[L Samino]

So I just removed the stock spindles for 2 inch drop spindles and I thought I would share my experience for any other shade tree mechanics. Even thought my goal was to change the spindle, this DIY tutorial can also be used for brake pads, brake rotors and ball joint issues.

1- raise car and remove wheel. Notice normal ride height:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/no7L3J]P1140335 by smistry007, on Flickr[/URL]

2- Remove brake caliper bolts. They are hex heads and accessible from the inner aspect. You may need to a torque multiplier or pipe to slip over the end of the rachet to get enough force in such a confined space. After caliper is off, you can change pads if needed. Be sure to hang caliper with bungee cord or wire so as not to pull on brake line:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/nqcE69]P1140338 by smistry007, on Flickr[/URL]

3-Remove rotor by prying end cap off, removing cotter pin and castle nut on the spindle:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/nrW1yT]P1140339 by smistry007, on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/nrW1qg]P1140341 by smistry007, on Flickr[/URL]

4- Remove brake dust shield- three small bolts. Cover greasy end of spindle with rag or paper to prevent getting all greased up!

[url=https://flic.kr/p/nrVZTK]P1140346 by smistry007, on Flickr[/URL]

5- Place jack under lower control arm/ ball joint area and raise jack just enough to contact and barely compress spring

[url=https://flic.kr/p/nqcCPb]P1140351 by smistry007, on Flickr[/URL]

6-Remove ball joint at steering knuckle with ball joint remover separator. First remove cotter pin and then loosen nut. Subsequently, I used this one from Harbor Freight Tools. You hammer the pronged part in between ball and metal and then use ratchet to push bolt down. It will make a very loud "BANG" when it lets go. Be careful and of course wear protective gear as always.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/npSUtd]P1140353 by smistry007, on Flickr[/URL]

7- Remove connection to sway bar with ratchet. See two pics above



8- Remove lower control arm ball joint. Notice the whole assemble can rotate in order to get at ball joints/ castle nuts from the back.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/npSTQt]P1140356 by smistry007, on Flickr[/URL]



9- Remove upper control arm ball joint

[url=https://flic.kr/p/npSTUC]P1140359 by smistry007, on Flickr[/URL]

10- Remove old spindle and insert new spindle. You may need to use jack to compress coil spring in order to get the ball joint bolts threaded.

http://[url=https://flic.kr/p/nrVYx8]P1140360 by smistry007, on Flickr[/URL]

 

[L Samino]

DIY continued

new spindle- greased up:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/no7HyW]P1140362 by smistry007, on Flickr[/URL]

11- reattach all castle nuts, torque down and insert cotter pins.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/npSTbx]P1140363 by smistry007, on Flickr[/URL]

12- replace brake rotor.

13- replace brake caliper- Grease caliper mounts and the bolts some- honestly this was the hardest part of the whole project!

14- put wheel back on and lower car. You are good to go! See difference in ride height. Couple of issues with lowered car- tires rub when making turns and over big dips- I might need to roll inner fender, use thinner front tire or something to that effect.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/nqahig]P1140368 by smistry007, on Flickr[/URL]

 

[aeilenstein]

Wow, that's low! Great pictures...glad you didn't get hurt. What brand and size of wheel is that?

 

[L Samino]

scraped all the way to work and back- gonna need to figure something out regarding rolling fenders...

anyways yes wheels are 17in Center Line's with mirrored aluminum finish.

 

[aeilenstein]

Yeah it looked low enough to me to start with!

 

[MikesElco94]

If you have original or worn springs, you might need to replace them if it continues to rub over dips and such. The spring rate might just be too soft allowing too much travel into the wheelwell.

BTW, car looks great, and this is an awesome write up! Drooling over those wheels. what size tires are those? I'm going to pickup that tool at Harbor Freight this weekend. I need ball joints and springs bad and I never liked using the fork.

 

[jlcustomz]

I used to replace stuff like that in my sleep, maybe that's why I can't always remember how to when I'm awake.:eek2: Pics are always a good reminder.

Anyways , on wheel rubbing, I always tell people if you want to look cool & low on fatter tires & dropped ride heights, modify the vehicle. A few years ago when things were apart, I removed the wheel well to inner fender bolts & cut out the upper outer few inches of the plastic wheel well & metal reinforcement, which curve down. I removed the nut clips from the fender lip & flattened out the mounting flanges. Also slightly & carefully worked out the fender lip with a 2 x 4. I plan to later do a custom inner fenderwell when I get to installing my air ride, but it has been acceptable to drive as is. Trailer fenders are often used for custom lowered applications.

