2WD lift spindle

[P Madrid]

How many 2WD owners would like to lift their front end 3" with a lift spindle. I have approached Doetsch Systems, who are around the corner of our shop in El Cajon, CA, on what it would take to manufacture some lift spindles for our trucks. Rick, who I spoke to, said that he's no aware of any request for the spindles for the 2500 but if I was to get about 50 orders they would make them for us. A deposit would be required, to set up the tooling and start production, and price of the unit would depend on how many are ordered but for starters it be under $500. You can also get an additional 3. 5" of lift for a total of 6. 5" with a upper control arm kit and taller spring coils or add-on spacers. I have a control arm kit install with Day Star 2. 5 coil spacers, this combination gave me 3. 75" of lift, the front is now 1" higher than the rear. There are smaller spacer for less lift. The shocks had to be replaced for longer ones. The truck rides and handles the same way as before the lift. Please contact me via E-mail or PM, -- email address removed --, so I can keep track of the request. Once I have a figure of how many orders, I'll walk in their office to set the deal with Rick.

 

[jwinnie]

First, Thanks for setting this up.

I would be in for the spindles or the system you have now,

depending on price and ease of installation. How much did your current system cost? do you have any a alignment problems?

thanks,

John

 

[azgearpro]

wow

man you how long I have been waiting for a lift to come out for our 2wd trucks, count me in

 

[jwinnie]

TTT

There has to be more people interested in this

 

[Straight6Jeff]

I would be interested in teh control arms and springs. I need a heavier rate for the reunel and the air bags are a PITA

 

[WebCrush]

I'd be interested but only if it allowed me to use stock rims. All the spindle kits I've seen for the 1500s require aftermarket rims due to backspacing issues.

 

[P Madrid]

The installation of the spindles should be no problem, I talk to several guys that do them on the 1500s. The nice thing about the spindle is that you don't need longer shocks so you can keep using the ones you already have and 1 out of 10 has had an alignment change and that is probably because it needed one to begin with. Wheel back space does not look like a problem on our trucks because the rotor hub assembly sticks out more than the 1500s. The stock wheel on my 96 has about 4 3/4" back space and I replaced them with Eagles #102 18X9. 5 with a back space of 4 5/8 and it clear fine with the FabTech control arm installed even after the fact the foot note states 3 5/8" max back space on wheels will only fit (that only seems to be for the 1500s). If it becomes a problem with the spindle, doubt that will be the case, there are several wheels out there that have 3 5/8 back space, 16X8, and will fit our trucks.



The installation of the upper control arms was easy, it is a direct bolt on, in other words is like replacing the stock for another stock one. Instructions tell you to use a small press to help installing the new bushings, it does help but I also did it with out a press, a little more effort but got it. You have to cut the original bump stop and they give you a bracket to relocate it, I personally don't think you need it but I did it. The bracket has to be trim in one corner to fit, since our frames are reinforce more than the 1500s, then had a friend weld it in place. A couple of weld is all you need but my friend weld it all around and he said it would not affect the stability of the frame, he's done this for over 15 years. So far I have spent :



Control Arms $400 FabTech



Ball Joints $55 each, Moog (worn out but not require if in good conditions)



Coil spacers 2. 5" $80 set, DayStar



Lower bushings $25 Kit, Energy Suspension (worn out but not require if in good conditions)



Shocks $30 each, FabTech adjustable



Spindles will depend on how many we can order but regular price on 1500s are less than $500



I have some pictures of the control arms install but are too big to attach, e-mail and I can send you the pictures.



Pablo

 

[Straight6Jeff]

Are teh control arms the same on the 1500 and 3500?

 

[P Madrid]

The suspension parts book and the dealer said they are. We have several 3500s and by just looking at them they are identical except if you have a solid axle then you have the same set up as a 4WD.

 

[WebCrush]

In related news ...

I contacted FabTech about their spindle kits and whether they'll offer a 3/4 ton model like they do for Chevy.



