Question about lowering

[CHaingKaiShek]

Not that I really plan on doing it anytime soon, but I just might one of these days. Lower my truck that is.

The most I would want to do is a 2.5/4" drop (Like those sold from western chassis) But I have a question or two.

Besides the obvious labor of ripping apart the suspension, what extra work do I have to do? Like cutting the frame,bed or anything else?

What is the best way to support the truck while I do this work. Obviously the axle in the back isn't going to work, nor the control arms in the front - not that you should ever support your truck by the control arms. :p

Jeff

[chauffeur]

Frame rails ???

[CHaingKaiShek]

Originally posted by chauffeur
Frame rails ???

Yeah, I have them - but what about them? :p

Jeff

[Low83]

With a mild 2/4-5 drop you won't have to do any cutting, sounds like your going with 2" drop coils on the front and a flip kit on the rear, the only and safe way to support the truck is on jack stands mounted under the frame.

[1FaastC10]

for a quick easy 2.5"/4" drop, go with springs all the way around.

flip kit will give you 5 or 6 depending on your springs, and you will likely have to notch it for proper clearance.

you could go with shackles and hangers on the rear for 4" of drop, but that requires clearanceing the bed support directly above the shackle. this combined with a 2.5" spindle is a VERY common drop.

BTW, AVOID AIM/CHASSIS TECH LIKE THE PLAGUE!

[gchemist]

Darn, my web site is down due too much bandwidth. Read it when you have a chance. I have some detailed instructions about dropping a 73-87 truck.

[swervin ervin]

In order for you to be able to do anything, you will need some good jackstands to support the truck. These will go under the frame rails. Then to work on the axle or control arms, you need a floor jack so you can raise these pieces up and down.

The most common mild drop is 2/4. To keep the truck level, you drop the rear 2" more than the front. You have several options here. You can go with 2" coils up front, or 2" spindles. You can also go with 2.5" spindles. Spindles are more expensive, but they will keep your suspension geometry like stock, since you are only moving the wheel center up. With spindles, it's easier to align the front end and you can use stock length shocks.

On the rear, again there is different options. The most common is a shackle and hanger kit. This drops it 4". Then there is 4" drop leaf springs. A flip kit is advertised as 5", but from what I can tell, varies from truck to truck, I think caused by the difference in the thickness of the leaf spring pack. More leafs, more drop.

Anyway, before you drop, or if you do, ask more questions before buying any parts.

[CHaingKaiShek]

So the easiest way to get the desired drop on the truck would be to use 2.5" drop spindles up front and then use 4" drop 'springs' in the rear? Or is this not correct?

I suppose that installing the spindles would be best to do at the same time as my front end rebuilt (as I have to pull the entire front end apart anyway.)

Would stock height coils be used up front still? And if I decided to go the route of the spindles/springs would the truck sit level, or will it sit higher up front because of the new coils?

Who is the best manufactuer to purchase the lowered spindles from? Belltech, western chassis or someone else?

Thanks for all the answers guys.

Jeff

[85 GMC]

spindles and shackles , is the easiest way , and you dont change the geomitry of your suspension , the kit comes with new spring brakets that are easily installed , a grinder to get rid of the rivits that hold them to your framme and bolt the new brackets in , you will probably have to change your spring bushings so have a set on hand. the spindles are harder but can be done in a dirt driveway , i did it.

I think i told you a while back that i had a set of dropspindles at my parents house(shortbox, lk havasu) , they are djm , good quility , Ill cut you a good deal on them if you want them. I'm going to be there on the 27th and stayin till the 31st , if you want to look at them let me know.

[CHaingKaiShek]

Several people said that doing a shackle/hanger kit requires you notch the frame or the bed - both of which I dont really want to do. As for the drop spindles I'd be interested in taking a look at them, feel free to e-mail me or send a PM via the board here with any contact info.

Thanks again. :p

Jeff

[85 GMC]

hanger and shackles that i used didnt need clearence in the frame , but i beleive you would have to do that if you flipped the axle .
When i get off the water on friday ill pm ya.

[Low83]

A flip kit on the rear is the easiest way to lower the back without a C-notch, but your limited to what you can haul, i've been running a flip kit on my Silverado for 20 yrs now with no problems.
Support our Troops.

[BaggedC10]

I ran a 3/4" drop for about 1.5 years and loved it. I used Belltech spindles and Smooth-Rider 4" leafs (Check the "For Sale" forum if anyone is interested). Like mentioned earlier, spindles maintain the proper front-end geometry and will allow for factory alignment specs.. Leaf springs are a direct bolt-in swap. The truck will ride well and if you add aftermarket anti-sway bars---Will handle even better.

[swervin ervin]

The easiest way to lower the back 4" is with 4" drop leafs, not cheapest, but easiest. Shackle and hanger kit is cheaper, but requires more work, such as removing the bed. Then you will have to chiesel/grind the rivet heads off the front hangers. And before anyone says, no, you don't have to remove the bed, you just can't get to them with the bed on. It's a breeze with the bed off out of the way.

