Ok I have a set of bell tech drop spindles and a set of IROC springs cut. Want to lower my TA so which way should I go? Car is driver-autocross car. Thanks Bud.

 

Drop spindles are the better solution as they keep the suspension geometry correct. There can be other issues such as clearance and strength.

 

With the right spring rates drop spindles are great. PM sent.

 

If you go with the drop spindles I'd check them very regularly for stress cracks. The daily driver application is just not well suited to fabricated parts for such a critical component that sees so many stresses. For a racecar or even a weekend car you can monitor the condition frequently to be sure it's safe. But for a daily it can go through the entire failure process between inspections and you'd never know til the car started doing barrel rolls down the highway.

http://www.s10planet.com/forum/archi...p/t-25597.html

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...e-failure.html

You can find more on google Im sure. Racecraft updated theirs to be stronger, but it just goes to show you how even a strong part has to rely on a complicated system of welds and a very dynamic and complicated system of forces acting on it on a regular basis. It's impossible for a company that doesnt have the resources GM has to put these things through the kind of testing necessary to ensure it's as reliable as the factory cast spindle (there's a reason the factory casts them). It's not their fault, it's just an extraordinarily difficult part to design and fabricate to OEM strength standards, much like k-members.

 

Op has belltech.

The link provided of the broken belltech states the truck had been hit on the side the spindle broke on. Can't blame the spindle for that.

That said, I've never seen a belltech break under normal use.

 

Does "normal use" of the Belltech include auto-x and road racing?

 

As long as you don't hit a wall.

 

As far as a fabricated piece like that goes... Im not sure a wall is going to be much different than a pothole. That said, I didnt catch that part. Fair critique. I still wouldn't trust my car on them unless it was a trailered road racing car. In that situation though I think they'd be highly advantageous from a performance point of view.

I would imagine in most cases that given impact with curbs or walls the stock spindle is not going to break before some other part in the front suspension. Its possible, but I feel like the spindle is not the weak link.

 

Thanks for the ideas. The drop spindles I have are almost twice as thick as the stock ones, if I think of it I will post a pick for comparison. I have had dropped ones on my truck for years and no problems, and on the flip side I have had a front coil snap in half. So... One of my concerns is that 2 inches is pretty low, the car sits at 28 inches now so down to 26, does that sound to low? And I'm not sure how low to take the rear coils? Car sit almost level now ans it's stock.
.

 

It's low so it depends on what you want to do with the car and how you want it to look. For handling you want lower for crappy roads with nasty dips you want higher. As for the rear, some like level some like a rake. You could lower the rear a couple inches too. If you don't like it you could always revert to what it is now and sell the stuff you don't need.

 

I'm confident in the roadrace Racecraft spindle - feel lucky to have them, since they are no longer offered. There were communication issues with my purchase (asked for rr version, but received the lighter version), had to send them back in and pay xtra $$, and all the hassle, but I'm happy with the final product.
This is not an OR question, but an AND question. Combined with weight jacks up front and coil-overs in rear, you can easily drop down & stiffen up for the track. Otherwise, you'll have to get good at spring removals - trial & error.
If I remember correctly, I'm at 26.5" front, and 27.5" rear in this pic.

 

The bell techs I have seen are cast like factory ones, not welded and fabricated.

Bell tech have sold countless thousands of drop spindles. I have only seen one "failure" and thats the one linked here.

 

26 inches should not be too low; Do you know what the spring rates are on your current springs? If they are factory Iroc's they are probably too soft.
Also what type of Shocks & Struts do you have? If you have cheap struts you will blow them pretty quick going down that low.

Also race crafts piece failed because they used crappy welds. I believe the bell techs are cast; but it's been years since I've seen a set. Pictures would be great...

 

I did not realize they were cast.... Interesting... Now I want them... Are they being made currently or are they the ones that are NLA?

 

Bell tech quit making them years ago.

 

They stopped being made years ago unfortunately

And a 1.5" CAST drop spindle that works with aftermarket brakes would be phenomenal lol.

 

My current springs are stock 89 trans am, I have cut a set of IROC rears already to use, but I also wondered if they would be stiff enough. Struts are kyb AGX ajustables, not sure if they are built for a two inch drop?

 

Drop

 

I've owned the KYB's you have. I can assure you they wont last very long. Are you planning to have a 26" ride height in the rear? If so the stock cut springs will allow too much travel and you will have a bouncy ride.

If you wanted to lower it just for looks then you could just use the stock cut springs and stick with the S&S you have now.

But for performance you should definitely get some better S&S; and get stiffer springs. 850lb fronts & 175lb rear would be decent. (then balance with sway bars and S&S tuning on a track.

Keep in mind you have a huge advantage already with the Drop spindles; keeping your factory geometry in place.

The rest of us are having to use extended ball joints to get better geometry.

On the other hand, you could just drop your car with springs and sell me the bell techs you have. I'll pay good.

 

Stock vs drop

 

Thanks will keep you offer in mind, these things must be rare because you are not the first to offer to purchase. I think these spur more interest than the 1le spindles I sold.

 

They are somewhat hard to find; they are preaty old now since bell tech stopped production of these spindles back in the late 90's. Thanks for the side by side pics! I've always wanted to see a comparison of the two. If you do decide to sell them let me know; just PM me.

