How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

38chevyhotrod · 10-24-2008, 04:59 PM

I have a 71 suburban from which de springs were heated(by previous owner) so the burb dropped a few inches.

No i have never see the original ride hight, to have an idea of how much it really dropped.
because the burb drives really crappy with these springs i want to order a set of lowered springs. But i don't know how it looks with the different drop sizes.
1 inch isn't enough, but i would like to see the 2 or 3 inch dropped suburbans just to get an idea what to expect.

this is how mine is right now with the crappy springs.

Jtrux · 10-24-2008, 06:13 PM

Looks to me like you have a 2/4 but someone with one would probably know better.

38chevyhotrod · 10-27-2008, 07:35 AM

Nobody els who can help me?
There must be somebody who can show me a picture of his suburban and tell me how much it is lowered.

**Hart_Rod** · 10-27-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jtrux

Looks to me like you have a 2/4 but someone with one would probably know better.

I agree, probably 2/4.

38chevyhotrod · 10-27-2008, 02:44 PM

I can only get up to 3" lowering springs.
This means that he will always be a little lower on the nose.
I'd rather have him sitting nice level.

AzDon · 10-27-2008, 11:06 PM

Look at the side profile pic.... the tires are the same gap from the top of the wheelwell.... the nose is lower because GM put taller wheelwells on the front, meaning the nose-down stance is what the designer intended. Your stance is perfect for that wheel/tire combo... if you want lower you will need to pull the wheels/tires inward (narrower or different backspacing/offset).
I'm not going to imply that there is only one right way to do this... What I would do is get quality heavy-duty replacement springs (like Moog) from a good part store and install. Measure the loaded height for the amount of desired drop and also measure the distance between coils (loaded). I'd then uninstall the coils and cut the number of full coils necessary to get the desired drop. You MUST cut only full, 360 degree loops out of the coil so that it will fit the pockets properly. The rear coils cannot be done this way because they have specifically sized and shaped top and bottom loops for mounting purposes. Best to replace these with stock springs and use lowering blocks between the axle tubes and the suspension arms. These can be made from square or rectangular thick-wall tubing.

38chevyhotrod · 10-28-2008, 04:29 PM

I found this on the web, i think this would also count for the suburban.
Only the amount of drop i am unsure of.

I don't really want to mess with the standard springs, i have such springs on it and that doesn't drive very well.

38chevyhotrod · 10-31-2008, 12:09 PM

No one els who can make show me a picture of his or athrs burb with the known drop.

Riveted1 · 10-31-2008, 05:04 PM

The burb will look just like those pics, but you will have to make sure and get burb lowering springs. Truck lowering springs aren't made for the weight and will be lower than specified on a burb.

38chevyhotrod · 11-03-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riveted1

The burb will look just like those pics, but you will have to make sure and get burb lowering springs. Truck lowering springs aren't made for the weight and will be lower than specified on a burb.

Now i understand why i dont get much response, i can't find springs for a suburban. All that i can find are springs for trucks. At the front it wont make a difference but the rear does.

**Hart_Rod** · 11-03-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 38chevyhotrod

Now i understand why i dont get much response, i can't find springs for a suburban. All that i can find are springs for trucks. At the front it wont make a difference but the rear does.

Did you check www.earlyclassic.com? I'm pretty sure they carry the burb springs....

Riveted1 · 11-03-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod

Did you check www.earlyclassic.com? I'm pretty sure they carry the burb springs....

Yes they do. (or so I've been told....)

38chevyhotrod · 11-04-2008, 12:56 PM

Thanks, i have sent them a mail.

edit:

I just got a mail back, they don't sell them.

Riveted1 · 11-04-2008, 05:03 PM

Maybe it was GMCPauls? I remember one of the vendors saying they carried them. Maybe they'll chime in??

38chevyhotrod · 11-04-2008, 05:17 PM

I think i found them at Brothers now, but they still have to give me a price.
I shopped at pauls before, i'll ask him to.

