Need Lowering Advice

[76er]

Trying to decide what method to use to lower front of my 56 TF
IFS is out so lets don't even go there $$$$$$ and i'm not a welder.
Trying to decide whether to use dropped axle or lowering springs ( super sliders).
Am i correct in assuming that if i use the dropped axle that it puts the axle closer to the ground but the lowering springs only put the body closer to the ground not the axle?

[mr48chev]

You are pretty well correct in that asumption. Dropping an axle raises the king pin bosses in relation to the axle. Usually about 2-1/2 inches in most cases/ meang that your axle would be 2-1/2 inches closer to the road surface than it is now.

Changing the springs for lowering springs will bring the frame down closer to the axle lowering the body but doesn't affect ground clearance under the axle. A lot of guys actually do both to get their trucks as low as they want them but that is all personal choice. You can also run a shorter profile tire to drop the truck a bit.

Do it right though and either put the dropped axle or correct lowering springs under it as removing leaves from the stock springs while looking good usually makes for a rough riding ill driving truck. At least it did on my truck when I did it as a quick and nasty lowering job.

[76er]

Thought about using both but wouldn't that cause severe bumpsteer? Thanks for the info.

[dubie]

As long as you correct the angle of your steering arm and drag link, your bump steer will be almost eliminated. I dropped my 56 with a 3" dropped axle and mono leafs and it rides great. No bottoming out on the suspension with the nitro slammer shocks and it rides surprisingly nice for a full on leaf spring truck. But, you will spend the same amount as you would for a hub to hub IFS front end. It's all in what you prefer to drive

[76er]

OK, think i'll just do the spring thing alone. I see a lot of discussion on here about running the original front suspension versus ifs, some have said it's not a safe design to run up and down the road at 70 mph with, do you believe this to be fact or is there any truth in this talk?

[dubie]

if i was highway driving my truck every day. I would have lowered it only 3" with some multi leafs springs and updated to radial tires. But seeing how it's a summer cruiser, I dropped it as far as I possibly could and still be able to drive it

[76er]

Gonna be a sweet truck, are you using the stock rear end if not what's it out of. Are the rear ends out of 82-92 Camaros to wide?

[dubie]

i used the rear end out of a 65 Chevelle that ended up being 2" narrower than the stock axle