Need ECE 4/6 drop help...

[reds_racing]

Hey guys, most of you have seen my truck. Heres the problem. The front is WAY to low at only 26" from ground to top of fender well. Rear is ok at 28.5". This is way lower in front than most of you guys end up with. ECE has already said they don't know how this is happening and have already replaced one set of springs with the same result. I am running the 2.5" drop spindle of course. Should I try a new factory height spring? I def don't want it higher in front than rear. I will admit to not installing the rear shock relocate brackets yet and am still running the factory shocks in the original upper bracket. But I can't see how this will effect the front height. Correct me if Im wrong please. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. I drive this truck to work everyday and scrape constantly on the most minor of road conditions. I have to get the front end up somehow. Please offer any suggestions!!!

[A69C10]

things to consider do you have iron head big block or small block a/c just a thought

[reds_racing]

I do have factory air, but its a small block v8. It was a factory 6 cylinder truck, but that shouldn't matter either I wouldn't think.

[justincat]

well I did the ece 4/6 drop, and the back looked about like yours, but the front of mine looked like I didnt even lower that much. I would say you could change the 1 1/2 drop springs back to the origanal if you want to go up 1 1/2. Ece has great costomer service, I would also send them a pic of your truck, and get there opinion. Good luck

[ChevLoRay]

My truck has a 2.5/4.0 drop from ECE. New springs all the way around. Stock height in front, with just the spindles doing the lowering. In the rear, it's coils. I used the upper shock mount relocators and adjustable track bar. Rear shocks are shorter, of course. Front shocks are stock length....since spindles don't affect that up front.

In my past, there were differences in springs: 6-cyl vs V-8; nonAC vs AC; Big block vs small block. GVW values also affected it.

[76kcfdeng]

Is it possible the shocks in back are bottomed out holding the back up? May not help much for the front but a little. You could put a spacer in the spring pocket, say an inch or so.

[justincat]

Take the springs out of the front and back, and put some airbags in there place. lol

[reds_racing]

Ece has been wonderful and I am by no means bashing them. They are more than willing to do whatever it takes to make their customers happy. I just don't know where to go from here!

[gcburdic]

Hey reds....

Take a look thru Nate's build...Project Blank State...he did an ECE 4/6 drop...and a very detailed write-up....maybe this will help ya???.....http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=353633

Also, try posting your questions over in the suspension forum...those guys over there are quite helpful as well....

[reds_racing]

Thanks Geoff, I have been on Nate's post probably a hundred times. He was even kind enough to post him measurements for me. Im at a loss. I will try the suspension forum also.

[lolife99]

Your truck looks like it has a 3" drop front spring installed.
I wonder if ECE got a 1.5" drop spring in a 3" drop spring box?
Or maybe their spring supplier is screwing things up.
I would try your stock spring with 1/2 coil removed.

Does your truck have a drop pocket tubular lower a-arm or anything other than a stock a-arm?

[VA72C10]

Definitely sounds like the wrong spring or that your A-arms have a cup in them....

But I really like the hot rod rake and overall stance you have now...is it hard to drive this way?

[justincat]

definatly looks good. Why dont you just put taller springs in there?

[68Stepbed]

What size tires are you running? I'm pretty sure ECE makes their own springs, so I don't beleive it's a supplier mistake. Do you have stock lower control arms?

[reds_racing]

I am almost certain control arms are stock. I will post a pic of them later today to get an answer from you guys with much more experience than I have. Its drives nice and straight. Just rubs and scrapes on the slightest bump or dip in the road. I love the way it looks, just don't want my truck damaged.

[evilways]

Got any pics of the front suspension so we could see if we notice anything?

Strait up dumb ass attack, you just posted that you would get some pics. Sorry just got done working a 12hr shift. and this beer is kicking in fast.

[reds_racing]

[lolife99]

If you like the way it looks and drives,... I would just install a shorter tire up front.
Something around 26" tall.

[reds_racing]

Just talked to Stan at ECE. We are gonna try a stock height spring. If you are considering a drop for your truck, you would be a fool to use any company but ECE in my humble opinion. They have went above and beyond to help me with my issue. Highly recommend them!!!!!

[406 Q-ship]

I bet it is a simple packaging issue, I just bet that ECE sent out 3" drop springs rather than the 1" you needed. A simple fix.

[Cole Trickle]

I got ripped....lol

I wish my 4.5" drop sat like your 4"

[green68]

Originally Posted by reds_racing

Just talked to Stan at ECE. We are gonna try a stock height spring. If you are considering a drop for your truck, you would be a fool to use any company but ECE in my humble opinion. They have went above and beyond to help me with my issue. Highly recommend them!!!!!

Stan is the Man!

[ChevLoRay]

I have nothing but praise for Stan and his crew. When I placed my order, someone shipped stock-height spindles, instead of the dropped spindles. A phone call and the correct ones were on their way with an RMA and shipping label. All this, during the turmoil of 9/11/01.

My only issue beyond that was the fact that my wheels stuck out too far. The disc conversion will add width to the front track. I simple swap from the 15x8's to 15x7's and all was good.

Question: Did you install the shorter stabilizer bar mounts? I suspect that if you didn't, that's a big source of stuff that comes into contact with the pavement. I didn't do that to mine, but I've got the parts. Gotta get the big grinder to remove the rivets in the frame. New parts bolt in.

Here's a shot of my truck before it was incarcerated in body/paint jail. It's a 2.5/4.0 drop with all of the recommended mods that ECE suggested. Drove like a dream...before sentencing.

[mahanian]

It's difficult to compare how much drop you have based on truck height compared to other trucks because of the differences in wheel sizes, tire sizes, tread remaining, etc. I would suggest picking a common location on the control arms and measuring it and then asking someone with a 2" ECE drop spring to measure at the same location. This won't tell you how much the truck is lower because it's a distance dependent on a compound angle but it will give you an idea if it's the spring or something else. Take a look at the photo for an idea.

[cdowns]

did you measure ride height b4 the drop and after the drop to see what the actual drop came to b after the work??