Lowering Questions - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Slonaker · 12-01-2003, 04:05 PM

I plan to lower my truck a little in the very near future. I plan to go with the 2.5 inch Western Chassis spindles to make sure that I don't have clearance problems with my Rally wheels. I have heard from several sources that the DJM 3 inch spindles will require me to modify the control arm, which I don’t want to do.

Everything I read says that the rear is supposed to be 2 inches higher than the front, and that a 2.5/4 kit will give it about ½ inch of rake. I have new front springs with just 200 or 300 miles on them. They have been in the truck for about 6 months while I was doing some work on it. The truck sits almost level, nowhere close to 2 inches lower.

Are the springs settled in yet? If they won't drop much from here, I 'm afraid a 4 inch drop in the back will take it down lower than the front. If I get the Western Chassis 2.5/4 kit, can the height of the back be adjusted?

Where is a good place to buy the kit? The prices at www.sporttruckdirect.com seems reasonable, but they don’t mention shipping costs. I have emailed them 3 times over the last year asking about shipping charges, and they have never responded. They don’t seem to want my money very badly…

Summit advertises that they sell a Summit branded 2.5 inch set of spindles for about $220, and their shipping is very reasonable. Are their store branded spindles Western chassis?

Does anyone have any other recommendations regarding vendors? About what do they get with shipping for the Western Chassis spindles and hanger/shackle kit?

Slonaker

78chevstepside · 12-01-2003, 07:52 PM

On my 78 i have a 4/6 drop with a c-notched frame . I run 235 60 r15 on the front with a about a 1/2 wheel spacer on rally wheels. I had to grind down the a-arm lip(really no big deal more then once). i also had to use flat wheel weights(mount on the inside base of the wheel)( regular wheels weights would rub if mounted the weights on the inside of the wheel). My wheels still rub slightly if i turn sharp .On the rear have (it dont mattter on the rear) 275 60r15 tires. Before it was lowered i had 275 60s on the front which were new( less then 2 thousand miles). they were not going to work so i bought the 235s. Well i now want to go to 20inch wheels with low profile tires that would solve all my problems(rubbing on the a-arm and wheel weights). If i only knew this before i bought all these tires. I had a shop lower it for me (I was working 7-12s at the time.) I did weld the frame on the c-notch. I think i have a bell teck lowering kit. with a 4/6 drop my truck rides level.

78chevstepside · 12-01-2003, 07:53 PM

:p

78chevstepside · 12-01-2003, 07:55 PM

78chevstepside · 12-01-2003, 07:56 PM

78chevstepside · 12-01-2003, 08:00 PM

actually i like playing with my new toy the digitial camera

BaggedC10 · 12-01-2003, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 78chevstepside

You need shock extenders!

BaggedC10 · 12-01-2003, 11:47 PM

1. I had a 3/4" drop and would estimate 1.5" of rake. I used Belltech spindles and Smooth-Rider leaf springs. It rode awesome on the highway but bottomed-out allot on rough roads.

2. It sounds like your springs have not settled up front.

3. If you use the standard shackle/hanger kit, the height can be adjusted. I don't believe Western Chassis hangers are adjustable like DJM units though.

4. I've dealt w/ Sport Truck Direct many times and would recommend them. www.PerformanceSuspension.com also offers WC products. "Swervin Ervin" has done business w/ them several times.

5. I believe the Summit Racing products are actually WC components. I'm not sure though.....

I would recommend DJM 3" spindles, Smooth-Rider leaf springs, and Doetsch Tech shock absorbers. Removing the "lip" from the LCA is very simple. Remove the factory bumpstop bracket, install low-profile units, and you'll be set.

r0lf- · 12-01-2003, 11:58 PM

If you use the DJM spindles you will have to grind a bit of the spindle, not LCA to get 15" ralleys to work correctly, its really not a big deal though.

BaggedC10 · 12-02-2003, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by r0lf-
If you use the DJM spindles you will have to grind a bit of the spindle, not LCA to get 15" ralleys to work correctly, its really not a big deal though.

The spindle? I know some trucks will require the caliper to be shaved but the spindle?

I only had to remove the "lip" from around the balljoint.

shavedchevy · 12-02-2003, 12:05 AM

I've got no problem with a 4/6 drop on my truck. I also have 235/60/15 and 275/60/15 on my truck like 78 chevystepside except I didn't have to modify anything at all on the front, no grinding, no weights. I've got 3" spindles from chassis tech and I didn't have modify them or the contolr arms. I also have no trouble turning sharp, actually I think it turns sharper for some reason.
Here's what level my truck sits at ...

Slonaker · 12-02-2003, 11:18 AM

Nice pics, 78chevstepside! The interference problems you are having are exactly what I'm trying to avoid. I'll give up 1/2 inch to avoid shaving calipers and control arms.

Does anyone else have any other vendors to suggest? I looked at the site for www.PerformanceSuspension.com. Their prices seem reasonable, so I'll give them a call. Sport Truck Direct doesn't seem to want my money, so I'll avoid them unless I just can't get what I want elsewhere.

Has anyone bought the Summit brand spindles? I like dealing with them, but I don't want to buy their spindles unless they are Western Chassis.

Will my 255/70/15 tires be okay on the front on Rally wheels with 2.5 inch spindles? Someone asked that this week on CT, but has not yet received a definite answer.

Thanks for the replies.

