After drop adjustments?

[87r10owner]

I just got done (well with the parts install)of my lowering parts in my 87r10 which consisted of mcgaughy's 2" springs/2" spindles up front and a mcgaughy's flip in the rear. At the same time I replaced all bushings/joints etc. my truck has the HD front brakes and a 5 spring pack in the back (was rebuilt at the time of flip install). I put the weight of the truck on my jack under the control arm when bolts were tightened, as of now it has quite a bit of camber and still has to be aligned, my question is after alignment will it come up in the front any? I am running 28" tires all the way around and after the drop the rear is about 1 3/4" higher in the rear. I can put shackles out back to help bring it down because I'm not wanting to take the springs back apart to remove any. To me it lowered the hole truck but retained the factory rake when I want it level and would like for the front to come up some. I have thought about cutting a half coil off the stock springs and putting them back in up front with shackles in the 1" spot in the rear to see if that helps but don't wanna mess with the front if its gonna come up after alignment but also don't wanna spend that money and half to Align it again if I have to replace the front springs if it does not help. I know I have to bring the rear down some anyway roughly an inch. Any insight is appreciated.
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[87r10owner]

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[87r10owner]

Rear tire gap
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[87r10owner]

Front tire gap
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[87r10owner]

Side view
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[87r10owner]

Other side
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[LEEVON]

Hmmm. In my experience if you have excessive negative camber the alignment will raise the truck, just a bit. You probably still won't be happy though. I think you're on the right track, either raise the front an inch or lower the back another inch. It seems like you got alot of drop out of springs/spindles...maybe too much? Personally, for a daily driver I'd want the front to come up. Since you have the stock coils springs you should be able to compare them to the drop springs and cut as needed. If you do want to play with the rear have you thought about removing a leaf? Looks good though!

[87r10owner]

The leafs never had any real load on them or miles so I didn't have them re arched and just cleaned,painted and coated them with new bushings and hardware. Ill try aligning it myself for now to see how the front comes out, I'm still considering the shackles just to bring it down in the rear. I debated pulling a leaf when I had the springs apart because they Are a 5 pack but went back with all of them.
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[Tx Firefighter]

You said the rear leafs were rebuilt during all of this. If a spring shop did them, they might have tweaked a little arch into them to restore them back to like new.

Regardless, I'd stick equal shims into all four upper control arm spots to pull the camber back out to pretty much straight up and down, then set the toe in with a tape measure and drive the thing a while to let it settle out. New suspensions will sag and settle and move a bit as all of the springs take a seat and bushings settle into their comfortable spot. Then in a few weeks, if you're still unhappy, evaluate what you want to do to make it sit as you like. Don't be afraid to do a little driveway alignment to hold you over until you get it all worked out. Setting the camber to vertical with a large carpenter square and setting toe with a tape measure will keep you close enough that your tires won't wear any. Just be sure and add equal shim packs to all four spots so it doesn't split the caster and make it drive wonky.
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[DREAMER1]

^^^wonky?...is that a real word?

I agree with everything he said. Drive it a little. Hit a few small pot holes to allow everything to settle. I'd lower the rear IMO. but I'm a lowered kinda guy. But no matter which way you go, drive it a little and do a driveway alignment before you get your measurements.
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[J Knight]

As stated, align the front and it should lift it slightly and add the shackles. That shoukd get you where you want it.
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[87r10owner]

I planned on driving it awhile first, it just seems the. Front came out with more than 4" and the rear has got to come down. I just want it leveled ( I'm not into raked trucks.) I'm just lookin for a happy medium and don't want the front any lower so if it will come up a little after adjustments then settle ill be happy I think worst case I buy 1" springs or cut a half a coil off the originals and shackles for the rear. Who sells the shims for the upper control arms? And is the way I set the control arms right? ( jack under the lower with the weight of the truck on it, then tighten cross shaft/bushing nuts)
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[bgarr01]

Ya know I just used the same lowering kit and had the same exact problem. I ended up cutting 1 full coil off the stock coils. I think it sits pretty much perfect now, which is funny cuz from my understanding 1 coil equals 2 inches. So theoretically it should've been the same but wasn't even close. If I knew how to post pics I'd show ya before and after.
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[tony58]

Originally Posted by bgarr01

Ya know I just used the same lowering kit and had the same exact problem. I ended up cutting 1 full coil off the stock coils. I think it sits pretty much perfect now, which is funny cuz from my understanding 1 coil equals 2 inches. So theoretically it should've been the same but wasn't even close. If I knew how to post pics I'd show ya before and after.
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That's the problem I've found with aftermarket springs, they can be all over the place regardless of what the seller says they are. They're especially bad from a few low cost sources.

[JCampbell]

Originally Posted by tony58

That's the problem I've found with aftermarket springs, they can be all over the place regardless of what the seller says they are. They're especially bad from a few low cost sources.

Yeah. Anymore, I just take a coil off the stockers.
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Line it up in the driveway as best you can and drive it around for a day or two. Let everything settle, then make a decision on what to do next. You just can't replicate the stance in the driveway that a few miles of road time can produce.

Personally, if an adjustment is necessary, I'd leave the front alone and just add a set of shackles in the rear.

[silvereagle07]

You can pick the shims up at the local parts store. I've even seen them at Harbor Freight. When I installed a flip kit on my truck I removed the overload spring to level my truck out. I don't carry anything heavy in the back of it.

[87r10owner]

My suspension never saw any abuse or a house amount of miles so other than being old and dirty it's still in good shape I only replaced everything being picky and wanting it all new but seems I should have reused my springs (cut). Bgarr01 I'd really like to see those pics
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[87r10owner]

I think for now ill try some shackles. One more question, have any of you had problems with the tires/rim lip contacting the front of the lower control arms or is it Bc of the camber and it not being aligned. I didn't think 2" drop spindles would have that problem?
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[lolife99]

Just trim the lip.
No big deal.

[lolife99]

MCGAUGHYS 2" DROP SPINDLES 73-87 C-10 2WD Part#33154 listed on ebay are actually 2.5" drop spindles.
http://grunionfabrication.com/mcgaug...54-p-2169.html

CPP is the only company making 73-87 drop spindles that are only a 2" drop.
These are the CPP Modualr spindles.

[bgarr01]

Alright let me see if I can post these pics. Sorry if it don't work. I'm on an iPad. Hope they aren't to large as well.

This is with the springs from mcgaughys. Suppose to be 2".
<a href="http://s179.photobucket.com/user/bgarr01/media/image-1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w295/bgarr01/image-1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo image-1.jpg"/></a>

This is after I took them out and cut 1 coil off the stock coil springs.
<a href="http://s179.photobucket.com/user/bgarr01/media/image.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w295/bgarr01/image.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo image.jpg"/></a>

If the back looks slightly lower its because the stock tires are in the bed.
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[bgarr01]

Well crap. Let me try again.




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[87r10owner]

Looks good! Thanks for the pics. How's it ride from spring to spring?
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[bgarr01]

It's actually kinda hard to tell. When I had the mcgaughys springs on there it was rubbing fender pretty bad. Also had stock shocks on it basically fully compressed. Since I put new shocks on and cut the springs, it rides really smooth. I definitely don't regret it.
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[87r10owner]

Here it is after 1" springs put in, still needs camber adjusted and aligned then a rear bumper. (Still covered in garage dirt!) this pic is pre drive which settled the front 1/4"
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