2-4 drop question

[frenchy51]

I'm getting ready to order parts to drop my son's '70 C10. I see ECE offers just lowered coils front and rear or you can get 2 1/2" drop front spindles.
There's quite a cost savings just by using the lowered springs vs new spindles....Pros and cons? Should I bite the bullet and get the spindles?

[n33k0]

From what I understand:

Spindles are preferred because they don't change the suspension geometry, they just move the wheel up in relation to all the suspension parts. You won't have to change your shocks with spindles, although I don't think you would need to change the stocks for a 2" spring drop either. Using a spindle gives you the option of adding drop springs later to go lower without running into the regular alignment problems of going with extreme drop springs from the beginning(if you want to do that)

Edit: As a con, I've read that some spindle/15" wheel combos might have rubbing issues (spindle rubbing the inside lip of the wheel)

[67ChevyRedneck]

2/4 isn't enough. Just go ahead and do the 4/6. This is coming from a guy that drove the same truck for over 18 years at stock height. I can't believe I didn't drop it sooner.

But yes, for all the reason's above if I only did a 2/4 I would have used spindles.

I lowered my S10 years ago and used drop spindles. Didn't even need to take it in for an alignment after. I think I needed to adjust the toe a little, but caster and camber didn't change.

[Lanman1972]

I used the ECE 2/4 kit with Shocks, rear shock relocate, and adjustable Panhard bar. $500 and I Love it!

[frenchy51]

Originally Posted by Lanman1972

I used the ECE 2/4 kit with Shocks, rear shock relocate, and adjustable Panhard bar. $500 and I Love it!

Nice truck-Love the color...(-;

[Dad's72]

Originally Posted by Lanman1972

I used the ECE 2/4 kit with Shocks, rear shock relocate, and adjustable Panhard bar. $500 and I Love it!

That is only a 2-4 drop? Hmm. Looks good. Good looking truck. What size rims and tires? Got any other pics?

[HeavyD]

Lanman any noticeable difference in ride quality?

[Lanman1972]

I think ride quality suffers more from the low profile 20's. 265/45/20 Front and 295/40/20 Rear. Normal driving smooth streets feels fine, but I can feel every little bump and gap on the neighborhood streets.

[Mike C]

I also think the 2/4 drop is not enough. Do the spindles first and then it will be easy to swap springs when you want to go lower.

My short bed is 4.5"/7" with a leaf spring flip, but that's probably a little more than you want.

I'd look at the spindles and a 5" rear spring to begin then a 1" spring later if you want to go lower in front. Blocks in the back get it down a little further.

[Shady Rascal]

A lot of folks spending your money here without warning you as to what they're leading you in to.

Drop spindles ARE awesome for a lot of reasons. But, your truck, being a 70 model, will have front drum brakes. If you install drop spindles you'll also have to convert to disc brakes. So you'd be buying rotors, calipers, pads, brake dust shields, spindle hardware, new front brake hoses, master cylinder, proportioning valve, and replacing your front brake piping. Then you'll need to worry about whether your wheels will clear disc brakes. Some 6 lug wheels will not. So, we've spent a large pile of your money now, and prescribed a ton of work. You will have significantly better brakes when all is said and done though.

Or, you could install a pair of drop coil springs and be done without any further expense.

The downside to the drop coils is it won't ride as well as drop spindles and the brakes will be exactly what you have right now. It won't ride bad, just not exactly stock like. But, you'll save north of 500 odd dollars.

Myself, I always cut one coil off of the stock front springs. It gives a 2" drop and costs nothing. I personally think they ride nicer than store bought lowering springs too. They ride softer.

[Mike C]

He's right about the discs. And I didn't even notice you had a '70 truck. I think the guys who drive with the drums still are nuts. I ditched them from my Camaro in the 80's and my C2500 in the 90's. And I ditched them on my short bed last year when I did the drop. It stops now and it stops HARD. The drums were scary and I wouldn't let anybody else drive it. And I'm a reasonably proficient mechanic... and had been through the drums. But typical of an unloaded truck they locked up the rear almost immediately and made all sorts of drama.

