Stance and Lowering Question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

MStokes · 01-07-2003, 03:59 PM

I am in the process of deciding how much I want to lower my 72 C10. I took measurements from the floor to the peak of each fender and came up with the following:

Right Front 32"
Left Front 33"

Right Rear 33 1/2"
Left Rear 34 5/8"

Basically the truck is sitting higher on the left side, both front and back. Would this be due to spring sag and age on the right side? Actually with just a driver sitting in the cab it might be pretty level.

If I went with new springs all around (4" drop in the rear and 2" in the front), would it set pretty level?

dubie · 01-07-2003, 04:32 PM

I like the stock stance it has now, makes it look like a pretty mean truck.

crazy longhorn · 01-07-2003, 04:55 PM

A 2/4 drop shoud get you pretty close to level(it may still be a touch taller @ the rear). My guess would be that new springs/shocks should pretty much take care of the difference in height from side to side. at the rear, you should run shock relocators, & may be into an adjustable panhard bar at 4" or more drop. Good luck....crazyL

MStokes · 01-07-2003, 04:58 PM

Can you explain an "adjustable panhard bar to me"? I've seen this referenced on the forum before, but I have no idea what it is. Does it have something to do with the tracking bar behind the differential?

crazy longhorn · 01-07-2003, 05:07 PM

Yes, its the tracking bar on the rear diff. as the truck is dropped, it tends to push the rear diff to 1 side with the stock bar. the adjustable bar lets you center the rear in the truck after the suspension drop.......crazyL

MStokes · 01-07-2003, 06:46 PM

Thanks for the replies. Is it normal for the springs to sag or settle differently over time. A difference of 1" on the front springs seem a lot to me considering they should have had roughly the same amount of weight on them for 30 years.

Low69CST · 01-07-2003, 10:01 PM

you may want to go around and check the srings and make sure that they are sitting in the pockets good, maybe somebody did a Baja in it and popped a spring out. or they may have rusted and broke, i've seen some back springs break a coil off. But more than likely its just sag. New set of springs should cure it.

Jesse 67 c-10 · 01-07-2003, 10:23 PM

just a though, make sure all tires are the same psi, might look the same, but it'll make your measurment more accurate. battery also weighs a fair amount and is on the pass side. it's an old truck though, it should have character!

ChevLoRay · 01-08-2003, 12:11 AM

Early Classic Enterprises has a website that shows how the trucks look with different lowering system components.

I lowered mine with spindles in the front (2.5 inches) and springs in the rear (4.0 inches). If you go as much as 4 inches lower in the rear, the adjustable track bar helps to compensate and center the rear end under the chassis. Also, you will need new shock mounts to reposition them in a more upright position. If you don't, the shocks will have an extreme angle and be mostly useless.

My truck doesn't set level, from front to rear. It might be more level, if the tires were the same size on all four corners. Since I have 235-60's on the front and 255-70's on the rear, it has a bit of a rake, meaning the front is lower than the rear. But, I like it like that. Kinda has a hotrod stance.

GloryHound · 01-08-2003, 11:38 PM

I have Leaf springs and was wondering If I flip my rear end to get the drop I want will I still need a pan hard bar! I'm guessing I'll still have to get shock relocators in order to give them thier full range of motion but I don't know it the panhard bars will fit with leafs?

**PICKMUP** · 01-08-2003, 11:44 PM

The panard bar is for coil spring rearends. It connects the body to the frame, since there is no lateral support on coils, like there is on leafs.

NSANE68!!! · 01-08-2003, 11:53 PM

ONE THING EVERYONE MISSED!!! Cab support bushings. My truck set the same way higher on driverside. I bagged it and it still sat crooked. Upon further inspection the passenger cab mounts were almost gone from rott. I would check those 1st. Then choose your drop.

01-07-2003, 03:59 PM	#1
MStokes Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Meridian, Idaho Posts: 164	Stance and Lowering Question I am in the process of deciding how much I want to lower my 72 C10. I took measurements from the floor to the peak of each fender and came up with the following: Right Front 32" Left Front 33" Right Rear 33 1/2" Left Rear 34 5/8" Basically the truck is sitting higher on the left side, both front and back. Would this be due to spring sag and age on the right side? Actually with just a driver sitting in the cab it might be pretty level. If I went with new springs all around (4" drop in the rear and 2" in the front), would it set pretty level? Attached Images __________________ 1972 C-10 LWB, 400/350, 2WD 1972 C-20 Custom Camper, 350/350, 4WD (Converted)

01-07-2003, 04:32 PM	#2
dubie Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 8,853	I like the stock stance it has now, makes it look like a pretty mean truck. __________________ My name's Tim and I'm a truckaholic My 56 Chevy shop truck build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=562795

01-07-2003, 04:55 PM	#3
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,402	A 2/4 drop shoud get you pretty close to level(it may still be a touch taller @ the rear). My guess would be that new springs/shocks should pretty much take care of the difference in height from side to side. at the rear, you should run shock relocators, & may be into an adjustable panhard bar at 4" or more drop. Good luck....crazyL __________________ 69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears....

