Got a lowering question.

[rs74]

If I want to just lower a truck lets say 2/4 then what are my options. I lowered my short bed 4/6 with 2.5" drop spindles and 1.5" drop springs and a flip kit in the rear. If I get another C10 for a daily driver I may want to drop it just a little but not as much as my short bed.

So would it be better to do drop spindles and stock springs or do springs and keep the stock spindles. I'm not cutting any springs. Just not my thing. The thing that I am really not sure about is the rear. I don't think I would really want to take any leaf springs out. Does that leave me with putting a drop shackle on my only other option? I would just want a couple of inches of drop to level out the truck with the 2" drop front. Hope that all makes sense.

[UKNOWME]

Based on what you are saying I would recommend spindles, shackles and hangers for a 2/4 drop.

[rs74]

That's about what I figured. I just didn't know if it was better to do the spindles or springs up front or if it mattered. The back I wasn't really sure of. I flip kit would be more than what I would want. Thanks.

[MikeB]

Using dropped spindles will preserve the ride, vs. shorter, stiffer springs.

However, I don't know if there are any wheel clearance, turning radius, or other issues with dropped spindles on 73-87 C10s. I can tell you that on 55-57 cars, some drop spindles increase the turning radius, and others offset the wheels outwards.

I'm looking to do 2/2 or maybe 2/4 drop on my short bed, so I am very interested in pros/cons of various lowering methods.

[rs74]

Not sure about putting different hangers and shackles on now. I really don't want to take the factory hangers off and I don't want to trim the cross sills on the bed. There isn't alot of room between the factory shackle and cross sill now let alone putting on a longer shackle. I assume that is the only option here? May just have to go with a 4/6 and use the flip kit. Don't really want to go that low but I don't want to replace the hangers. Would rather leave them on in case I want to raise it back up and not have to swap out hangers again. Any other options.

[Slonaker]

I used drop spindles on the front of mine with drop leaves on the back (both from Western Chassis) for a 2.5/4 drop. The only issue I noticed was a reduction in cargo capacity. I drove it daily like that for 8 years or so, and used it to move almost everything I owned when I moved out to the country. I also regularly towed a 17' center console fiberglass boat with it. You can see pics in my photo gallery link in my signature line.

Slonaker

EDIT: I went with drop leaves for the same reasons. I didn't want to cut the bed, and I didn't want the hassle of cutting the hangers off.

[85/Silverado]

Do you have photo's of the back underside so we can see what it looks like done?
Thanks
Jack

[Slonaker]

Photos showing what? I sold the truck 2 years ago, so I can't go take anything new.

Slonaker

[Keith Seymore]

For discussion purposes - what's the concern with cutting springs?

I've done probably a dozen or so squares that way.

My current '87 has been a daily driver for 29 years and 200,000 miles with no issues.

So - if you are like me - I wouldn't expect any problems.

K

[Malo83]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

For discussion purposes - what's the concern with cutting springs?

I've done probably a dozen or so squares that way.

My current '87 has been a daily driver for 29 years and 200,000 miles with no issues.

So - if you are like me - I wouldn't expect any problems.

K

I'll second that, my 83 has been running with 2 cut coils with no problems for the last 31 yrs

[rs74]

I'm not saying it's bad. I guess it's just my preference to put the spindles on as opposed to cutting the springs.

[Slonaker]

Same here. I'm not opposed to cutting off a coil or so. it's fine as long as you don't get carried away. I would still prefer to use a drop spindle if I can, though.

Slonaker

[UKNOWME]

Do you plan to haul with it?

[rs74]

Originally Posted by UKNOWME

Do you plan to haul with it?

It will see light duty stuff but if I need anything heavy I will use the dually.

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

For discussion purposes - what's the concern with cutting springs?

Cutting a coil off a spring makes it stiffer. If it didn't, the suspension would bottom out. Same is true of dropped springs that you can buy. A stiffer spring means a harsher ride. And with the spindle side of the A-arms sitting higher, suspension and steering geometry is out of whack -- parameters like shock angle, steering axis inclination, scrub radius, and other things I know very little about.

Now if the stiffer ride doesn't bother you, and you don't feel any difference in handling or braking into a turn, then the above issues don't matter. I'm sure dropped spindles affect front end geometry, too, but not as much, since A-arms stay at the correct angles.

On another note, where can I find pictures and/or instruction for installing shackles and hangers? I'm trying to get an idea of what needs to be done and how it all goes together.

[Jlo1986]

Here are my two 86 Silverados. They are both dropped 4/6, with spindles and flip kit/c notch in the rear. Black truck has 15" rallys and the Blue truck is on 20's. They both ride smooth.

[Gregski]

this LMC Truck page can give you some ideas, I think if you don't want to cut your springs you can buy their already shorter springs and as long as you also get their shorter shocks you should be able to drop the front 2" inches without the pricey drop spindle set, and shorter shocks, hangers with shackles will drop the rear 4" inches

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=60

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

For discussion purposes - what's the concern with cutting springs?

K

I believe it changes the spring rate and unless you heat up and bend the bottom loop a bit (like it was on the part you cut off) just cutting the spring reduces the amount of contact area on which it sits, from I don't know like 240 degrees of contact to less than 180 maybe

[MikeB]

Got the shackle and hanger deal figured out now. Found some information on DJM's website.

Even though they sell dropped springs, they still mention geometry issues caused by the A-arms sitting up higher. One problem is an increase in negative camber, which you may or may not be able to adjust back to spec. Plus with the tie rods ends being tilted upwards, steering geometry goes to he11 in a handbasket.

[school boy]

Originally Posted by MikeB

Using dropped spindles will preserve the ride, vs. shorter, stiffer springs.

However, I don't know if there are any wheel clearance, turning radius, or other issues with dropped spindles on 73-87 C10s. I can tell you that on 55-57 cars, some drop spindles increase the turning radius, and others offset the wheels outwards.

I'm looking to do 2/2 or maybe 2/4 drop on my short bed, so I am very interested in pros/cons of various lowering methods.

The only problem I have and read about with drop spindles are:
1) 3 drop spindles cant run factory 15x8 ralleys or any 15" wheel with same backspacing
2) 2.5 drop spindles, some have rubbing issues but can be fixed (only factory 15x8 ralleys or any 15" wheel with same backspacing). I have ralleys with 2.5 drop spindles and my wheel weights rubbed the tie rod ends. I have heard some ppl running ralleys needing to trim their lower control arm. If all else fails, you can run a 1" spacer with the ralleys.
3) 2" drop spindles, heard/seen no problems so far personally.
Hopes this helps

[MikeB]

school boy -- thanks for the info. Just what I am looking for.

[Malo83]

Who sells 2" drop spindles? i'm interested

[school boy]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MCGAUGHYS-2-...334822&vxp=mtr
I guess seeing this confussed me! Says in title 2" drop but in details 2.5" drop. Fail on my part!