Need some help putting together front suspension

txgoat · 10-18-2009, 08:40 PM

Im setting out to rebuild my front suspension once again and this time I am wanting to spend a bit more time researching than last and do it a little better.

I have a 95 2dr 2wd blazer.

It currently has 5" drop upfront and needless to say, the geometry is all messed up. The inside of the tires are gone within a few 1000 miles. Alignment does not help. Apperently, Firestone, the only shop that would align it around here, where i have a life-time alignment pass, will only align it to stock specification which doesnt do much due to 5" drop. I really don't know what numbers I should be using, so I cant ask them to adjust it. In addition, I've been very dissapointed with ES bushings i have installed a year or 2 ago. In addition to horrible squeak, the truck feels like it's missing suspension upfront and just rides on bumpstops. I know i cant ask for alot with my drop, but I am wanting to make it the best I possibly could.

Here is what Im wanting to do.

Upgrade to 98+ blazer spindle with 2" drop for dual piston calipers.
qa1 with probably max setting to maintain 4-5" drop upfront.
Del-a-lum bushings in stock lca's
Tubular uca's w/ del-a-lum's

Now here are my questions.

Would I benefit from using tall upper ball joint?
Would I be able to correct my geometry with unadjustable uca? or would I benefit more from the adjustable ones?
Are spohn uca's a good choice?
Does anyone happen to know what would be a good start for my alignment specifications to at least get the tires flat on the asphalt to begin with?
With del-a-lum's do you simply drill a hole in the control arms for zirk grease fitting?

turbobandit · 10-20-2009, 02:57 PM

allignment to stock specifications is what you want. STOCK means the tire is straight up and down (no camber), and caster is like toe-in toe-out. You want a degree or two of toe in.

Something is limiting you to how far your allignment is being adjusted

contact420 · 10-27-2009, 01:25 AM

How Did you drop it 5 inches? what parts did you change??? 5 inches you should have changes spindles, springs, control arms.

Sound like you use a much smaller spring to get you drop, did you even change the spindle???

txgoat · 10-27-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by contact420

How Did you drop it 5 inches? what parts did you change??? 5 inches you should have changes spindles, springs, control arms.

Sound like you use a much smaller spring to get you drop, did you even change the spindle???

That's really not the issue I was asking about here, but spindles and 3" springs= 5" drop.

txgoat · 10-27-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by turbobandit

allignment to stock specifications is what you want. STOCK means the tire is straight up and down (no camber), and caster is like toe-in toe-out. You want a degree or two of toe in.

Something is limiting you to how far your allignment is being adjusted

Yeah, I've been meaning to check the printout from the last time I had it alligned, but have not gotten around to it. I think the shop might not have done it right. Wouldnt surprize me since it was firestone... I'm hearing that0-neg 1* camber and 1/16 toe in is a pretty compromizing combination. So I will try that out next time.

pebbleboy · 10-27-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Something is limiting you to how far your allignment is being adjusted

That's really not the issue I was asking about here, but spindles and 3" springs= 5" drop.

How Did you drop it 5 inches? what parts did you change??? 5 inches you should have changes spindles, springs, control arms.

In addition to horrible squeak, the truck feels like it's missing suspension upfront and just rides on bumpstops. I know i cant ask for alot with my drop, but I am wanting to make it the best I possibly could.

Your spring is too small. I attempted the same drop and was able to remove the spring without removing the spindle. It was sitting in there and not supporting any weight of the truck. You should switch to a 2 in spring or stock spring and new lower controll arms. .

pebbleboy · 10-27-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Something is limiting you to how far your allignment is being adjusted

That's really not the issue I was asking about here, but spindles and 3" springs= 5" drop.

How Did you drop it 5 inches? what parts did you change??? 5 inches you should have changes spindles, springs, control arms.

In addition to horrible squeak, the truck feels like it's missing suspension upfront and just rides on bumpstops. I know i cant ask for alot with my drop, but I am wanting to make it the best I possibly could.

Your spring is too small. I attempted the same drop and was able to remove the spring without removing the spindle. It was sitting in there and not supporting any weight of the truck. You should switch to a 2 in spring or stock spring and new lower controll arms. .

txgoat · 10-28-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by pebbleboy

Your spring is too small. I attempted the same drop and was able to remove the spring without removing the spindle. It was sitting in there and not supporting any weight of the truck. You should switch to a 2 in spring or stock spring and new lower controll arms. .

if it was too small and did not support any weight, my inner fenders would be sitting on top of my tires, which is not the case.

