DJM drop spindle binding on upper control arm

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

The front lower control arm bolts on a gbody (well, on my '85) are a 12mm with a skinny body and a shoulder about 1/4" long right under the head. I stripped one and replaced it with a regular 12mm 10.9 bolt, and i have a strange feeling thats whats causing my drop spindle to bind on my upper control arm, it looks as though the lower control arm is sitting too high and stressing me upper ball joint.... heres pics

 

[FE3X CLONE]

I'm confused. Are you talking about the bolt that holds the lower control arm to the frame? If so, I don't see anyway changing that bolt would cause any kind of interference issue.

Are you spindles hitting while your driving? It doesn't look like they'd hit with the weight of the vehicle on the suspension.

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

I read in a couple places that i should do my lca bolts up loaded and at ride height, and i tightened them up with the arm jacked way up. I havent been able to check it out yet due to a blown breaker and a short somewhere in my shop, but im 98% sure thats my problem.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

That could be part of it.

My chassis service manual states that all control arm bolts should be torqued with the weight of the car on the suspension. These would be the two lower control arm to frame bolts and the two upper control arm nuts on the cross shaft.

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

The control arm bolts were a problem but didnt eliminate the binding. However i only needed about 1/16th of an inch to clear it, which i got when i put some weight on the wheels. With the car unsupported i have full steering