Slonaker

12-01-2003, 04:05 PM	#1
Slonaker Insert Witty Text Here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,415	Lowering Questions I plan to lower my truck a little in the very near future. I plan to go with the 2.5 inch Western Chassis spindles to make sure that I don't have clearance problems with my Rally wheels. I have heard from several sources that the DJM 3 inch spindles will require me to modify the control arm, which I don’t want to do. Everything I read says that the rear is supposed to be 2 inches higher than the front, and that a 2.5/4 kit will give it about ½ inch of rake. I have new front springs with just 200 or 300 miles on them. They have been in the truck for about 6 months while I was doing some work on it. The truck sits almost level, nowhere close to 2 inches lower. Are the springs settled in yet? If they won't drop much from here, I 'm afraid a 4 inch drop in the back will take it down lower than the front. If I get the Western Chassis 2.5/4 kit, can the height of the back be adjusted? Where is a good place to buy the kit? The prices at www.sporttruckdirect.com seems reasonable, but they don’t mention shipping costs. I have emailed them 3 times over the last year asking about shipping charges, and they have never responded. They don’t seem to want my money very badly… Summit advertises that they sell a Summit branded 2.5 inch set of spindles for about $220, and their shipping is very reasonable. Are their store branded spindles Western chassis? Does anyone have any other recommendations regarding vendors? About what do they get with shipping for the Western Chassis spindles and hanger/shackle kit? Slonaker __________________ '86 Chevy C10 (Sold 04/19/13 ) Stock '01 Silverado

12-01-2003, 07:52 PM	#2
78chevstepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: lacenter, washington Posts: 718	On my 78 i have a 4/6 drop with a c-notched frame . I run 235 60 r15 on the front with a about a 1/2 wheel spacer on rally wheels. I had to grind down the a-arm lip(really no big deal more then once). i also had to use flat wheel weights(mount on the inside base of the wheel)( regular wheels weights would rub if mounted the weights on the inside of the wheel). My wheels still rub slightly if i turn sharp .On the rear have (it dont mattter on the rear) 275 60r15 tires. Before it was lowered i had 275 60s on the front which were new( less then 2 thousand miles). they were not going to work so i bought the 235s. Well i now want to go to 20inch wheels with low profile tires that would solve all my problems(rubbing on the a-arm and wheel weights). If i only knew this before i bought all these tires. I had a shop lower it for me (I was working 7-12s at the time.) I did weld the frame on the c-notch. I think i have a bell teck lowering kit. with a 4/6 drop my truck rides level. Attached Images

12-01-2003, 07:53 PM	#3
78chevstepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: lacenter, washington Posts: 718	:p Attached Images

12-01-2003, 07:55 PM	#4
78chevstepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: lacenter, washington Posts: 718	Attached Images

12-01-2003, 07:56 PM	#5
78chevstepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: lacenter, washington Posts: 718	Attached Images

12-01-2003, 08:00 PM	#6
78chevstepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: lacenter, washington Posts: 718	actually i like playing with my new toy the digitial camera Attached Images

12-01-2003, 11:47 PM	#8
BaggedC10 Under construction! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NorCal Posts: 1,065	1. I had a 3/4" drop and would estimate 1.5" of rake. I used Belltech spindles and Smooth-Rider leaf springs. It rode awesome on the highway but bottomed-out allot on rough roads. 2. It sounds like your springs have not settled up front. 3. If you use the standard shackle/hanger kit, the height can be adjusted. I don't believe Western Chassis hangers are adjustable like DJM units though. 4. I've dealt w/ Sport Truck Direct many times and would recommend them. www.PerformanceSuspension.com also offers WC products. "Swervin Ervin" has done business w/ them several times. 5. I believe the Summit Racing products are actually WC components. I'm not sure though..... I would recommend DJM 3" spindles, Smooth-Rider leaf springs, and Doetsch Tech shock absorbers. Removing the "lip" from the LCA is very simple. Remove the factory bumpstop bracket, install low-profile units, and you'll be set. __________________ 2001 Silverado bagged on 22's. Sold Last edited by BaggedC10; 12-01-2003 at 11:50 PM.

12-01-2003, 11:58 PM	#9
r0lf- Hotwheels? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA Posts: 1,145	If you use the DJM spindles you will have to grind a bit of the spindle, not LCA to get 15" ralleys to work correctly, its really not a big deal though. __________________ 1978 Money Pit - CUSTOM DELUXE!!!!

12-02-2003, 12:05 AM	#11
shavedchevy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 315	I've got no problem with a 4/6 drop on my truck. I also have 235/60/15 and 275/60/15 on my truck like 78 chevystepside except I didn't have to modify anything at all on the front, no grinding, no weights. I've got 3" spindles from chassis tech and I didn't have modify them or the contolr arms. I also have no trouble turning sharp, actually I think it turns sharper for some reason. Here's what level my truck sits at ...

12-02-2003, 11:18 AM	#12
Slonaker Insert Witty Text Here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,415	Nice pics, 78chevstepside! The interference problems you are having are exactly what I'm trying to avoid. I'll give up 1/2 inch to avoid shaving calipers and control arms. Does anyone else have any other vendors to suggest? I looked at the site for www.PerformanceSuspension.com. Their prices seem reasonable, so I'll give them a call. Sport Truck Direct doesn't seem to want my money, so I'll avoid them unless I just can't get what I want elsewhere. Has anyone bought the Summit brand spindles? I like dealing with them, but I don't want to buy their spindles unless they are Western Chassis. Will my 255/70/15 tires be okay on the front on Rally wheels with 2.5 inch spindles? Someone asked that this week on CT, but has not yet received a definite answer. Thanks for the replies. Slonaker __________________ '86 Chevy C10 (Sold 04/19/13 ) Stock '01 Silverado



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