How does a drop spindle work?

Hey guys, I have a buddy who it trying to help me figure out how the front of my GMC is lowered. I thought that it might be lowered coil springs but he brought up the idea it might be drop spindles.

He said that the balljoint locations are closer to each other, where as I thought it was just the spindle part was relocated.

Does anyone know?

uh ..... idk

a drop spindle actually lowers your truck by lifting the spindle – the area where the front brakes mount.

^ what he said. Usually 2" higher than the stock location

Ok, makes sense! Thats what I thought originally!

It moved the spindle and brake mount up in the knuckle, but leaves the tire rod and balljoint in the same location in most cases. On the newer GM trucks, if you don't have a McGaughy's spindle the balljoints are actually spread out about 1.5" more than stock.

Ahh, so there could be a chance that they are diff then..

Mine is a '98 so who knows...


I'm gonna see about some stock spindles tomorrow, and whether or not these are drop spindles.

I don't think McGaughy's makes anything for the 88-99 CK trucks. I would think the easiest way to tell if it has drop spindles on it is to crank the wheels all the way either direction and look at the back side of the spindle. If the "pin" itself that the rotor bolts on to is closer to the top of the assembly it is a drop spindle. If it's nearest the center, than it's a stock spindle.

How does the truck ride? If it's smooth and factory like, I'm guessing that it has at the very least drop spindles on it. If it's a tad stiff riding then it probably only has dropped springs in the front. Just my .02

88-98 CK trucks don't have the same issue with the spindles as the 99-current do. So whoever made the spindle, it will be the same.

[quote="HeX0rz"]Hey guys, I have a buddy who it trying to help me figure out how the front of my GMC is lowered. I thought that it might be lowered coil springs but he brought up the idea it might be drop spindles.

I'm 99% sure your truck is lowered, it looks good. Are you planning on lifting it back up?