Dennis-Z28

iTrader: (1)

I swapped from 2" drop spindles and stock springs (2" drop overall) to stock spindles and 1" lowering springs (1" drop overall).

In regards to wheel alignment:

The driver side I did not notice much of a change visually. I checked with a level from top to bottom of the tire and it has positive camber at about 1/8" diff top to bottom. Toe-in seems right.

The passenger side I noticed right away visually. It has mega positive camber and mega toe-in. Using the level again the camber is about 3/4" diff top to bottom and the toe-in also seems to be about a 3/4".

Is this an expected level of change? I got the spindles from a wrecker and they looked great but maybe the passenger one was bent? I looked at the strut plates and it appears I have the room to adjust the camber to 0.

Not sure whether to do the alignment or re-swap the passenger spindle. Suggestions?

Im a newbie at this.

9manastacio

iTrader: (4)

Id have it check on an alignment rack, usually S.A.I. and other angles will show if something is bent. Thats a start. 3rd gens are good because they have caster/camber and toe adjustments, and they are super easy to adjust as well.

Guest

Just by unbolting the spindles from the struts, and then rebolting them bacl up...even if they were the same parts....would make a change in alignm,ent and render the car needing a new alignment check. You are changing the SAI (Steering Axis Inclination) when you loosen those two bolts and the spindle to strut has slop play in assembly.

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

Dennis: Why would you remove stock springs and 2" drop spindles in favor of 1" drop springs and stock spindles??

Dennis-Z28

iTrader: (1)

Because the old setup is too soft for a 2" drop and bottoms out all the time.

Looking at my prob...
I think the drop spindles steering arm (for tie rods) is inset deeper and hence the stock ones are getting sucked in creating the mega toe in. If spindle was bent the disc would not clear nicely in the caliper anymore. I'm just surprised at the magnatude. I'll have to learn how to do a "close enough" alignment to bring the car in for a real alignment.

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

By stock springs, did you mean the MOOG replacement ones or the 20 year old sagging ones? I have MOOG replacement springs and I find they are VERY stiff compared to the old stockers. Also, which drop spindles did you have?? Racecraft's?

Dennis-Z28

iTrader: (1)

stock 20yr olds.

I have no clue what drop spindles they are. Not Racecraft. They look identical to stock (casted look). I assume Bell tech but only since they make frop spindles and I had their springs in the back (assuming prev owner bought a kit). I took pics may post later.

hellz_wings

iTrader: (2)

20 year old springs soften up and will definitely bottom out on a 2" drop. There's a couple of things you could do here. Raise the strut mount by getting J+M or Spohn strut mounts, this will give the strut 1 more inch of height before it bottoms out. Another thing would be to get MOOG replacement IROC springs, which are way stiffer than stock was apparently (they feel MUCH stiffer than my old 25 year old stockers) and will raise the ride height slightly over the sagging ones. Another thing is that I heard the belltech spindles had issues but I can't remember with what... A few people on here have racecraft's spindles and have no problems except if running wider wheels. If you're willing to invest, I would suggest MOOG iroc springs and racecraft drop spindles. I've got the springs already and I'm going to get the spindles this summer.

AM91Camaro_RS

or you could sell me the drop spindles nice and cheap! :-p

Dennis-Z28

iTrader: (1)

If I knew I had drop spindles I would have bought firmer springs and stopped there. But now its said and done so I'll try it like this for a while with just the lowering springs. Can always go back again.

This is what they looked like...







Any ideas what they are? They are stamped 142 S and 141 S or something close to that.