It takes work & a surgeon's skills to look cool & perform better sometimes. Just sayin.

 

[I got the look]

Nice write up... thanks for sharing your experience. Your car looks great!

 

[L Samino]

If you have original or worn springs, you might need to replace them if it continues to rub over dips and such. The spring rate might just be too soft allowing too much travel into the wheelwell.

BTW, car looks great, and this is an awesome write up! Drooling over those wheels. what size tires are those? I'm going to pickup that tool at Harbor Freight this weekend. I need ball joints and springs bad and I never liked using the fork.

tires are 215/50-17 on front and 245/45-17 on the back

there was no way the fork thing was going to work for me!

 

[L Samino]

I used to replace stuff like that in my sleep, maybe that's why I can't always remember how to when I'm awake.:eek2: Pics are always a good reminder.

Anyways , on wheel rubbing, I always tell people if you want to look cool & low on fatter tires & dropped ride heights, modify the vehicle. A few years ago when things were apart, I removed the wheel well to inner fender bolts & cut out the upper outer few inches of the plastic wheel well & metal reinforcement, which curve down. I removed the nut clips from the fender lip & flattened out the mounting flanges. Also slightly & carefully worked out the fender lip with a 2 x 4. I plan to later do a custom inner fenderwell when I get to installing my air ride, but it has been acceptable to drive as is. Trailer fenders are often used for custom lowered applications.

It takes work & a surgeon's skills to look cool & perform better sometimes. Just sayin.

did you try the Eastwood fender roller? I'm going to try and open up the wheel well this weekend but have been seeming some stuff on you tube regarding the roller.

 

[jlcustomz]

Lift your front & look up under the fender. You can't just roll our front fenderlips. The bolts to wheel well are the first point of contact most of the time. That's why the inner fender needs to be modded, removed or made custom, such as welding in a trailer inner fender.

 

[lcochino]

^^^ x3 on the "front fender rolling"you ave to pay to play with u 5th gens! nehoo,who likes "stock"anyway???!!!get you some trailer fenders.0.23,a bottle of argon/co2,and have fun!!!

 

[84withzz4]

WOW!! great post. I've bookmarked it already. Here is what's on the garage floor: 2 in spindle kit, shocks, upper A-arm kit, lower bushings, sway bar bushings. I'm on a tight budget, so I have to purchase a little at a time. I'm going the Blazer route to get the dual piston calipers, so that calls for a trip to the "Pick and pull". Patience grasshopper....

 

[L Samino]

WOW!! great post. I've bookmarked it already. Here is what's on the garage floor: 2 in spindle kit, shocks, upper A-arm kit, lower bushings, sway bar bushings. I'm on a tight budget, so I have to purchase a little at a time. I'm going the Blazer route to get the dual piston calipers, so that calls for a trip to the "Pick and pull". Patience grasshopper....

well if you doing the 2 inch drops, make sure you tackle the rubbing issue simultaneously when you got it all apart...

Looks like the Gents are vetoing the fender rolling- gonna need to do some fender cutting/ banging this weekend- I'll keep you posted.

 

[cyberray]

WOW!! great post. I've bookmarked it already. Here is what's on the garage floor: 2 in spindle kit, shocks, upper A-arm kit, lower bushings, sway bar bushings. I'm on a tight budget, so I have to purchase a little at a time. I'm going the Blazer route to get the dual piston calipers, so that calls for a trip to the "Pick and pull". Patience grasshopper....

you doing all 4 wheels? should be able to get all 4 off a '98-2002 blazer for 'bout $75 total

 

[84withzz4]

Well, here it is one year later, and I can start on my project again. I got 2 complete spindles from a '98 Blazer( 2 wheel drive). Now starts the cleaning and prepping for paint. Looks like I'm going to need one new hub, new brake pads, and get the rotors turned. I'm going to read some more posts to see what I need in the way of brake lines, etc.

 

[cyberray]

Well, here it is one year later, and I can start on my project again. I got 2 complete spindles from a '98 Blazer( 2 wheel drive). Now starts the cleaning and prepping for paint. Looks like I'm going to need one new hub, new brake pads, and get the rotors turned. I'm going to read some more posts to see what I need in the way of brake lines, etc.

don't forget to take pics for your write-up on the procedure

 

[snibdown]

pick your part half off sale is a good start:nanawrench: