Dropped stepside wheel rear wheel location...

[C10_ustacould]

This is a carry over thread to discuss the issue of rear wheel placement issue found on dropped/bagged stepside trucks. Here is a copy and past of the last post on the subject in Portmod7's thread.


Quote:
Originally Posted by BucksSS
One question, If someone is planning to do your coil over drop member in the future, is there an alternative that would move the axle forward and be used with the dropmember later to avoid wasting money?

(Sorry we've hijacked ur thread!)

Qoute from Porterbuilt:
"The Notch is the only component that is different in the Dropmember Extreme kits. On the fleetside, you would place our trailing arm x-member in its rearmost mounting holes. This locates it 1.5" further back in the frame. When running a step side bed, the trailing arm x-member is located in its forward most mounting holes (keeping it in the factory location)."

"Quote:
Originally Posted by lolife99
For coil spring trucks,... or trucks with the bag in the stock spring location,... would there be any issues?

The length of the PB trailing arm would be 1" shorter,... but the coil spring/bag mount on the trailing arm would have to be either:

1) moved back 1" on the trailing arm to align with the upper hole in the frame.
or
2) left in the stock placement on the arm,... and the frame would have to have the spring cup hole (in the frame) drilled 1" farther forward.

Does anyone see issues with either option?

Oops,... SORRY for the hijack."

Quote from Porterbuilt
"These are all things that we would need to discuss if we were to build a "custom" set for somebody (that means that it varies from standard production). A few different ways to skin this cat!

I don't want to detract from Portmod's thread on his sweet little step-side. If necessary we can carry this dialogue on in a different location."

[Portmod7]

Originally Posted by lolife99

For coil spring trucks,... or trucks with the bag in the stock spring location,... would there be any issues?

The length of the PB trailing arm would be 1" shorter,... but the coil spring/bag mount on the trailing arm would have to be either:

1) moved back 1" on the trailing arm to align with the upper hole in the frame.
or
2) left in the stock placement on the arm,... and the frame would have to have the spring cup hole (in the frame) drilled 1" farther forward.

Does anyone see issues with either option?

This crossed my mind as well. So then I thought, "Well, it must just be from the suspension drop, and the lower spring mounts are actually back from where they should be like the axle, so shortening the arms should fix it."

But I'm starting to gather that the axle position is off at stock height too?

I tend to say move the spring mount back on the arm. Although, that will make the spring act stiffer (just a little) and may raise the rear height a little. It would also cause the springs to be a little wider at the bottom mount, but you could modify for that while you're at it.

If you move it forward on the frame, you'll have more weight behind the spring, so it will squat the rear and pick up the front slightly. It should keep you over the top of the trailing arm better though (side to side).

I think my vote is for moving the mount on the trailing arm back toward the axle.

[C10_ustacould]

Qoute from Porterbuilt:
"The Notch is the only component that is different in the Dropmember Extreme kits. On the fleetside, you would place our trailing arm x-member in its rearmost mounting holes. This locates it 1.5" further back in the frame. When running a step side bed, the trailing arm x-member is located in its forward most mounting holes (keeping it in the factory location)."

Seems to me that shortening the distance between the coil/air spring mount and the front U-bolt mount would fix the problem for both methods of drop. Essentially a shorter trailing arm with the coil/air spring mount moved rearward on the arm.

[C10_ustacould]

Can a mod fix that title? It should read: Dropped stepside rear wheel location...

[C10_ustacould]

Originally Posted by Portmod7

This crossed my mind as well. So then I thought, "Well, it must just be from the suspension drop, and the lower spring mounts are actually back from where they should be like the axle, so shortening the arms should fix it."

But I'm starting to gather that the axle position is off at stock height too?

I tend to say move the spring mount back on the arm. Although, that will make the spring act stiffer (just a little) and may raise the rear height a little. It would also cause the springs to be a little wider at the bottom mount, but you could modify for that while you're at it.

If you move it forward on the frame, you'll have more weight behind the spring, so it will squat the rear and pick up the front slightly. It should keep you over the top of the trailing arm better though (side to side).

I think my vote is for moving the mount on the trailing arm back toward the axle.

Just look at an analog clock and the relationship of the number 5 to the number 3. As you move counter clockwise the numbers move to the right, the rear axle does the same thing as the frame gets lower.

[C10_ustacould]

So, I guess we have a consensus that the axle mount location on the trailing arm needs to be moved forward about 1.0" to 1.25"?

[68Stepbed]

Originally Posted by BucksSS

So, I guess we have a consensus that the axle mount location on the trailing arm needs to be moved forward about 1.0" to 1.25"?

I currently have a 5.75" static rear drop. According to this pic, 1-1.25" would center it just right.

[Dano69c10]

I was going to try moving the bed/cab backward 0.75" - 1", on my truck. I also want to do a 1" body drop at the same time.
Dano