My kid my drive this when he has his license and I wouldn't want him in it with 4 wheel drums, but YMMV.

[bblackburn]

Originally Posted by Lanman1972

I used the ECE 2/4 kit with Shocks, rear shock relocate, and adjustable Panhard bar. $500 and I Love it!

i just bought a truck with a 2/4 drop. Any issues with you wheel/tire combo? Planning on doing 20x8.5 and 20x10

[cajun chevy]

Originally Posted by Lanman1972

I used the ECE 2/4 kit with Shocks, rear shock relocate, and adjustable Panhard bar. $500 and I Love it!

Hello, wondering what brand,size rims and tires you have in this picture?

Thanks.

Sorry, just say you had already posted it.

[Linz]

Ive not long done mine with a 2/4 cpp kit, its not super low but I like the look, I'm happy with it so far.

[CST10]

Same here, 2/4 drop. I love it. No bottoming out and rides like a dream. I did the static springs only, adjustable pan hard bar and shocks drop kit from brothers trucks..

Pros of springs is lower costs and alignment can still be achieved with a 2/4 drop. Only con would be after 3” spring drops alignment is tough to achieve and changing to 5 lug and disks would cost more in the future.

Pros of spindals is you can change to 5 lug and disk brakes easily. Alignment will not be an issue at all. You can drop it lower easier in the future with springs easily.
No real cons.

[Mike C]

That truck is a beauty. 2-4 looks perfect.

[Linz]

What size shoes you running CST10?

[Faastone27]

Ok I just did this myself. I went with the CPP 2.5 drop spindles as I just had the springs before ( actually cut down stock springs) but had a fair amount of bump steer. And then I also added two inch drop springs in front . I also did 4" drop springs in back plus added a 1" block as well. Now it drives so much better and no bump steer. I did rebuild entire suspension at the same time that I am sure helped as well

[CST10]

Originally Posted by Linz

What size shoes you running CST10?

275/60/15’s on 8” rally’s.

[CST10]

Originally Posted by Mike C

That truck is a beauty. 2-4 looks perfect.

Thanks me and ol Samson appreciate the good comments.

[CST10]

Originally Posted by Faastone27

Ok I just did this myself. I went with the CPP 2.5 drop spindles as I just had the springs before ( actually cut down stock springs) but had a fair amount of bump steer. And then I also added two inch drop springs in front . I also did 4" drop springs in back plus added a 1" block as well. Now it drives so much better and no bump steer. I did rebuild entire suspension at the same time that I am sure helped as well

Love that color and trim together. Great truck.

[County]

Reviving for a 2/4 drop question. I really like the idea of the 2/4 ECE Deluxe, as I don't want my shop truck too low.

Getting confused on all the variables though...sag, stock height, LB/SB, etc.

I really like the look of these 2/4 trucks.

I'm in Afghanistan right now, but had my Father-in-Law take some measurements for me.

3 measurements-

Ground to bottom of fender lip is 33"
Hub to bottom of fender lip is 19"
Top of tire to bottom of fender lip is 5"

What I'm surmising is that this is close to stock non-saggy height for the front, but the back may be sagged 2"?

A 2/4 would bring my "top of tire to fender" to 3"? Is that what LANMAN1972 is running at? If the trucks in this thread are running about 3" from tire to fender, that's what I want.

Am I looking at this correctly? 20" rims with 40 series tires. '72 short wide, 350/350.

Another silly question, why does it look like the wheelbase is too short for the body and not centered in the fenderwells?

[dirish]

2 front 4 rear, drop spindles and drop shocks. 1970 C10
Wheels are 16"

[TDH1989]

Following

[pdawg]

I completed a 2/4 drop on my ‘72 C10 last summer and am very happy with the new stance. I didn’t do the adjustable bar but plan to do that & a shock mount relocate as soon as it stops snowing here 😡!