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The caliper brackets are on their way!

Finally after so many promises broken and FedEx sitting on my shipment for two weeks! I have confirmation I will get these shortly.

Working on setting up the webstore right now.

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The D52 Caliper brackets are almost ready!

This has been a long time coming, but I have my proofs! Just a few small edits to go and production will start.

proper caliper brackets for the Dodge Dakota/D150 based front suspensions I have been using for some time.

This will convert a 87-96 Dakota to use the full-sized #D150 brake rotor on the Dakota spindle and allow use of the Wilwood D52 two piston caliper as an upgrade and bolt pattern change to the 5 on 5 1/2″ bolt pattern. This will also allow the use of the Wilwood D52 caliper the following models.

DODGE B150 1985-1994
DODGE B1500 1995-1997
DODGE B250 1985-1994
DODGE B2500 1995-1997
DODGE D100 PICKUP 1986-1989
DODGE D150 PICKUP 1985-1993
DODGE RAMCHARGER 1985-1996
DODGE B150 1994
DODGE B1500 1995-1998
DODGE B250 1994
DODGE B2500 1995-1997
DODGE RAM 1500 VAN 1999-2002

These will be available very soon, still setting up my “store” to pick up a pair yourself.

And getting underway is alloy hubs and big rotor options along with other caliper options. Working on a full brake ecosystem for these trucks and vans.

 

 

Pricing will be $250 a pair with hardware and instructions. Shipping through USPS Flat Rate is my first option. Also considering an Amazon store for added convenience. And once underway, I am starting my new aluminum hubs and a “big rotor” options.

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GM To Dodge spindle caliper bracket

Fully supported caliper and machined mounting surfaces for accuracy and squareness to the spindle . Likely cast steel, then machined.

Thinking this is the design I want to go with. Making a few edits for production and printing a model. Filming the progress as I go here when it comes time to do some test fitting.

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Bench Racing Forums

The Bench Racing Forum is the place to ask questions and have a discussion about the products we make and sell.

The forums can be found in the tool bar above and to the left, click that tab and join me in the forums.

There we can discuss the products offered, your project or just ask a question about your build. I would much rather have a conversation here than on social media pages.

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Interesting information!

MOOG looks like they are making the Dakota control arms now.

CarID has a page where the Passenger side is listed available

 

MOOG® - R-Series™ Front Driver Side Upper Control Arm and Ball Joint Assembly

https://www.carid.com/1990-dodge-dakota-suspension-parts/moog-r-series-control-arm-and-ball-joint-assembly-3665691174.html?parentsubmodel[]=WHEEL+DRIVE|RWD+%28Rear+Wheel+Drive%29

Right Upper – RK623220
Left Upper – RK623221

No information on lowers at this time.

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We have achieved a soft open

These last two years have been very interesting. The shop has been operating at very limited capacity since August of last year. We are now at a point were we can start ramping up production. Some parts are available now, but building inventory is always going to be slow.

I made the decision to stop making a few low volume parts, like the Studebaker clips. The issues now with the Mustang II spindles is going to require a redesign of a kit I have been producing for nearly 18 years. And the fixture was damaged in the move. I really don’t want to go through the trouble to redesign and build from scratch again on those. I am going to focus on the trucks more. In design right now are my un-parallel rear four bar kits. With air bag or coil over options. There will be a standard height and a Bridge Notch type. Also is a Pre-Z front suspension kit. This will get you 2″ closer to the ground for those of you wanting to lay frame/rocker.

The shops main focus is full builds. Industrial Chassis is the house brand of parts to Phoenix Hotrod Company. You can find them over at www.phoenixhotrods.com This site will remain as the focus on parts and chassis builds.

I am moving away from Facebook. The ad pushes and cultured content are just too much. Please make an account here on the website and join the forums. I do not collect data on you, will not sell your information and can focus on your questions better.

Forum

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Opening Day is getting closer

I am getting really hammered with requests for product, I really want to get back to production. This COVID virus has really put the brakes on everything. We had hoped to be up and running by last month, more likely we will have things working and ready for production by mid-August now.

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Covid Blues

This has been one strange journey.

Since our merge with Phoenix Hotrod Company in February, the move came to a crawl. The preparation for our new location in Tempe Arizona almost ground to a halt. The electrical install has taken way longer than we anticipated. However, things are finally getting wrapped up. Machinery is finally getting placed and we hope to move the remaining equipment from the Deer Valley location of Phoenix Hotrod by mid-July. The push to get going over there is urgent.

It will likely take us a few weeks if not months to get the workflow worked out, so production may be a little slow in coming. But it looks like we will get everything back online before the end of summer and, AND new stuff also.

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Issue found with Heidt’s Mustang II stock spindles

We had a customer complain about one of our Studebaker clips not capable of an alignment recently. With all the shims removed from the adjusting plate, there was still negative camber.

I had to investigate further, and on a chassis we are supplying right now we had the same issue come up. This is brand new for us, so I needed to investigate. This is what I came up with. The upper ball joint bore is moved outboard about 1/2″.

This is causing a few problems, First off is the Camber issue. Second is going to be an issue of scrub radius. This may not cause any driveability issues, but you may notice a bit more wheel kickback on uneven road surfaces.

Short solution is to use a longer control arm, in some cases where the stock slot and T-bolt are used, you may not have much of an alignment issue.

EDIT:

I spoke with a representative from Heidt’s this afternoon. Of course this issue has never come up with them. He informed me they use a 1/4″ longer control arm at 8″ from pivot to ball joint. No reason given as to why. I want to caution everyone that if you are to mix-match parts, you may end up with a front end that you can’t align.

We have used the Heidt’s and CPP dropped spindles without this problem. I have used the stock height spindles from SPC and Kaiser without issue.

 

I want to go further with you as to what these changes will make to the way your front end will drive and handle in a future date. Right now I just needed to get this information out there.

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New feature coming soon

 

One of the reasons for doing the redesign is for you the customer to navigate and find products easier.

The other is to add in a new forum that will go live in the next few days (I hope) where you and I can engage in a more technical sense.  I get asked to help people sort their suspension issues on all sorts of vehicles.

I am working to put together a searchable forum where we can get in-depth with the true geometry of what makes your IFS work and why. This will  be a subscription service, Sorry folks but more and more of my time is being taken up by answering questions. For those of you who are customers, you will get access to the forums, but for those of you on the fence, the fee will be minimal. In that forthcoming forum, we can get in-depth to get your ride working the way you want it to.

 

Eventually, I would like to expand the forum to be an offsite, 3rd party tech line for any aftermarket hot rod parts manufacturer. If you would like to participate in some way, PDF files of instruction sheets of kits you have installed would be helpful in growing to that goal.

As always, I appreciate some input.