lowering spindles/knuckle, 05 Astro?

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SPL Astro
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lowering spindles/knuckle, 05 Astro?

Post by SPL Astro »

I have a 2005 Astro 2WD, the plan is to bag it and lay chassis. An issue I'm having is the front end. The 03-05 has a knuckle with a hub and bearing assembly, the older Astro's have a spindle. I can find lowering spindles for up to 04, but nothing for 05's. Anyone know if I could just buy the lowering spindles for something like an 02 and put them on the 05? Obviously I'd have to buy a few more pieces, but I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with this issue before.
2005 Astro Cargo style - Body drop planned
Two DC Audio 18" XL's, Atomic 5k, 154.6 db's so far.
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justice
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Re: lowering spindles/knuckle, 05 Astro?

Post by justice »

i would think anything for the 04 would fit the 05, should be the same drivetrain
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Topic author
SPL Astro
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Re: lowering spindles/knuckle, 05 Astro?

Post by SPL Astro »

Kinda odd, checking this one website they say these spindles will fit 1984-2002, but under they have a link and it says these also fit up to a 2004. 2002 and 2004 had different set ups in the front, up to a 2002 had spindles, but 03-05 had a knuckle with a hub and bearing assembly. I sent them an email, hopefully they'll know.

http://www.airbagit.com/spindles-steeri ... as8404.htm
2005 Astro Cargo style - Body drop planned
Two DC Audio 18" XL's, Atomic 5k, 154.6 db's so far.

LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: lowering spindles/knuckle, 05 Astro?

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

I bet you could use the knuckle from the 85-02 vans as the control arms on my 05 appear to be the exact same as from my old 98. I bet they would cross reference each other. If that's the case for the 2WD's, see if you can use bearings and rotors/hubs from a 1/2 ton Express 2WD van. They use the same 6x5.5" bolt pattern as our 05's.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

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Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

Topic author
SPL Astro
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Re: lowering spindles/knuckle, 05 Astro?

Post by SPL Astro »

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:I bet you could use the knuckle from the 85-02 vans as the control arms on my 05 appear to be the exact same as from my old 98. I bet they would cross reference each other. If that's the case for the 2WD's, see if you can use bearings and rotors/hubs from a 1/2 ton Express 2WD van. They use the same 6x5.5" bolt pattern as our 05's.

Good to know, I'll have to look into this.
2005 Astro Cargo style - Body drop planned
Two DC Audio 18" XL's, Atomic 5k, 154.6 db's so far.

Topic author
SPL Astro
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
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Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2012 10:15 am
Location: Peabody, Ma
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Re: lowering spindles/knuckle, 05 Astro?

Post by SPL Astro »

A quick look on Ebay for control arms shows that the 05 will fit all the older years. I might just look into buying the the lowering spindles for the 02. If the control arms fit all the same years then the bolt pattern should be the same for bolting up the older spindles. I don't know why I didn't think of something like this before I posted this topic, lol.
2005 Astro Cargo style - Body drop planned
Two DC Audio 18" XL's, Atomic 5k, 154.6 db's so far.

LiftedAWDAstro
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Re: lowering spindles/knuckle, 05 Astro?

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

Won't work...the 05 doesn't use a spindle like the 85 - 02's do. The spindles on them are machined right to the knuckle. The 03-05's use a unit bearing up front with separate rotors. You would need to find some rotor/hub assemblies with the same bearing sizes as the older units and also have 6 lugs.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

Topic author
SPL Astro
I am merely driving my van
I am merely driving my van
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2012 10:15 am
Location: Peabody, Ma
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Re: lowering spindles/knuckle, 05 Astro?

Post by SPL Astro »

I had a friend cross reference the parts between the 02 and 05, the tie rods, control arms and ball joints are the same but the calipers, rotors and knuckles will have to go. The plan is to pick up the 2002 spindles, bearings, calipers and rotors and swap them to the older style with the 5 lug, instead of the 6 lugs that are on there now. Only problem I haven't worked out yet is the ABS, when I dig the van out of the snow I'll check it out and see if it has the 4 wheel ABS, or just the rear wheel ABS. If it's only 2 Wheel then I'm all set, but I have a feeling that with it being an 05 it'll probably have 4W ABS.
2005 Astro Cargo style - Body drop planned
Two DC Audio 18" XL's, Atomic 5k, 154.6 db's so far.
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