38chevyhotrod · 02-21-2009, 04:33 PM

I have the new springs mounted, 4"rear 2"front.

It could have more drop in the back, maybe leter using some blocks.

72LoBurb · 02-21-2009, 06:43 PM

I think if you go any lower on the back, a c-notch will be needed to maintain any suspension travel...it's no fun having the axle contacting the frame.

CG · 02-22-2009, 11:06 PM

I got my rear springs for my panel (same as the burb) from board vendor PICKMUP

Went to post a comparison photo between truck and burb springs but the board went down. Ill post em now.

CG · 02-23-2009, 01:00 AM

Both styles...sorry couldnt get these to load in my other post.

65sublime · 02-23-2009, 07:55 AM

CG, What are we looking at here? truck spring on the left, how much drop? Sub spring on the right,drop?
Thanks!

CG · 02-23-2009, 11:01 PM

I believe these are both 4 inch drop. Truck on the left burb on the right.

10-24-2008, 04:59 PM	#1
38chevyhotrod Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 191	How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) I have a 71 suburban from which de springs were heated(by previous owner) so the burb dropped a few inches. No i have never see the original ride hight, to have an idea of how much it really dropped. because the burb drives really crappy with these springs i want to order a set of lowered springs. But i don't know how it looks with the different drop sizes. 1 inch isn't enough, but i would like to see the 2 or 3 inch dropped suburbans just to get an idea what to expect. this is how mine is right now with the crappy springs. __________________ Anybody can restore a classic, takes a man to cut one up..... http://www.arnoldscustoms.com Last edited by 38chevyhotrod; 10-24-2008 at 05:00 PM.

10-24-2008, 06:13 PM	#2
Jtrux I'm a poor spectator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 2,287	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) Looks to me like you have a 2/4 but someone with one would probably know better. __________________ 2006 Jeep Unlimited IMPACT ORANGE 1993 Chevy 2500 4x4 ExCab LWB 454/NV4500 Tow rig 1977 Ford F100 2x4 LWB 1st truck I owned, still have it!!! 1979 Ford F150 4x4 SWB Built Ford Tough!!! 1971 Chevy Blazer 350 / SM465 / NP205 UNDER CONSTRUCTION Soon to have a LQ4 6.0!!!

10-27-2008, 07:35 AM	#3
38chevyhotrod Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 191	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) Nobody els who can help me? There must be somebody who can show me a picture of his suburban and tell me how much it is lowered. __________________ Anybody can restore a classic, takes a man to cut one up..... http://www.arnoldscustoms.com

10-27-2008, 02:44 PM	#5
38chevyhotrod Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 191	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) I can only get up to 3" lowering springs. This means that he will always be a little lower on the nose. I'd rather have him sitting nice level. __________________ Anybody can restore a classic, takes a man to cut one up..... http://www.arnoldscustoms.com

10-27-2008, 11:06 PM	#6
AzDon Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lake Havasu,AZ Posts: 202	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) Look at the side profile pic.... the tires are the same gap from the top of the wheelwell.... the nose is lower because GM put taller wheelwells on the front, meaning the nose-down stance is what the designer intended. Your stance is perfect for that wheel/tire combo... if you want lower you will need to pull the wheels/tires inward (narrower or different backspacing/offset). I'm not going to imply that there is only one right way to do this... What I would do is get quality heavy-duty replacement springs (like Moog) from a good part store and install. Measure the loaded height for the amount of desired drop and also measure the distance between coils (loaded). I'd then uninstall the coils and cut the number of full coils necessary to get the desired drop. You MUST cut only full, 360 degree loops out of the coil so that it will fit the pockets properly. The rear coils cannot be done this way because they have specifically sized and shaped top and bottom loops for mounting purposes. Best to replace these with stock springs and use lowering blocks between the axle tubes and the suspension arms. These can be made from square or rectangular thick-wall tubing.

