To lower an '86 C10 Silverado

[41willys]

Hi all, I'm new to this forum and have some thoughts I could use feedback from folks that have been down this road a time or two. I'm in the process of deciding how I want to lower my daily driver '86 Silverado. I can't afford to bag it so I'm thinking drop spindles, coils & shocks up front for a 5" drop. Then either shackles & hangers or flip kit & shocks for the rear. I haven't made up my mind about how much I want to drop the rear yet. I'm leaning towards the flip kit although doing that may require a "C" notch which I'm heisitant about, mainly because of my limited skills in such an undertaking. I want to make the truck low and still be a daily driver. On another note my truck has 15" rims, I've read where some folks had to grind their spindles in order to aleviate problems with the wheel and steering contact. So I'm thinking of trading the 15s for a set of 18s or 20s. I could use feedback/thoughts on tire/wheel size as well. Thanks for any advice or ideas you care to share.

[J Knight]

I drive mine 7 days a week to work and my drop cost me $340 4.5in/5in. Im running 15in rims but I did have to grind the lower front of the lower control arms a little bit. You can also see I have 3.5in clearance from my frame to my rear axle wihtout a c-notch.

[el_guapo]

J knight can u Please post links to the parts u purchased? This option is about half of what I'm looking to spend on a drop kit that performs a cnotch as well. I would like to avoid to c notch myself and save some cash. Any who. Thank you
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[J Knight]

Originally Posted by el_guapo

J knight can u Please post links to the parts u purchased? This option is about half of what I'm looking to spend on a drop kit that performs a cnotch as well. I would like to avoid to c notch myself and save some cash. Any who. Thank you
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I got McGaughys 2.5 drop spindles $245.00 and DJM flip brackets with shock extenders $94.99, I bought them online from www.stylintrucks.com with free shipping. I cut one round off of the front springs and am running stock shocks front and rear.

[el_guapo]

Great, how does she ride?
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[J Knight]

I find it rides fine but with any lowered square you have to take it easy around RR Xings and turning into steep drives and pulling up to curbs in a parking lot etc.

[el_guapo]

For anyone wondering, here is thelink for the rear dim flip kit
http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts/re...fk10245-.aspx#
Damn site is giving me hell, I can only find the 2" not the 2.5" spindles on this site. I'll update if I can find it. Haha
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[J Knight]

Originally Posted by el_guapo

For anyone wondering, here is thelink for the rear dim flip kit
http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts/re...fk10245-.aspx#
Damn site is giving me hell, I can only find the 2" not the 2.5" spindles on this site. I'll update if I can find it. Haha
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That is the right ones. They are actually 2.5in. For some reason they state 2in on the site.

EDIT: Look lower in the specs and you can see it states 2.5 drop. They also dropped in price from $245 to $226.

http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts/fr...mcg33154-.aspx

[el_guapo]

Cool, I was about to compare item #s with the manufacture. I'm going to find the thickness of my rotors my weekend and place my order. I'll do a write up for anyone interested. Would you say this took you a day to throw in?
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[41willys]

Thanks J, btw, yours looks to be a sweet ride...you've helped me to decide to do the flip on the rear. Curious, if I were to keep the 15" rims if a 2.5" drop spindle would require less grinding than a 3" drop spindle? I'm looking to lower 5" in the front and 5-6 in the rear. The person that owned my truck prior to me removed a leaf on each spring pack. I've got two 4 leaf spring packs from the salvage yard I plan to install in place of the packs currently on the truck. This should put the rear close to factory height then install the flip like you did.

[franky69c10]

Originally Posted by J Knight

I got McGaughys 2.5 drop spindles $245.00 and DJM flip brackets with shock extenders $94.99, I bought them online from www.stylintrucks.com with free shipping. I cut one round off of the front and am running stock shocks front and rear.

J knight quick question on your drop spindles from mcgaughy do they have a stamp saying 6072L and 6072R ? reason I'm asking I order sum drop spindles for my 87 and thats wht it has on them.
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[J Knight]

Originally Posted by franky69c10

J knight quick question on your drop spindles from mcgaughy do they have a stamp saying 6072L and 6072R ? reason I'm asking I order sum drop spindles for my 87 and thats wht it has on them.
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Yes, at least one does. 6072L

[franky69c10]

Ok thanks plan on lowering my truck this weekend
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[J Knight]

Originally Posted by 41willys

Thanks J, btw, yours looks to be a sweet ride...you've helped me to decide to do the flip on the rear. Curious, if I were to keep the 15" rims if a 2.5" drop spindle would require less grinding than a 3" drop spindle? I'm looking to lower 5" in the front and 5-6 in the rear. The person that owned my truck prior to me removed a leaf on each spring pack. I've got two 4 leaf spring packs from the salvage yard I plan to install in place of the packs currently on the truck. This should put the rear close to factory height then install the flip like you did.

Thanks, I wouldnt use a 3in drop spindle with a 15in rim there just isnt enough clearance IMO, but from what I hear an advertised 2in or 3in spindles are all 2.5in but I can not confirm that. You are only talking about .5in difference anyway. You should be good to go in the back with an unaltered rear springs.

[41willys]

Has anyone had experience using Classic Performance CP4S4 - Classic Performance Drop Spindles? They are for the 1.25" (heavy duty) rotor truck.

[pat386]

I would say J Knight's way would be easiest. Here is mine. It's lowered up front with spindles and cut coils. I think they're belltech spindles. Rear is a mcgaughy's flip with notch, removed leaf and overload leaf, and hangers moved. I'm on 20", and have to use aftermarket shocks for lowered trucks. Rides great too.
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[lolife99]

Originally Posted by 41willys

Hi all, I'm new to this forum and have some thoughts I could use feedback from folks that have been down this road a time or two. I'm in the process of deciding how I want to lower my daily driver '86 Silverado. I can't afford to bag it so I'm thinking drop spindles, coils & shocks up front for a 5" drop. Then either shackles & hangers or flip kit & shocks for the rear. I haven't made up my mind about how much I want to drop the rear yet. I'm leaning towards the flip kit although doing that may require a "C" notch which I'm heisitant about, mainly because of my limited skills in such an undertaking. I want to make the truck low and still be a daily driver. On another note my truck has 15" rims, I've read where some folks had to grind their spindles in order to aleviate problems with the wheel and steering contact. So I'm thinking of trading the 15s for a set of 18s or 20s. I could use feedback/thoughts on tire/wheel size as well. Thanks for any advice or ideas you care to share.

Just remember,... they make 2 different 73-87 spindles.
You need to measure the width of the rotors on your truck.
They will be either 1" wide or 1-1/4" wide.
It makes a difference on which drop spindle you order.

[bbbc10]

here is mine wth 5/6 i got 2.5" western chassis spindles and springs an didnt have to grind anything....the rear is a belltech flip kit/cnotch.

[Kainedogg]

Originally Posted by bbbc10

here is mine wth 5/6 i got 2.5" western chassis spindles and springs an didnt have to grind anything....the rear is a belltech flip kit/cnotch.

BBC is there anything you would have done differently now with the lowering of your truck? I have an '84 with an LS swap on 20's too.

[bbbc10]

only thing I would do is go with a smaller tire up front to stop rubbing and get sway bars