Raised spindle caused loss of brakes

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bravocharlie

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2000 C3500, installed 4.5” lift spindles. All was fine until after I tried making a turn in an intersection. After completing my turn, brakes where applied and pedal sunk to the floor. After straightening out, I applied the brakes and I had full braking force.

Inspected front end,
I learned after I raised the front end up and locking the steering either direction, the steering-stop bracket would make contact with the back of the caliper and brake line on driver side only. This force is opposing directions of the pressure the caliper is exerting pressure to the brake pads.

Fix? Grind down steer-stop, risk damaging something else while over steering. Install a modified lower control arm with relocated steer-stop (can’t find anything on the interwebs). Or delete the existing brackets, and install a new one at a lower area of the control arm where the previous (OE) spindle allowed the steer stop to hit.

Anyone run into this? Could not find anything in the forums. This spindle was purchased off Amazon.
 

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Schurkey

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Contact the manufacturer/retailer of the aftermarket parts, find out what they recommend, and how they're going to make this right for you.

THEN contact the NHTSA and make a formal complaint because parts shouldn't disable the brakes like that.

Seems to me that the steering stop is pushing on the caliper/banjo bolt, which would cause the piston to be forced back into the bore. Then it takes a huge amount of fluid to push the piston back where it should be.
 

1998_K1500_Sub

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Fix? Grind down steer-stop, risk damaging something else while over steering. Install a modified lower control arm with relocated steer-stop (can’t find anything on the interwebs). Or delete the existing brackets, and install a new one at a lower area of the control arm where the previous (OE) spindle allowed the steer stop to hit.

Talk to TurnOne in Saginaw, see if they will modify a gearbox for you with different stops, i.e., to result in less-than-typical action on the sector shaft, thus limiting your steering action “at the gearbox” instead of “at the knuckle”.

A local shop might do this as well, or DIY if capable.

 
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Feintmotion86

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Had the exact same issue with my Fabtech spindle for RWD tahoe. I didn't have the instructions that came with it, but found them online after the fact. They do in fact tell you to remove the steering stop by drilling out the two rivets. You can do what you did too. Apparently this is "normal" for our lift spindles.
 

bravocharlie

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Had the exact same issue with my Fabtech spindle for RWD tahoe. I didn't have the instructions that came with it, but found them online after the fact. They do in fact tell you to remove the steering stop by drilling out the two rivets. You can do what you did too. Apparently this is "normal" for our lift spindles.
Just seems bizarre you’d have to remove it. So I am assuming your gear box stops you from over turning and running into things? Thanks for the input!
 

bravocharlie

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Talk to TurnOne in Saginaw, see if they will modify a gearbox for you with different stops, i.e., to result in less-than-typical action on the sector shaft, thus limiting your steering action “at the gearbox” instead of “at the knuckle”.

A local shop might do this as well, or DIY if capable.

Going to hang onto that contact for future reference.
 

bravocharlie

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Contact the manufacturer/retailer of the aftermarket parts, find out what they recommend, and how they're going to make this right for you.

THEN contact the NHTSA and make a formal complaint because parts shouldn't disable the brakes like that.

Seems to me that the steering stop is pushing on the caliper/banjo bolt, which would cause the piston to be forced back into the bore. Then it takes a huge amount of fluid to push the piston back where it should be.
Agreed.
 

bravocharlie

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I guess I was being too specific when searching. And no one used that term, steer-stop.

I did find those instructions Fabtech. Put that into consideration and grinder down driver side steer-stop bracket about a quarter inch.

That pretty much did the job. Passenger side did not require any grinding. As long as there is a load, there is enough clearance. The only possible way this can happen again (without removing them completely) is if I was cornering with unsprung weight. Turning while off road or going over speed bumps. I am confident this is resolved.

Thanks guys.
 

Feintmotion86

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In my application, the brake caliper bracket comes into contact with the lower control arm in a non-damaging manner. It would technically "wear" out the contact point eventually, but by that time the bushings would be dead on the lower control arm and its time to replace anyways.
 

Nad_Yvalhosert

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1995 c2500 4.5" lift knuckles... yup, I've got the same scenario. I lose brake pedal after a tight turn.
I checked the calipers as you noted and sumbitch, mine is doing the exact same thing. The steering stoppers are contacting the calipers, compressing the pistons at full lock turn.
So I rattle hammered the rivets off with my air chisel, tossed the offending metal into the scrap pile, and I'm back to pleasing pedal height and firmness.

Thanks O.P. for doing the hard work of finding MY problem for me and typing up a thread all about it!
 

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