3/5 drop on my 63

[malexander44]

I'm putting 3 and 5 inch lowering springs on my 63 1/2 ton today, any suggestions or things I should look out for. Seems like an unbolt/bolt in swap.

Thanks
Mark

[N2TRUX]

Anyone?

[malexander44]

Well the springs have been replaced. The only two difficult parts were getting the lower control arm to pass the break drum and actually cutting the bolts (top and bottom) off the rear.

Now my question is what shocks to us in the rear? I only have about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in travel before they bottom out.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Mark

[malexander44]

Well the five inch drop was a bit much in the rear with a steel bed so I changed over to a 4 inch drop. Now my problem is when I am driving down the freeway my truck seems to be drifting. Going from right to left and left to right. It's a really creepy way to drive. The second thing it does is when I'm making right or left turns the front wheels are squealing like they are low on pressure. I checked and inflated the tires and that has not helped any thing out.

Any suggestions
Mark

[Shev]

Did you get an alignment? If not I'd get one before you drive it too much more...depending how bad it is you can eat through tires pretty quick...

[malexander44]

I did not get an alignment, just because it seemed to be traveling fine after I lowered it the first time. The change in the rear did not effect it until about two days later. When I changed the springs in the rear I also put in a 1/8 inch steel bed and mounted the keg gas tank (which is not plumbed yet). The truck handled fine for two days then when I was driving home from work it just seemed to be gliding from side to side.

I am planning on installing power steering tomorrow and am going to get it aligned after that. I will be replacing the gear box, tie rod ends and pitman arm when I do the swap. I'll probably replace the shocks while I'm down there too.

My feeling is alignment as well, I guess I'm just curious why it would seem to act fine for a couple days then get weird. Or maybe I didn't notice it for those two days. That's always an option.

Mark

[Slammed67]

Did you install an adjustable track bar on the rear? Lowering the rear would push the axle to one side.

[kizer]

Lowering it that much how are your front wheels angled?

Yes you will need to address your rear track bar.

[malexander44]

I did not install an adjustable track bar in the rear. I was under the impression that I needed only to do that if I went lower then 5 inches. It's funny you mention that cause as I was driving the afternoon my driver side rear tire sheared. Do I need to install an adjustable tracking bar when lowering only 4 inches?

Mark

[kizer]

Well I'll give you my experience with Jeeps since thats what I know.

Everytime you adjust the height of a Jeep suspension the body will shift one direction or another for every little bit of height adjustment. As well for any change of 2-inches its very recommended to install a new adjustable trackbar. 2 or so inches up could very well mean 1 or so inches of body to frame adjustment.

Of course I haven't changed my height on my 65 as of yet, but I'm figuring a new adjustable trackbar for any height changes might as well be bought.