 

Still not sure what is the best for the rear springs? The cut IROC rears seem weak even when I push on them out of the car, and I don't want to bounce down the road. Is there a better option for the rear that is stiffer and still lower the car? Can you buy just rear eibachs? And if so which one if I drop 2 in. In the front?

 

Had a set of BellTech's, quite a few years back. I will only give my experience, not advice. The spindles worked great on the street, except for dips at speed, being lower, and still having stock suspension travel. They also worked well at the strip, when front suspension travel is wanted upon launch. But when I started throwing it around a lot, that stock travel spent a lot of time on the rubber nubs, even when the nubs were cut. Eventually, I went back to springs. The geometry wasn't stock with springs, but there's plenty of alignment available, and jounce, and travel is reduced. A set of aftermarket springs isn't that expensive, and will solve your rear spring problem, also. You may like springs better while autocrossing, too. Again, not my advice, just my opinion, based on my experience.
PS. The Belltech's were great pieces. I never had a failure, or problem with them.

 

For Best handling:
If I had the drop spindles my self I would order a set of Ground Control Weight Jacks with 900lb front springs & 175lb rear springs. (The rates are assuming you have a iron SBC) You can then set the ride height with the weight jacks. I would also order a set of Koni yellows; take the car to the track, and adjust the rebound to how like (best balance).

Super Cheap:
Order Moog IROC replacement springs (from summit) and trim to desired ride height. They are still soft; but they would be better than the old factory springs. (The Moogs have a higher spring rate)

You will negate the benefits of the drop spindles if you don't have good Shocks & Struts to control body movement.

Another thing that I did not think about was your factory strut mounts... Do you have aftermarkets? If not you should definitely grab a set. Founders Performance sells a set for around $150. You will need the extra inch of travel the aftermarkets give you since your going so low. If you use factory strut mounts at that ride height you will end up bottoming out your struts on the factory mounts. The solid bearings have a benefit of their own: not allowing strut slop into your alignment. (Factory rubber allows lot of slop)

All of the above is considering performance and not damaging suspension parts.

If you want to go out cheap; then you can always just cut the IROC springs you have now. It would be just for looks and your car would not handle as good as it should. Like I said earlier you have a big advantage with those drop spindles; I wouldn't waste it with poor S&S and soft springs...

I wouldn't waste time and money with the eibachs unless your talking about their 12" racing springs. The pro kit & sport line's will be too soft for the drop your looking at.

 

I have never noticed this before but it appears that the belltechs do not lower the strut mounting point 2", it appears more like .5" whereas the balljoint mount and steering arm are a full 2. I was always under the assumptions that all the mounting points were relocated 2".

 

You are correct thats what makes the Bell Techs so nice very well built piece, its a shame they dont still make them! I was lucky enough to have a friend who has a NASSA Camaro mustang challenge car who had some and was going to put them on creagslist right before I called him, got two sets for a good deal.

 

You hit the jack pot if you got two sets. It's typical but I just missed out on a set of Bell Techs on ebay... They sold for cheap too. I should have been paying attention.

 

Let you all know first other set I have are going on eBay probably tonight for sale.

 

Give us some keywords to search on. There are lots of Bell Tech drop spindles.

 

Why is no one telling him both his options are wrong if he autocrosses??

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...ght-jacks.html

 

Are you suggesting he should go with Weight Jack's?

 

They ARE completely bada$$.

 

Drool. (THe holly grail.) I searched for a set of these for years and never found any.

 

post #25

GC's are drop in; but with some welding the all star set up is cheaper and easier to adjust.

 

YES. I want them.

 

So where are they? Post a link. Let's see the drool turn to dollars!

 

Try 82-92 drop spindle

 

I see drool becoming dollars now! But who'll put their dollars where their drool is? To jump in or not. ?????

 

I got out-bid at the last second. Extended ball joints are here to stay!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/82-92-Camaro-Firebird-Bellteck-2-inch-drop-spindles-/151270581492?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEDWX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=LAtDA3fTWFl0A7fPBwSs9yNwPcw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
But hey; this set that sold for $150 on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Drop-Spindles-Knuckles-83-92-Camaro-Firebird-Trans-Am-IROC-Z28-/151258336857?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ACamaro&hash=item2337b30e59&vxp=mtr&nma=true&si=LAtDA3fTWFl0A7fPBwSs9yNwPcw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
Is now for sale at Bigbrakeupgrade:
http://www.bigbrakeupgrade.com/specials.html

The catch is you have to buy their brake kit with it. That's not what I'm wanting to do right now; but I figured someone here might be interested. Good luck with your builds!

 

I'm surprised they didn't go for more given how sought after they seem to be. "bada$$" "holy grail" etc. But I'm glad because I need to pay for a crown as well. Sorry NOSHOW I was watching the countdown and jumped with a few seconds to go. My first ebay auction! Exciting. Now for the brakes etc. etc. And I should probably tell my wife before they arrive.

 

They were used and I might be upgrading to bigger wheels in the near future. So I didn't want to bid too much.

It's going to be cool having your front A arm geometry intact while being slammed!

 

Yes. I've been looking at lowering springs and all the other parts to compensate and the threads about the Racecraft spindles made these look like the best available way to go. The car is becoming more track than DD but I still have lots of parts to gather. It's a slow, and pricy, process.