Suggestions for lowering from experience needed

[JonFrankMc]

I know there are a ton of these threads out there, sorry. I am wanting to lower my truck but know I'm going to run into fitment issues with my wheels.


I have a stock height (I assume) truck with 15x8.5 wheels with 3.5" backspacing and 275/60 tires on all four corners. there is a ~6.5" gap above the rear wheels and 5.5" gap in the front.



The wheels/tires fit flush with the fenders, which is great for stock height.





I'm wanting to lower the truck but do not want to run into rubbing issues if at all possible. Taking suspension travel into account, how low do y'all think I can safely go? My thought is: 2/4 springs for now. Reasoning is, I don't want to fight the 3" front spring "falling out" issues when on the lift. The 2/4 will bring it down safely now and then when/if I change wheels I can go lower in the front by simply adding lowered spindles and new springs/blocks in the back.

Ok guys, y'all have tons of miles on your lowered trucks, what will work?

Thanks!

[Zoomin]

If youre like most people, you will lower it again anyway. Go ahead and do the drop spindles now and use your stock springs. You'll be fine out back.
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[W.I.P.72]

I say you slam it and ignore the rubbing, just kidding, whatever you do good luck...

[JonFrankMc]

I wish I could slam it! Baby Steps!

[big_al_71]

I would go with a 4/6 drop from Early classics..Springs, spindles,shocks relocators, shocks and adjustable panhard bar and you will be set and the truck will look stunning..

[Boog]

Al will his tire/wheel combo work with that drop setup without rub issues?

[JonFrankMc]

Big Al, I really want the 4/6 but I think I will run into serious clearance issues with any sort of suspension travel.

[big_al_71]

Originally Posted by JonFrankMc

Big Al, I really want the 4/6 but I think I will run into serious clearance issues with any sort of suspension travel.

My truck had a 4/6 ECE drop for three 1/2 years and there was zero issues at all and i had different set of wheels.

[JonFrankMc]

I love that truck!

Do you recall what the BS Of those old wheels were?
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[68Stepbed]

The 4/6 drop will work. The front tires may rub a tad in hard/sharp turning, but that can be remdied by just getting shorter front tires, like a 255/60.

[JonFrankMc]

68stepbed, your truck is gorgeous. Thanks for the input.

I'm being one of those guys I HATE! Y'all have the experience but I just don't see how I'm not going to get into significant rubbing issues with a 3/5 or lower drop and the bsck spacing of these wheels. I would hate to cut a tire if/when I had a payload in the bed and hit bump. But like I asked for...y'all have the experience!
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[Ironangel]

Originally Posted by JonFrankMc

68stepbed, your truck is gorgeous. Thanks for the input.

I'm being one of those guys I HATE! Y'all have the experience but I just don't see how I'm not going to get into significant rubbing issues with a 3/5 or lower drop and the bsck spacing of these wheels. I would hate to cut a tire if/when I had a payload in the bed and hit bump. But like I asked for...y'all have the experience!
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Ive got a 3-4 drop on mine with the same wheel & tire sizes all around. I started with a 4-1/2" front and 4" drop coils in the rear. There are no issues in the rear. In front, I have 2-1/2" drop spindles and (had) 2" drop coils. Every little bump dip or turn, the 275/60/15's would rub the inner fender. So I removed the smaller diameter drop springs and reinstalled the "beefier" factory coils with a "half turn" cut from the bottom.(I only had to cut one because the left coil was already broken at exactly one half turn) That raised the front about 1". I also installed a set of the cast aluminum coil spring stabilizers to stiffen and level the ride. Ive hauled hay, my 550lb bike, and my JD lawn tractor with no more rubbing. You might want to do some air bag research because in some cases its less expensive than a mechanical drop. I think 5" is the limit of rear drop before you have to notch the frame for axle clearance. 4" is the limit for shock mount relocators and shorty shocks. Anything over 4" and the pan-hard bar will either need to be shortened or replaced with an adjustable pan-hard bar. Up front with 2-1/2" drop spindles and 1" drop springs you dont need to make any shock or steering geometry changes. If you plan on getting, or already have a front sway bar, you'll need to raise it by routing the bar through the frame mounted sway bar bushing mounts and simply invert the bushings and bolt them inside the sway bar mounts instead of beneath them. That short stepper dont weigh as much as the LWB trucks so a 5" rear coil spring drop may be doable. I like a little "rake" on them hot rods.

[tubbedII]

Do you have drum brakes now in the front? Swapping to drop spindles and discs will push the wheels out 1/2"-3/4 inches each side and really could cause a problem on bumps depending on how far it drops. I would be a little leary about this unless you have access to another set of wheels. The rears may be fine.

If you do a 2/4 now with coils, you won't have any problems and you could do the drop spindles later as well as 2" blocks in the rear and end up with a 4.5/6 drop. Like Ironangle, you can lop off a ring for a drop in the front and only buy rear coils for a cheaper option.

