I just put some 17"x9" R/T rims with 275/40 tires on my 95 dakota and I want to lower my truck but I cant decide how low or what to use. I could drop it a couple inches in the back to level it out, 2" drop spindles and 3" drop in the back, or 2" drop spindles and 4" drop in the back. I dont want to be too low. Like the title says, help me decide. Also, I had to grind my control arms down some for my rt rims to clear so I am kinda worried about control arm clearance issues if I do the 2" drop spindles. I am new to all this.

Here is my truck


THANKS

 

That thing really needs some 50 or 55 series tires, those things are tiny!

Just from looking at the picture I'd say 2" front, 3" rear.

 

I agree with Hahns. Get rid of those tires and throw on some 255/50/17s. If you lower the front 2 inches you won't be able to turn with a 275 up front.

But I would also say lower the front 2" and the back 3" once you get the tire situation figured out.

 

The front tires are pretty much new and I just put new tires on the rear today so I am gonna run these tires for awhile. I am just getting into cars since I am 16 so I know nothing about tires. I just stuck with the size that was on the rims when I bought them.

 

I had to grind my control arms down alil for my rims to clear. Would I run into more control arm clearance issues if I did a 2" drop in the front with drop spindles?

 

I am leaning towards a 2/4 drop

 

Dont know much of anything about dropping vehicles, but I think those tires wont look so small once they are closer to the body.

Going to throw in my .02 on the styling...

If you are going with the street truck look, I would remove the fender flares. There is a dakota around my place with out them and I think it looks nice/clean where the flares seem to be more for a 4wd.
I like those rims much better and like i said, tires should be fine once its lowered.
roll pan in the back. I really like those on street trucks and they are rather inexpensive.
Dont know if they make a nice one for a 1gen, but get creative with a front valance and bumper. Go to a junk yard and see if you can make others fit to make it origional.
headlight/marker/tail light tint. Darken the appearance up a bit more.
paint trim to match body. Grill, front bumper & vallance, etc.

Not trying to tell you what to do, but I have thought it would be cool to have a street truck and thats where I would start.

 

id probly go with a 2/4 drop but i like the forward slant too old school hot rod look

 

i'm doing a 2/3 drop on my truck. here's a picture of my truck when i bought it:


now i have tint, took side moulding off, painted mirrors black, painted center caps, and other random little things. here's how she looks now:




and i plan to find a 2nd gen bumper and do this:

 

im a "put it in the weeds" guy

(i cant pull into or out of my own driveway without metal hitting asphalt, and its a sloped drive no curb)

a 2/4 drop might still leave your tires looking kinda small

i have a 60 series on 15"s and they looked absolutely puny at stock height
but 5" drop in the rear and 9+" in the front and they look chunky

if i were you i might start with the 2/4, maybe you'll like it, maybe you'll want to go lower.
try it and see