Lowering springs/shocks

[wwotr]

I'm going to be putting a set of Lowered Springs/Shocks on my 72 GMC Shortbed Fleetside.
I'm going 3" Lower Springs in Front and 4" in the Rear along with shortened shocks.
As you can see from the attached pictures, the previous owner cut/Torched the Springs in Front.
My Truck rides like a Cement Truck.
Way too Low in Front and way too High in the Rear!

I wanted to see if anyone else installed Lowering Springs and how they liked the look/Ride Quality.

What Kit did you use ect?
Roger

[ZombieWeinerDog]

Originally Posted by wwotr

I'm going to be putting a set of Lowered Springs/Shocks on my 72 GMC Shortbed Fleetside.
I'm going 3" Lower Springs in Front and 4" in the Rear along with shortened shocks.
As you can see from the attached pictures, the previous owner cut/Torched the Springs in Front.
My Truck rides like a Cement Truck.
Way too Low in Front and way too High in the Rear!

I wanted to see if anyone else installed Lowering Springs and how they liked the look/Ride Quality.

What Kit did you use ect?
Roger

i got mine from LMC, they're not to bouncy, a little on the stiff side. but i never have a problem bottoming out.

[wwotr]

Thanks ZWD!

I bottom out on almost every dip, Rut, Pothole, Bump on the road.
Theres a sucession of small bumps (about 6 of em') in a 30' space on the road into town. If I don't slow down to AT LEAST 15 MPH, its like an Earthquake that gets progessivly worse.
Damn near loos control of the Truck every time.
Roger

[ZombieWeinerDog]

i usually slow down for railroad tracks, but only for the bad ones here in michigan. i dont even want to talk about the pot holes...

[wwotr]

But your ride quality was much improved?
Roger

[ZombieWeinerDog]

Originally Posted by wwotr

But your ride quality was much improved?
Roger

alot less bouncy, but every car slows down or goes around the massive pot holes in michigan.

[BHyatt]

Have you found a place where you can buy just the brackets to weld on the rear-end to flip the axle above the rear end?

[Tx Firefighter]

I have lowered a bunch of trucks with 3 inch springs in the front. They always align just fine.

To save some cash, order Sum-G727 part number springs from Summit. This is a front 3 inch drop spring. They run about 80 dollars per pair. They are Ground Force springs. I posted some pictures on here recently of them when I ordered a set a month or so ago.

[wwotr]

Thanks TX Firefighter.
I know that you are versed when it comes to Lowering and your input is appreciated.

So the story about Lowering the Rear more than 4" making the Rear Shocks lay almost flat, is nothing to worry abpout either?
Roger
=========================================================

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I have lowered a bunch of trucks with 3 inch springs in the front. They always align just fine.

To save some cash, order Sum-G727 part number springs from Summit. This is a front 3 inch drop spring. They run about 80 dollars per pair. They are Ground Force springs. I posted some pictures on here recently of them when I ordered a set a month or so ago.

[Tx Firefighter]

I have lowered them 6 in the back without shock extenders and driven zillions of miles. They ride okay I guess.

But, the first time I went all the way and got shock extenders for a truck, I noticed a huge improvement in ride quality compared to previous 6 inch lowered trucks. Now, I always spring the extra scratch to get the extender kit. It's worth it once you have felt the difference in ride.

[wwotr]

OK!

I'm ****ING STOKED!!!

UPS conformation that my 3"Front/4"Rear Lowering Springs and (4) Nitrogen Charged Custom Shocks are arriving TOMORROW at my Front door.

I can SO hardly wait.
Everyone here and at CPP have said it will "practically" be a Night-n-Day difference in Ride quality.
This couldn't come at a better time.

Yesterday my Wife was Teaching at the Firing Range. She Texted me and asked me to bring out a couple of folding chairs. On the drive over the road wasn't bad (remember I'm driving on Torched Springs cut 5" in Front), but I was doing 40-45 MPH (that's the speed limit) and had a total of 5 Vehicles pass me in the passing lanes or over the Double Yellow Line.
The last guy that did that, gently blew his Horn a FLIPPED ME OFF!
Then there was Grandpa, that passed me over the Double Yellow in his Tacoma!
P.S. I guess this would also be a good time to replace the "Bump Stops" while my Mechanic is down there too....correct?

P.S. Does anyone know what the Heigth is for a Stock OEM Bump Stop?
I plan on keeping my Inner Fenders and after the 3"/4" Springs I may go Drop Spindles (Later this year) but I'm not bagging it.

Roger
(On Cloud 9)!

[Highsteel]

Originally Posted by wwotr

.....but I'm not bagging it.

In six months time you will wish you had, I know I did after my 4/6!

[wwotr]

This is the stance I'm trying to achieve.............

BEFORE you say it, I Know I wont be acheiving this with a #/4 Drop, but my future plans call for Drop Spindles too.
I believe this goy is running 20's.


Roger

[Dave Reed]

Originally Posted by Highsteel

In six months time you will wish you had, I know I did after my 4/6!

Why do you say that?

[Highsteel]

Originally Posted by discreet007

Why do you say that?

I'll start with my drop. I started with a stock ride height, that is no sag and measurements the same as LMC "stock. I used 2 1/2 inch spindles up front and 4 inch springs at the rear.
I started up front with the spindles and then put the springs in the back. The rear came down just a little over 5 inches, so to achieve the stance I was after I removed the front springs and cut I think 1/2 coil off looking for about an inch.
So I ended up with 3 1/2 and 5. Not a bad stance, and pretty close to what I had envisioned.

