Blazer spindles and UMI control arms

Rt Jam

G-Body Guru
Mar 30, 2020
579
558
93
Ontario Canada
Has anyone done this combination of Blazer spindles and UMI extended ball joint control arms?

Something has robbed my steering angle.

The steering stop on the spindle is already close to the stop on the control arm. Even without the aluminum discs. With my coil overs I was able to fully cycle the suspension and steering in every extreme. It may never be at full lock while fully extended but this situation gets the spindle stop over the control arm stop. That is why I added the socket head cap screw. This mod did not change the angle but ensure a positive stop in any situation.

Back to the question of the hour. Which one has reduced my angle. I can see it in the tire and my steering used to turn over 2 turns, now it about 1 3/4.
 

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ELCAM

Royal Smart Person
Jun 19, 2021
1,114
1,247
113
What is the length of the steering arm on the stock spindles, is it the same on the blazer spindles?
 

scoti

Royal Smart Person
Sep 5, 2019
1,958
3,363
113
Texas
Has anyone done this combination of Blazer spindles and UMI extended ball joint control arms?

Something has robbed my steering angle.

The steering stop on the spindle is already close to the stop on the control arm. Even without the aluminum discs. With my coil overs I was able to fully cycle the suspension and steering in every extreme. It may never be at full lock while fully extended but this situation gets the spindle stop over the control arm stop. That is why I added the socket head cap screw. This mod did not change the angle but ensure a positive stop in any situation.

Back to the question of the hour. Which one has reduced my angle. I can see it in the tire and my steering used to turn over 2 turns, now it about 1 3/4.

That's odd.

I get the steering stop related issue. The spindle height has changed w/the taller height of the lower BJ. That shouldn't impact steering though.
Blazer spindles are a common swap & I don't ever recall any mention of the steering arm causing other req'd changes.

That leaves the A-arms. But if they're direct replacement parts (not narrower & w/same lower BJ placement), I don't see how they would alter things.
 
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SS_Malibu

Royal Smart Person
Supporting Member
Sep 27, 2021
1,129
1,973
113
Mesa, AZ
I, too, am paying attention as as Blazer spindle/two piston brakes are on my list however I'll be keeping my stock A-arms since all that is new already.
 

bruisedbanana79

Master Mechanic
May 6, 2021
264
753
93
Just looked at my stock arms at full droop with blazer spindles. My caliper hits before the spindle does
 

Rt Jam

G-Body Guru
Mar 30, 2020
579
558
93
Ontario Canada
What is the length of the steering arm on the stock spindles, is it the same on the blazer spindles?
I will measure the Blazer spindle steering arm lengths but I doubt this is the issue as my steering box is not the limiting factor here. I can see the spindle stop touching the lower control arm stop.
 

clean8485

Comic Book Super Hero
Dec 18, 2005
2,860
2,133
113
Ontario, Canada
I swapped the Blazer brakes onto my '80 Malibu. I'm using stock lower control arms (with Global West bushings), and UMI upper control arms with 1/2" taller ball joints. Haven't had any issues with it.
 
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