10-18-2009, 08:40 PM	#1
txgoat Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 37 Location: User is: OffLine	Need some help putting together front suspension Im setting out to rebuild my front suspension once again and this time I am wanting to spend a bit more time researching than last and do it a little better. I have a 95 2dr 2wd blazer. It currently has 5" drop upfront and needless to say, the geometry is all messed up. The inside of the tires are gone within a few 1000 miles. Alignment does not help. Apperently, Firestone, the only shop that would align it around here, where i have a life-time alignment pass, will only align it to stock specification which doesnt do much due to 5" drop. I really don't know what numbers I should be using, so I cant ask them to adjust it. In addition, I've been very dissapointed with ES bushings i have installed a year or 2 ago. In addition to horrible squeak, the truck feels like it's missing suspension upfront and just rides on bumpstops. I know i cant ask for alot with my drop, but I am wanting to make it the best I possibly could. Here is what Im wanting to do. Upgrade to 98+ blazer spindle with 2" drop for dual piston calipers. qa1 with probably max setting to maintain 4-5" drop upfront. Del-a-lum bushings in stock lca's Tubular uca's w/ del-a-lum's Now here are my questions. Would I benefit from using tall upper ball joint? Would I be able to correct my geometry with unadjustable uca? or would I benefit more from the adjustable ones? Are spohn uca's a good choice? Does anyone happen to know what would be a good start for my alignment specifications to at least get the tires flat on the asphalt to begin with? With del-a-lum's do you simply drill a hole in the control arms for zirk grease fitting?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-20-2009, 02:57 PM	#2
turbobandit Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 248 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Need some help putting together front suspension allignment to stock specifications is what you want. STOCK means the tire is straight up and down (no camber), and caster is like toe-in toe-out. You want a degree or two of toe in. Something is limiting you to how far your allignment is being adjusted
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2009, 01:25 AM	#3
contact420 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 54 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Need some help putting together front suspension How Did you drop it 5 inches? what parts did you change??? 5 inches you should have changes spindles, springs, control arms. Sound like you use a much smaller spring to get you drop, did you even change the spindle???
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2009, 08:39 PM	#4
txgoat Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 37 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Need some help putting together front suspension Quote: Originally Posted by contact420 How Did you drop it 5 inches? what parts did you change??? 5 inches you should have changes spindles, springs, control arms. Sound like you use a much smaller spring to get you drop, did you even change the spindle??? That's really not the issue I was asking about here, but spindles and 3" springs= 5" drop.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2009, 08:51 PM	#5
txgoat Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 37 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Need some help putting together front suspension Quote: Originally Posted by turbobandit allignment to stock specifications is what you want. STOCK means the tire is straight up and down (no camber), and caster is like toe-in toe-out. You want a degree or two of toe in. Something is limiting you to how far your allignment is being adjusted Yeah, I've been meaning to check the printout from the last time I had it alligned, but have not gotten around to it. I think the shop might not have done it right. Wouldnt surprize me since it was firestone... I'm hearing that0-neg 1* camber and 1/16 toe in is a pretty compromizing combination. So I will try that out next time.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2009, 09:21 PM	#6
pebbleboy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 38 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Need some help putting together front suspension Quote: Something is limiting you to how far your allignment is being adjusted That's really not the issue I was asking about here, but spindles and 3" springs= 5" drop. How Did you drop it 5 inches? what parts did you change??? 5 inches you should have changes spindles, springs, control arms. In addition to horrible squeak, the truck feels like it's missing suspension upfront and just rides on bumpstops. I know i cant ask for alot with my drop, but I am wanting to make it the best I possibly could. Your spring is too small. I attempted the same drop and was able to remove the spring without removing the spindle. It was sitting in there and not supporting any weight of the truck. You should switch to a 2 in spring or stock spring and new lower controll arms. .
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-28-2009, 03:08 PM	#8
txgoat Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 37 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Need some help putting together front suspension Quote: Originally Posted by pebbleboy Your spring is too small. I attempted the same drop and was able to remove the spring without removing the spindle. It was sitting in there and not supporting any weight of the truck. You should switch to a 2 in spring or stock spring and new lower controll arms. . if it was too small and did not support any weight, my inner fenders would be sitting on top of my tires, which is not the case.
	[Reply w/Quote]