[JonFrankMc]

Ironangel & tubbed, great write ups. Thanks guys.

Ironangel: those pics show a 3/4 drop? I like! And I have an adjustable bar sitting in the corner waiting on me.

Tubbed: that is exactly what I'm thinking about doing. I think it's a logical first step since the spindle and block would be how I would probably attain a lower drop anyways.
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[JonFrankMc]

Oh, and I'm disc/drum with a front swaybar.
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[JonFrankMc]

Well, I bought a 4/6 Hotchkis kit off of Amazon for a fantastic price. When it showed up on my door the box was missing the front springs. Since I bought it from "Amazon Warehouse Deals" they can't just ship me another kit.

So, after talking with Amazon they gave me a further discount to keep the rears and spacers rather than returning it.

So i now own 6" Hotchkis rear drop springs for <$90 shipped. Now I need to decide if I stay on the hunt for 4" Hotchkis fronts or go with spindles. I really like the idea of trying the "sport tuned" Hotchkis kit but I JUST DONT KNOW!!!

[sanford66]

I agree with ironangel, my truck currently sits how his did in the first pic. With the 8" rallys there are lots of rubbing issues in the front, none in the rear. I have 2 1/2" drop spindles with 2" springs in the front and a flip kit with c-notches in the rear. I'm probly going to replace the 2" springs with 1" springs, that should bring the front back up a little and solve the rubbing issues. By the way, nice looking truck ironangel, i used to hang out up in Falls City all the time. I had my truck up that way in Hiawatha today, and i thought the streets here in Atchison were bad!! Couple of pics of my 72 for reference. Joseph

[Portmod7]

Originally Posted by JonFrankMc

Well, I bought a 4/6 Hotchkis kit off of Amazon for a fantastic price. When it showed up on my door the box was missing the front springs. Since I bought it from "Amazon Warehouse Deals" they can't just ship me another kit.

So, after talking with Amazon they gave me a further discount to keep the rears and spacers rather than returning it.

So i now own 6" Hotchkis rear drop springs for <$90 shipped. Now I need to decide if I stay on the hunt for 4" Hotchkis fronts or go with spindles. I really like the idea of trying the "sport tuned" Hotchkis kit but I JUST DONT KNOW!!!

I bought the Hotchkis kit as well. It seems like a lot of guys on here don't like a 4" drop spring up front, but I like the geometry of the lower control arm with a 4" drop spring. It gets the pivot point on the ball joint level or higher than the control arm shaft. That's a great thing for handling in my opinion. And with the Hotchkis control arms that are built around a 4" drop spring, you shouldn't run into the alignment issues you would with stock arms.

I say get the Hotchkis springs, but there's definitely more than one way to skin a cat! You're going to have to get spindles and springs for it either way. My suggestion on spindles, go to the junk yard and get some stock height 73-87 units. I bought new reproductions from CPP for mine because I was in the buying mood, and looking back, it was pretty unnecessary to spend that much money on them.

Oh, and the "falling out issue" on the front springs, I don't have any issue with mine. When I put them in, I had to jack under the lower control arm and compress the spring to get both upper and lower ball joints in the spindle. With everything tight and on the jack stands, there is tension in the spring.

[JonFrankMc]

Originally Posted by Portmod7

I bought the Hotchkis kit as well. It seems like a lot of guys on here don't like a 4" drop spring up front, but I like the geometry of the lower control arm with a 4" drop spring. It gets the pivot point on the ball joint level or higher than the control arm shaft. That's a great thing for handling in my opinion. And with the Hotchkis control arms that are built around a 4" drop spring, you shouldn't run into the alignment issues you would with stock arms.

I say get the Hotchkis springs, but there's definitely more than one way to skin a cat! You're going to have to get spindles and springs for it either way. My suggestion on spindles, go to the junk yard and get some stock height 73-87 units. I bought new reproductions from CPP for mine because I was in the buying mood, and looking back, it was pretty unnecessary to spend that much money on them.

Oh, and the "falling out issue" on the front springs, I don't have any issue with mine. When I put them in, I had to jack under the lower control arm and compress the spring to get both upper and lower ball joints in the spindle. With everything tight and on the jack stands, there is tension in the spring.

Why exactly would I need to buy new spindles? I planned on using stock spindles and control arms if I used the 4" spring, as Hotchkis suggested.
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[Portmod7]

Ahhh, I assumed that by "bought a 4/6 Hotchkis kit" you meant the whole thing, and got the control arms and all. Never mind what I said above. Just trying to help, good luck!

If memory serves me correct, I've read on these forums that you'll run into some issues trying to get the front end aligned with 4" drop springs and stock control arms.

[JonFrankMc]

I understand how I confused everyone. I bought the spring kit. Hotchkis is well known for their engineering, as I understand, and they say their isn't an issue with alignment. I'm a bit skeptical as well.
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