Need advise on 3/4 drop

[ScottH]

Planning on dropping a 72 c10 soon & will be installing 3/4 drop springs.

My first question is regarding the shocks. If I buy dropped shocks do I need relocator kits as well? Or can I go with stock shocks if I install relocator kits? Or do I need both new shocks + relocate the mounts?

Second question is regarding the panhard bar. Can I use a stock bar or do I need to get an adjustable? Is it possible to cut/weld a stock bar to shorten it if needed?

Any info is appreciated.

Thanks
Scott

[michael bustamante]

I need to know this too. Im thinking you can stick to stock shocks and mounts in the front down to a 3" drop but im not sure

[Classic Heartbeat]

Not every truck is the same. I personaly wouldn't drop 3" in the front with springs only. They tend to rattle around in the pockets when going over curbs and such. I would go with spindles and springs. The advantage to that is you won't need drop shocks in the front for that.
As for the rear, spring only is alright. I personaly like block spring as it enables me to keep as much spring as possible. However that is a personal thing for me. To get to the panhard bar, some here on the boards get along fine with just an adjustible one, but more than centering needs to be considered. Like the angle of the bar itself. 15 degrees is optimal anything less starts to become problematic. It has to do with penduling. The less angle you have the more prone to the effects of it. I like the super panhard bar because it will not only center the rear end, but will restore the angle of the bar reducing that penduling. Now for shocks. The lower you go the more they will lay down to the point of being innefective. Rear lowering shocks are a must, but a shock relocation kit with lowering shocks is best. This is because a relocation kit will restore the angle back into the shocks so they can work as they were designed to do. WES

[ScottH]

Wes, thanks for the great info. A couple followup questions:

So with just the drop springs in the front, is a drop shock also needed or would stock shocks work? Understand about the panhard bar issues, but can I still use a stock bar with a 4" drop, or need at least an adjustable? Also with the 4" rear drop, am I understanding it correctly in saying I can get by with drop shocks only, but a relocation kit with the drop shocks is best?

Thanks again.
Scott

[Classic Heartbeat]

If you go with drop springs in the front then yes you will need drop shocks. No need for a relocation kit for the front though.
As to the rear, you can not lower it 4" without at least an adjustible panhard bar to recenter your rear end. If you do not, doglegging and premature tire ware is in your future. Not to say the least about handling. The less angle on your panhard bar and your shocks the more poorly your truck will handle as a result. Some people don't mind driving white knuckled down the freeway, but myself I would rather drive relaxed and not have to fight my truck to stay between the lines. WES

[ScottH]

Thanks Wes, that clears it up.

[Classic Heartbeat]

Your welcome. I have been lowering trucks for years, and also been fixing other people's mistakes. WES