On the front, I would definetely go with 2.5" spindles. Again, not cheapest, but best. Coils are cheaper but also make the ride a tad rougher, and move the geometry requiring drop shocks.

On a side note, a little birdy tells me, someone on here may soon have a set of Western Chassis Smooth Rider 4" drop leafs for sale. Sport Truck Direct, where they came from, sells these for $269.95. I have heard the ones that may be for sale, will be more like 200 bucks (or maybe a tad less), plus shipping.

I'll keep you informed if they do in fact go on sale.

[apstguy]

I was thinking about doing the same too. When using the shackle/hanger kits, do you need to get drop shocks for the rear axle? Can stock size shocks be used with extenders?

[BaggedC10]

Originally posted by swervin ervin
On a side note, a little birdy tells me, someone on here may soon have a set of Western Chassis Smooth Rider 4" drop leafs for sale. Sport Truck Direct, where they came from, sells these for $269.95. I have heard the ones that may be for sale, will be more like 200 bucks (or maybe a tad less), plus shipping.

I'll keep you informed if they do in fact go on sale.

Uh-oh! What's Mike up to now?!?

[BaggedC10]

Originally posted by apstguy
I was thinking about doing the same too. When using the shackle/hanger kits, do you need to get drop shocks for the rear axle? Can stock size shocks be used with extenders?

You will need lowered shock absorbers. Shock extenders ONLY maintain the proper shock absorber geometry. They are only needed for 5" and up.

[swervin ervin]

Hey, I never said it was me.

I also heard the same guy may have a Helwig rear anti sway bar for sale too. Just rumor though.

[CHaingKaiShek]

Okay.. So I'm clear on everything I need, lets just touch base over the parts I need.

I already ordered the front end rebuilt kit from performancesuspension (I believe it was them anyway, the link that Mike gave me.). I ordered in some stock height coils for a 1/2 ton pickup from my local autozone.

I will need 2.5" drop spindles, I assume Belltec is the best place to get them from - right?

A flip kit is needed as well? I'm not sure what this entitles partwise, maybe it's just some needed parts to relocate the axle.

And then I would also need 4" 'drop springs' for the rear?

That should give me a total drop of 2.5/4 right?

Any other parts I should invest in?

Jeff

[85 GMC]

check this place , this is were i ordered mine from , i did the 3-4 drop http://www.godfathercustoms.com/cgi-...=6908138_42397

[1FaastC10]

personally, i wouldnt buy BellTech, overpriced if you ask me. Western Chassis stuff seems to be good quality, as a lot of guys here are running it.

as for dropping the rear... a flip kit will get you 5 or 6 inches of drop, which will make you a tail dragger if you just use 2.5" spindles. you only want 4" if you're just using spindles... your options for that include shackles and hangers, or 4" drop springs.

[swervin ervin]

Jeremy is right. For a 2 or 2.5" drop in front, use Western Chassis 2.5" spindles. I would use all Western Chassis stuff if it were me, which I did, BTW. Be prepared for it to go up with new stock coils up front. I had it happen with me when I did this exact thing. This is why I now have 2.5 spindles and 1.5 coils. The old stock coils are weak now and have sagged some. The new stock height coils are going to raise it some. Not sure on how much, as it varies from different makers.

So its safe to say if you are after somewhere around a 2/4 drop to go with 2.5 spindles. Now on the rear, all you need for a 4" drop are either a shackle and hanger kit, or 4" drop leafs. Not both. A rear flip kit will give in the range of 5 to 6", this also varies, I'm guessing because of the different thicknesses of leaf springs, as in how many leafs they are in the pack.

Now, after telling you this, let me warn you. You will probably want more later down the road. I think we all have. I started with a 2/4 drop with coils and shackle/hanger kit. I'm now at 4/5, and getting ready to go to 4/6.

All this sounds confusing, but it's not really. It is when you first start though.

Welcome to the dark side.

[CHaingKaiShek]

Ah.. so mike, should I order some 1.5" drop coils as well for the front? I mean it would look rather lame if the front of my truck sits higher than the rear.

The drop springs for the back are no big deal, and not even a bad price at 269.00 a set.

The front spindles are a bit pricey, maybe that guy who is comming to town in a few days will have a set that it useable for me.

So are the rear springs as easy as they look to swap out? support the frame, drop the rear dif. and simply unbolt the leafs from the differential?

Jeff

[1FaastC10]

what's this i hear? Mike wants more drop? Bags are on order?

[swervin ervin]

Originally posted by CHaingKaiShek
So are the rear springs as easy as they look to swap out? support the frame, drop the rear dif. and simply unbolt the leafs from the differential?

Pretty much. You put it up on jackstands, under the frame of course. Put a floor jack under the axle and lift it some to hold the weight. Remove the u bolts and top plate. Lower the axle. Remove the bolt at the hanger and shackle. Remove old leaf spring. Put new one in and bolt everything back up. Simple as pie.

Did you see what I said about the guy who will probably be having some 4" Western Chassis Smooth Rider leafs for sale soon?