10-28-2008, 04:29 PM	#7
38chevyhotrod Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 191	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) I found this on the web, i think this would also count for the suburban. Only the amount of drop i am unsure of. I don't really want to mess with the standard springs, i have such springs on it and that doesn't drive very well. __________________ Anybody can restore a classic, takes a man to cut one up..... http://www.arnoldscustoms.com

10-31-2008, 12:09 PM	#8
38chevyhotrod Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 191	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) No one els who can make show me a picture of his or athrs burb with the known drop. __________________ Anybody can restore a classic, takes a man to cut one up..... http://www.arnoldscustoms.com

10-31-2008, 05:04 PM	#9
Riveted1 Tasty Cakes! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 2,112	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) The burb will look just like those pics, but you will have to make sure and get burb lowering springs. Truck lowering springs aren't made for the weight and will be lower than specified on a burb. __________________ I'm a little and a lot Ground beef: A cow with no legs. ---------------- '66 Chevy SWB "Penny" '67 Chevy Big Window SWB- aka "Pearl" '72 Burb- "Betty" "It's not a hearse dammit" '99 Chevy Ext. cab Silverado

11-04-2008, 12:56 PM	#13
38chevyhotrod Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 191	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) Thanks, i have sent them a mail. edit: I just got a mail back, they don't sell them. __________________ Anybody can restore a classic, takes a man to cut one up..... http://www.arnoldscustoms.com Last edited by 38chevyhotrod; 11-04-2008 at 01:26 PM.

11-04-2008, 05:03 PM	#14
Riveted1 Tasty Cakes! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 2,112	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) Maybe it was GMCPauls? I remember one of the vendors saying they carried them. Maybe they'll chime in?? __________________ I'm a little and a lot Ground beef: A cow with no legs. ---------------- '66 Chevy SWB "Penny" '67 Chevy Big Window SWB- aka "Pearl" '72 Burb- "Betty" "It's not a hearse dammit" '99 Chevy Ext. cab Silverado

11-04-2008, 05:17 PM	#15
38chevyhotrod Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 191	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) I think i found them at Brothers now, but they still have to give me a price. I shopped at pauls before, i'll ask him to. __________________ Anybody can restore a classic, takes a man to cut one up..... http://www.arnoldscustoms.com

02-21-2009, 04:33 PM	#16
38chevyhotrod Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 191	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) I have the new springs mounted, 4"rear 2"front. It could have more drop in the back, maybe leter using some blocks. __________________ Anybody can restore a classic, takes a man to cut one up..... http://www.arnoldscustoms.com

02-21-2009, 06:43 PM	#17
72LoBurb Yup, I'm comp-useless Join Date: May 2005 Location: Edmonton,Alta,Canada Posts: 360	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) I think if you go any lower on the back, a c-notch will be needed to maintain any suspension travel...it's no fun having the axle contacting the frame. __________________ 1972 Chev Suburban(ongoing driveable project) 2010 Harley Wide Glide 1996 Subaru Outback(daily beater) !992 T-Bird Super Coupe(yet, another project) 1995 GMC Suburban(will be for sale, soon) 1995 Dodge 3500 Club Cab(Cummins 12V) 2001 Freightliner(Cummins Powered Money Maker)

02-22-2009, 11:06 PM	#18
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,019	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) I got my rear springs for my panel (same as the burb) from board vendor PICKMUP Went to post a comparison photo between truck and burb springs but the board went down. Ill post em now. __________________ … … … … … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … … Last edited by CG; 02-23-2009 at 12:59 AM.

02-23-2009, 01:00 AM	#19
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,019	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) Both styles...sorry couldnt get these to load in my other post. Attached Images __________________ … … … … … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … …



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02-23-2009, 07:55 AM	#20
65sublime Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pendleton, NY Posts: 64	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) CG, What are we looking at here? truck spring on the left, how much drop? Sub spring on the right,drop? Thanks!

02-23-2009, 11:01 PM	#21
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,019	Re: How much lowering on a 71 suburban (pictures please?) I believe these are both 4 inch drop. Truck on the left burb on the right. __________________ … … … … … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … …

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