2 - 4 drop looks odd - need help

[ARTISTIC]

So after having all my new suspension parts sitting around Ive managed to get everything bolted on.

All parts were ordered from CPP

Front:

2" drop coils
sway bar
shocks
ball joints and tie rods

Rear:

4" drop coils
sway bar
shocks
adjustable trac bar

Everything went in alright but the rear looked lower than it should have been.
I had a bunch of junk in the bed so figured that was the reason but alas, no change when emptied.

The stance is plain goofy. Im assuming I have either the wrong front or wrong rear springs. Or something is just plain wrong....

The top of the front tires are right around 4" from the fender lip.
The top of the rears are within an inch of of the fender lip.

Tires are 235/75/15

I would like to have the front about 2" lower and there is no way Im ordering another set of springs for $100 and $200 shipping.... should I cut the front coils? should I put the old rear springs back in even though I tossed the old shocks?

Something needs to change.

I know a pic is worth its weight in gold but I dont have one yet of the parts installed. Looking for a little advice, shed some light.

All the pics I can find on a 2-4 drop still show a slight rake toward the front.

Thanks.

Mike

[dmack91]

My stock C20 is 4" from the top of the front tire to the fender, so it sounds like you have the wrong springs.

They say you can cut one coil out of the front springs and get 2 to 2.5" of drop.

[dan42]

My guess would be that the fronts are stock springs. A picture would help.

[502ms]

Originally Posted by dan42

My guess would be that the fronts are stock springs. A picture would help.

I agree. Another thing is that a 2" drop does not mean much on these trucks, especially if you have a straight 6 (not sure what you have).
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[laplander]

Originally Posted by dan42

My guess would be that the fronts are stock springs. A picture would help.

^^^^ what he said, post pics so we can see what you mean.

[72BlckButy]

Did you measure the truck before you lowered it? That is about the only way to determine which lowering springs you received, and even that is not full proof. If the springs on the truck were original, they probably had a lot of "sag" in them.

Pics would help us determine what drop you might have on your truck.

Here's the specs on my '69 with a 4.5/6" drop running 235 75R15's:

Before the drop:
Driver's Side Front: 33 1/2"
Driver's Side Rear: 33"
Passenger Side Front: 33 1/4"
Passenger Side Rear: 32 7/8"

After the drop:
Driver's Side Front: 28"
Driver's Side Rear: 29"
Passenger Side Front: 28 1/4"
Passenger Side Rear: 28 3/4"

[ARTISTIC]

So heres a pic - it looks deceiving since the ground slopes up toward the rear of the truck.

The measurements I can get from the ground to the fender lip are:

30" in the rear
31.5" in the front

The front springs were originals (as was the ball joints and everything else) so I assume there was some settling. The height difference when I changed the springs didnt seem that different but for whatever reason I didnt take 'before' measurements. stupid.

Nice truck BTW 72BlckButy! - one day... one day.





Before photo for what its worth.

[CG]

I see you are in the Yukon ... Is that still snow on the ground in August?

Oh wait, thats a before pic.

[Frkypunk70]

Drop seems to be a weird thing here. I look at my drop and it looks different than the same drop of someone else's. It might just need to settle. Just be glad if it's even on both sides my truck leans to the right. It's kinda like asking "how's it hanging"....to the right.
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[wwotr]

Originally Posted by ARTISTIC

So after having all my new suspension parts sitting around Ive managed to get everything bolted on.

All parts were ordered from CPP

Front:

2" drop coils
sway bar
shocks
ball joints and tie rods

Rear:

4" drop coils
sway bar
shocks
adjustable trac bar

Everything went in alright but the rear looked lower than it should have been.
I had a bunch of junk in the bed so figured that was the reason but alas, no change when emptied.

The stance is plain goofy. Im assuming I have either the wrong front or wrong rear springs. Or something is just plain wrong....

The top of the front tires are right around 4" from the fender lip.
The top of the rears are within an inch of of the fender lip.

Tires are 235/75/15

I would like to have the front about 2" lower and there is no way Im ordering another set of springs for $100 and $200 shipping.... should I cut the front coils? should I put the old rear springs back in even though I tossed the old shocks?

Something needs to change.

I know a pic is worth its weight in gold but I dont have one yet of the parts installed. Looking for a little advice, shed some light.

All the pics I can find on a 2-4 drop still show a slight rake toward the front.

Thanks.

Mike

Mike,
I have ordered from CPP before, and they sent me the wrong U-Bolts for the 2" Lowering Blocks I had ordered.

