School me on drop spindles...

HemiDenny said
I must be confused.....

How does the drop spindle change the front end geometry? As long as everything else (tosion bar size/tire size / ect.) stays the same......doesn't the 2" drop spindle essentially just raise the actual spindle position 2" with EVERYTHING else (lower ball joint / steering arm) remaining the same, thereby dropping the front 2"?

the big advantage I see is that the geometry remains the SAME as factory (with factory ride height) ....except the front is appox 2"lower.....without the suspension resting on the bump stops.

The downside being that because the outer rim is now is higher on the spindle, it is also closer, perhaps in contact with the outer tie rod. I have personally never seen this....but I rarely run a 14" rim.

just askin?

That 2" is added between the spindle and the lower ball joint, which is also the outer tie rod attachment point.

So, another way to think about it is that you lowered your outer tie rod end by 2" with regard to the steering axis. Which is where the bump steer comes from, the angle of the tie rods is changed significantly. Because the tie rods are not parallel to the UCA's and LCA's, you end up with more toe change throughout the suspension travel than with OE spindles.

It also effectively raises the roll center of the car, because of the change in the UCA and LCA angle. That's for a given height though, ie, comparing the roll center with the car at the same ride height lowered with the torsion bars vs. lowered with the drop spindles.