had exactly the same problem - after I finished the restoration of my longbed truck and dropped it wth spindles and springs one wheel was more or less stickin out of the fender, the other wheel was just fine...?!

LIKE KEITH ALREADY SAID - THE PROBLEM WAS THE CAB !!! IT WASN`T CENTERED CORRECTLY WHEN I PUT IT BACK ON THE FRAME....

[shockermotorsports1]

It could also be that when it was dropped the cheap way the upper A-arm was shimmed to correct the camber and when you did the correct drop the shimms are still in their wich would make the top further out.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by shockermotorsports1

It could also be that when it was dropped the cheap way the upper A-arm was shimmed to correct the camber and when you did the correct drop the shimms are still in their wich would make the top further out.

That was my next question. If the drop amount was not changed (only the method), was it re-aligned?

Originally Posted by yellowGT

.....By the way Scoti im the one you were talking to sat. at kellers.

Ahhh.... small world then. I remember you saying you were on here but I didn't remember your screen name.

[yellowGT]

I dont think i mentioned the screen name but its me. Feel sort of bad leaving the way we did so maybe one day well ride out and have some cold adult refreshments.


Yes I may have to get my alignment done before anything else.

[2tons of fun]

if the spindles arnt whats cuasing it maybe you didnt seat the wheel bearings back on correctly.

you also have to remember that when raising and lower the suspension through the cycle that the knuckle will move in a arch and not perfectly straight up and down.
useing the springs to lower it will push the top of the tire out and the spindle is raised toward the top of the cycle, pushing it against the fender.