See this thread here:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=291008

[Jacfourteen]

It does look high in the front, are you sure the springs were clocked correctly so that they went all the way into the spring pockets? If you want it lower the easy route would be to cut a coil off of the fronts.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Sammy]

If your old 50 year old springs sagged a inch from all those years you could have only gained a inch with the 2" drop. Cutting springs is always a gamble and if you got it leaning on one side and stuck with it you wouldn't be happy. Better off returning those and bite the bullet or trade the new ones with someone. If you want to cut spring coils use your old ones and see if your satisfied.

[ARTISTIC]

Originally Posted by CG

I see you are in the Yukon ... Is that still snow on the ground in August?

Oh wait, thats a before pic.

Give it a couple weeks and we may...lol. its a whopping 3-4 degrees C here in the mornings now.

I checked the spring possition multiple times when lowering it back into place on both sides. Its pretty even side to side within 1/4" even measured in the dirt.

My whole plan is to convert to disks front and back next year including drop spindles so wanted the front 2" springs to level it off and add the 2.5" spindles for a total of 5.5". This would help my problem eventually but as of right now....

[stealthy '69]

5.5" drop up front is an awfully big drop for that kind of terrain in my opinion. Here's a link to lolife99's build thread of No-Life, if you scroll down to post #31 there's a pic of the lower a-arms at ride height. They appear to be only 3-4" off the ground. I've heard him say before that he has to be careful around town of man hole covers and some bumps. Just some food for thought. What ever route you decide on, it's already looking pretty good.


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=338655&page=2

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by stealthy '69

5.5" drop up front is an awfully big drop for that kind of terrain in my opinion. Here's a link to lolife99's build thread of No-Life, if you scroll down to post #31 there's a pic of the lower a-arms at ride height. They appear to be only 3-4" off the ground. I've heard him say before that he has to be careful around town of man hole covers and some bumps. Just some food for thought. What ever route you decide on, it's already looking pretty good.


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=338655&page=2

I'm running 5.5" in Fromt and 6" in the Rear.
I was in the Foothills of Nor Cal (snowed about 6 times a year), ruts, pot holes.
My lower A-Arms were about 3" off the Ground and never hit.
My problem was the exhaust.
Once I went over a speed bump, it was "the coming down" (right at the Flange), that I had to crawl at a Snails Pace.

One the exhaust was tucked into the Frame, I'm able to take Speed Bumps, Dips at the same speed I do in my 05 GMC Sierra Ext Cab 4X4.

[stealthy '69]

i stand corrected. You would know better then me if yours is lowered 5.5". I was just going off what I've heard from others. Your truck is looking pretty good to WWOTR!!

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by stealthy '69

i stand corrected. You would know better then me if yours is lowered 5.5". I was just going off what I've heard from others. Your truck is looking pretty good to WWOTR!!

Thank you for the complimsent Matt!

[sneaky]

artistic, i had the same problem with my 3 - 5 drop from these guys...i did track bar, all 4 coils, shocks, plus new shock brkts...i said eff it and cut a coil off the driver frt and 1.25 off the pass frt since it sat a bit higher anyways...worked great! rides fine and looks better.

[Jacfourteen]

Cutting coils is fine as long as you don't heat up the spring in the process. Use a thin cut off disc on an angle grinder and you will be fine. Be sure to set it on the ground and check the ride height before you button everything up, that way if one side is a little low/high you can pull it back out real easy and trim it til it sits how you want.
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[ARTISTIC]

So long as the weather isnt too brutal this weekend Im cutting it down.
Heres hoping all the new parts and pieces make it easier to take apart the second time around.
Ill post up some 'after' pics when im through.

[ARTISTIC]

Bit of an update...

Pulled the front springs and 'surprise' theres a part # on it.
The fronts are part #FCS6102-2 so theyre correct

check the back and sure enough theyre marked as well part #RCS603-4, also correct.

So im a bit perplexed why it sits so much higher in the front than the back?

Regardless, the fronts are out so theyre going to go on a diet tomorrow.

Anyone else put things together and not quite get what they were expecting?

[Frkypunk70]

Originally Posted by ARTISTIC

So long as the weather isnt too brutal this weekend Im cutting it down.
Heres hoping all the new parts and pieces make it easier to take apart the second time around.
Ill post up some 'after' pics when im through.

I use anti-seize on everything I take apart on my truck....way better than a torch.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Boog]

That just totally doesn't look right. Practically no change in front end height. I have to ask, is there an engine in it? It sits way high to me.

[ARTISTIC]

Engine is in, SB chev. Next year itll be a big block if all goes well

Got both sides done - all in all, even with cutting the springs it took about an hour.
The results are amazing. Much better!!
Ill post up pics this evening - the wifes already filled it with reno junk to the dump.

[ARTISTIC]

Pic as promised.

All is good but I will have to cut down the bumpstops in the front.

Drives like a champ!! Thanks everyone.