01-07-2003, 04:58 PM	#4
MStokes Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Meridian, Idaho Posts: 164	Can you explain an "adjustable panhard bar to me"? I've seen this referenced on the forum before, but I have no idea what it is. Does it have something to do with the tracking bar behind the differential? __________________ 1972 C-10 LWB, 400/350, 2WD 1972 C-20 Custom Camper, 350/350, 4WD (Converted)

01-07-2003, 05:07 PM	#5
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,402	Yes, its the tracking bar on the rear diff. as the truck is dropped, it tends to push the rear diff to 1 side with the stock bar. the adjustable bar lets you center the rear in the truck after the suspension drop.......crazyL __________________ 69 longhorn,4" chop,3/5 drop, 1/2 ton suspension/disc brakes,1 1/2" body drop,steel tilt clip, 5.3/Edelbrock rpm intake/600 carb, Hooker streetrod shorties,2 1/2" exhaust/ H pipe/50's Flows , 6 spd Richmond trans,12 bolt/ 3.40 gears....

01-07-2003, 06:46 PM	#6
MStokes Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Meridian, Idaho Posts: 164	Thanks for the replies. Is it normal for the springs to sag or settle differently over time. A difference of 1" on the front springs seem a lot to me considering they should have had roughly the same amount of weight on them for 30 years. __________________ 1972 C-10 LWB, 400/350, 2WD 1972 C-20 Custom Camper, 350/350, 4WD (Converted)

01-07-2003, 10:01 PM	#7
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	you may want to go around and check the srings and make sure that they are sitting in the pockets good, maybe somebody did a Baja in it and popped a spring out. or they may have rusted and broke, i've seen some back springs break a coil off. But more than likely its just sag. New set of springs should cure it. __________________ '69 CST Short fleetside Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 4 wheel disc brakes, front sway bar & rear camaro sway bar (in progress) '87 V10 4x4 Short Fleetside Quad Suspension and Dual Tanks

01-07-2003, 10:23 PM	#8
Jesse 67 c-10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 599	just a though, make sure all tires are the same psi, might look the same, but it'll make your measurment more accurate. battery also weighs a fair amount and is on the pass side. it's an old truck though, it should have character! __________________ Edmonton, Alberta, 67 c-10, Long fleet, front disks, 5 lug rear end, 327 with Vortechs, edlbrock manifold, comp cams XE 256, 600cfm carb. Backed by a getrag 5 speed and 1 piece driveshaft. 1993 Dihatsu Hijet Jumbo cab 4x4, currently converting to battery electric power.

01-08-2003, 12:11 AM	#9
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Early Classic Enterprises has a website that shows how the trucks look with different lowering system components. I lowered mine with spindles in the front (2.5 inches) and springs in the rear (4.0 inches). If you go as much as 4 inches lower in the rear, the adjustable track bar helps to compensate and center the rear end under the chassis. Also, you will need new shock mounts to reposition them in a more upright position. If you don't, the shocks will have an extreme angle and be mostly useless. My truck doesn't set level, from front to rear. It might be more level, if the tires were the same size on all four corners. Since I have 235-60's on the front and 255-70's on the rear, it has a bit of a rake, meaning the front is lower than the rear. But, I like it like that. Kinda has a hotrod stance. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

01-08-2003, 11:38 PM	#10
GloryHound Working on a Nova. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: ## Posts: 506	I have Leaf springs and was wondering If I flip my rear end to get the drop I want will I still need a pan hard bar! I'm guessing I'll still have to get shock relocators in order to give them thier full range of motion but I don't know it the panhard bars will fit with leafs?

01-08-2003, 11:44 PM	#11
PICKMUP "Trucks with Class" Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: OLYMPIA, WA, USA Posts: 8,158	The panard bar is for coil spring rearends. It connects the body to the frame, since there is no lateral support on coils, like there is on leafs. __________________ Email: frankeham@comcast.net Phone: 360-956-7170

01-08-2003, 11:53 PM	#12
NSANE68!!! SLICER AND DICIER Join Date: May 2001 Location: Quuen Creek Posts: 1,383	ONE THING EVERYONE MISSED!!! Cab support bushings. My truck set the same way higher on driverside. I bagged it and it still sat crooked. Upon further inspection the passenger cab mounts were almost gone from rott. I would check those 1st. Then choose your drop. __________________ 01 Tahoe 22's 2/4 drop and tv's 68 chevy money pit 51 chevy belair 95 Honda 900RR 05 GMC Siearra (company truck)



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