Their response:

Dear customer; we are offering nothing in a 3/4 ton application for the 2wd model yet. You may want to check back with Fabtech later in the year. I would say like late summer or early winter. Thank You for your interest in Fabtech Motorsports.

 

[P Madrid]

I hate to say this but that is the same answer I got from FabTech back in May of last year, "Check back with us in four months (Sept. ) and we might have the test results on the control arms and the spindles manufactured. " If they are going to make it, say it, don't keep us waiting to see if they are going to or not.



Pablo

 

[P Madrid]

Is there no interest out there for the lift spindles? So far only twelve persons have contact me showing interest, a small number but I will talk to Doetsch Systems and see what can be done. Here we have an opportunity to have a company make us spindles as long as we have enough to cover the design and tooling cost, because as every one has said, the demand is not there, and so far it shows that there is no interest. For those of you who would like to see this happen, help us spread the word, the more the better.



Pablo

 

[P Madrid]

Well guys, Doetsch Systems no longer has any interest in fabricating the spindles. Rick, who turns out to be the owner never returned any of my phone calls. The operator finally told me that they would not make them. No reason or explanation to why they lost interest, after all, Rick was the one that offer to make them when I approach them about some shocks.



Body Lift, here I come.



Pablo

 

[Dkevdog]

Pablo, That's too bad. If there was more interest in it, you'd at least have something to show them. I am going to end up going the spacer route for now.



Kev

 

[WebCrush]

tis a shame, but i think the spindles are overkill for our needs. I did the same lift you did and got close to 4". Sure I could add a spindle but then the truck would be ridiculously high.

 

[P Madrid]

WebCrush, It would be quite a lift, in our case it would be 7. 5" . How do you like your control arms and how are the shocks working for you. I keep telling my self I need to set the shocks (three stage adjustable) to soft and see how the ride feels. I tried the firm setting and it was way to hard for me, I now have them set to medium and it feels like stock.



Dkevdog (Kev), when are we doing the spacers? You know the deal, you come down to the shop and we'll put them on. Let me know if you want me to order them and what size?



The main reason I was going after a lift spindle was to make the lift easier and have more choices when it came to shocks. Also the alignment stay the same.



I want to fit the 325/60/18 Nitto Terra Grapplers (33X13X18) and the next step was a spindle or body lift. Can't get the spindle and I'm not to crazy about the body lift. Another option that a friend gave me was to cut back the very bottom portion of the wheel well, trim it , pull it back and weld back in place. I know of one excellent welder and I can do the finish body work but first I want to try it on a test fender . One problem, I have not been able to find a descent fender at the wrecking yards, all the ones I have found are damage at that particular area. Any fender donors out there.



Pablo

 

[WebCrush]

Why not try taller springs AND coil spacers as well? Those F250 springs Dkevdog had spoke of should add another 2 inches, right?

 

[Dkevdog]

Webcush, Yes, the F250 springs gave in about 2" of lift, but after it settled down alot, to about 1" over time. If you have a spring built it would be the only way IMHO. And you're talking about some steep cost, on top of the fact that you're going to be doing control arms. That's why Pablo was hoping to get enough interest in the coil arms.



Pablo, I'll give you a call and we can talk about it.

Kev

 

[WebCrush]

But Pablo already HAS upper control arms.

 

[P Madrid]

I believe Kev, meant to say spindles because he seen what I'm running. The problem with going any higher, with springs or spacers, than what I'm already at, 4", is that it will really affect the suspension. I keep seen all this 1500s drive by the shop with the 6. 5" lift and I just drool, there is a 4 Wheel Parts on our street.



I looked at National Springs again for a friend and got the same answer, they can make them but the ride is going to be stiff and this was a warning up front. National Springs has done several of are rear leaf springs for our service trucks and customers trucks and they do great work, that is the reason why they are up front about how the spring is going to be stiff.



Maybe I'll come across a 4X4 and give up with trying to get those 325/60/18 in my 2WD. I do have to admit those 285/60/18, that I have, look 100% way better that the stock 245/75/16 and handle great.



Pablo