Heidts drop spindles question
 

Let me start by saying yes, I read all the posts regarding drop spindles. Now, seems to me for my build, budget and what I want to accomplish, the only obstacle I am looking at is tie rod end interference. No I run a drop spindle on my 70 CHevelle but with only a 14x7 rally wheel and I also run them on my 92 S10 with a 16x8 ZQ8 wheel. The s10 comes close but doesnt hit. I plan on setting my backspacing on the camaro front wheel between 4.750 and 5.00. I have purchased a set of 19x8.5 wheesl for the front. My question is with a 19" wheel, has anyone tried this with a drop spindle before? I would think the large wheel might give me the clearance I need. If anyone has tried this before, I would love to know if it works. Thanks

Even the 19" wheel won't clear the tie rod and steering arm issue. You will be limited to 4" of BS on a 2" drop spindle.

Don't do it.

Tyler

We have 4.5" BS on a 16" wheel for our 68.

Wow, a whole half inch more?

Could I run 6.125" of backspacing or will the tie rod hit like they always do?

I stand by my don't do a 2 inch drop spindle statement. It will cause issues when running wide wheels.

Tyler

Just a thought: What if the spindle was machined so the tie rod would fit upside down? Would that effect the bump steer? Or a steering arm closer inward. You would have to turn in the tie rod in a little more but it shouldn't effect anything.
My $0.02

Yes, this would affect the geometry. Your moving the pivot point of the steering. Any changes in the location of the pick-up points of the suspension will affect its performance. I wouldn't recommend it unless you are analyzing the affects of these changes.

What I was stating is its 4.5" on a smaller size wheel ( 15" ). Due to all the different wheel and tire combos which, we can not test all of them. BS can increase with larger wheels due to larger diameter. What we tell people to watch for is steering clearence with allot of BS on a large wheel like 19's. You may rub the inner frame rails with too much backspace on a larger wheel.

even with a 19"x8 front wheel BS was 5" i think (it's been a while) we had to machine the steering arm to move the outer tie rod up to clear the rim.

With which spindle and arm?

A first gen Camaro tie rod end sits below the lower balljoint, so it's a way different clearance issue than a front steer car.

Also to confuse things, there are three different lengths of outer steering arms, the longer the arm, the worse the clearance issue will be. If you raise the outer end of the tie rod, you must also raise the inner end, but being rear steer, you can't go too far with it. The caliper sits above the tie rod end so you will run into it unless the caliper is relocated.
David