The only problem now is when I'm not wishing is was 2 inches lower, I wish I had more weight capacity or my rear bumper(trailer ball) was 6 inches higher.
Had I spent a couple hun more for bags all would be right in my little world.
Well, almost anyway!

[special-K]

That`s about a 4/6.
ECE`s kit is spindles+1" springs(3 1/2") in front and 6" springs in rear.That is the max you want w/o a c-notch.I think you`ll still want an adjustable track bar.At over 4" you want the super track bar that relocates the outer mounting location.

[see ten]

Here's the write up I did when we lowered my brothers C10 a few weeks ago. It mentions the use of a C-notch and the things that we've heard about them.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ight=worthless

Once you've installed your 3" drop coils in the front you won't be able to seperate your ball joints like we did in this video either. (Due to there not being any pressure on the lower control arm while it hangs free.)

[Dave Reed]

Now that we have officially hijacked this thread I was always under the impression that a bagged setup rode smoother. I am in New England and the potholes are a plenty. My current 06 with a ground force 1" drop rides pretty stiff.

[wwotr]

I know that theres a "Right Way" to do this.
Money is very tight (for me) right now.
I just wanted to do things the correct way.
Anotherwords intead of driving on these cut springs, I would put in a 3"/4" Lowering Springs/Shocks.
That way I can "add" to it in the future. Theres a settlment coming through that will allow me a $12K "Fund" for this truck, and thats when I'll add to these Springs/Shocks by doing the Drop Spindles and maybe even a Disc Conversiuon in the Rear.
Driving my Truck should be fun and when I combine these......
"Shade-Tree Cut Springs" and a seat that the Springs are shot, I hesitate to take it ANYWHERE!

I wanna do simple things like:
1) GO THE SPEED LIMIT!
2) STOP PULLING OVER FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE I CAN'T NEGOTIATE THE
BUMPS/RUTS ECT!

I've attached a picture of my GMC as it sits today (6/3/09).
After the Spring Install I will take ANOTHER PICTURE in the same place/Position and give you feedback on the Stance/Ride.


Roger

[wwotr]

I know that theres a "Right Way" to do this.
Money is very tight (for me) right now.
I just wanted to do things the correct way.
Anotherwords intead of driving on these cut springs, I would put in a 3"/4" Lowering Springs/Shocks.
That way I can "add" to it in the future. Theres a settlment coming through that will allow me a $12K "Fund" for this truck, and thats when I'll add to these Springs/Shocks by doing the Drop Spindles and maybe even a Disc Conversiuon in the Rear.
Driving my Truck should be fun and when I combine these......
"Shade-Tree Cut Springs" and a seat that the Springs are shot, I hesitate to take it ANYWHERE!

I wanna do simple things like:
1) GO THE SPEED LIMIT!
2) STOP PULLING OVER FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE I CAN'T NEGOTIATE THE
BUMPS/RUTS ECT!

I've attached a picture of my GMC as it sits today (6/3/09).
After the Spring Install I will take ANOTHER PICTURE in the same place/Position and give you feedback on the Stance/Ride.


Roger

[wwotr]

If you go to the Webite (linked in my Sig), and then you'll find a button on the "Enter Page" that says something like Mods/Accessories.
Just click on that button, and it'll take you to the page were I dicument everything from Spring changes to Rear View Mirror installs.
I try to design Picture Galleries so that you can click on the Thumbnails for a Bigger/Detailed picture.

Roger

[wwotr]

Guys ....
Need your help on a related question.
I've been told that my "Bump Stops" are probably shot because the Front Springs were cut so much.
When replacing with my NEW Springs/Shocks, should I replace the Bump Stops too?
If I read correctly they come in different heights.
So with a 3"/4" Drop, what "size" should I replace them with?
I wanna get the right size on order so my Mechanic can install them while he's replacing my Springs/Shocks.

Roger

[wwotr]

As promised.......
I picked up my Truck today after having them install CPP's 3"/4" Lowering Springs/Shocks. I have attached "Before and After" pictures here in this post and you can see more comparisons on my "Mods Page" at:
http://home.pon.net/wwotr/towing.htm

First off I will testify that the Handling/Ride quality is a........
NIGHT & DAY DIFFERENCE!

I can palm the steering wheel with one hand and can do 45-50 MPH, where I couldn't go over 30 MPH before!
There was not one single Bump, Rut, Pot Hole that I had to avoid.
I deliberatly went over them to see how it handled.
It was Beautiful!
I was almost in Tears when I got home from the Drive!!!

My Mechanic told me that BOTH Rear Shocks were "Blown" and that when they cut/Torched the Front Springs, they welded back on some of the Front Spring because the took off too much!

I am happier than a Hog in ****!

Roger

[COOTERUSN]

Recently installed a 3/4 drop kit (springs and shocks) from CPP. Did not buy rear relocators and adjustable tracking bar initially. Problem is, truck now sets 1-1/2 inches lower on the driver's side both front and rear. Put in new upper and lower ball joints at the same time. What am I doing wrong???

Also, do I have the shocks in upside down? Housing is to the top and shaft to the bottom. Read somewhere above that 3" springs can fall over in the spring pocket. Any advice or comments appreciated...

Learning as I go,

COOTERUSN

[dmack91]

Shocks should have the shaft positioned on top, with the reservoir on the bottom.

Are you sure you put the springs on right, not the rear springs on one side and the front springs on the other? This would account for the difference in ride height since your rear springs are 1" shorter than the fronts.