lowering FAQ
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Grand Champion
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,597
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From: N.Ridgeville, OH
lowering FAQ
Lowering FAQ
the "best" way to do a drop on a truck is to use lowering leaf spring shackles in conjunction with drop lower control arms in the front.
The Cheapest way is to use drop blocks and lowering springs in the front,
heres where confusion usually hits....
i'm going to attempt to clear things up for you.
for the rear;
cheap>
drop blocks:
steel or aluminum blocks installed between your leaf springs and axle to lower the frame, or lift if your axle is mounted above the axle in the first place.
[will create a rough ride, should not be used to drop more than 4"]
remove a leaf:
do it yourself, remove your leaf spring pack and remove one or 2 leafs to allow your truck to drop,
[will soften your ride but you will lose load capacity]
leaf spring flip kits:
when your leafs are above the axle, a flip kit will allow you to mount the leafs below the axle.
better>
lower leaf spring pack:
a replacement leaf spring pack that is designed to lower your truck
best>
lowering shackles:
moves the mounting position of your front and rear leaf spring mounts higher on the frame to lower the truck without adding parts.
[maintains factory ride quality]
to drop your truck more than 4" you will want to notch the frame to avoid allowing your axle to hit it on bumps.
to drop more than 6 inches, you're gonna need a step notch. period.
to drop more than 8 inches, you're gonna need air bags to get your frame off the ground.
for the front;
cheap>
cut coils:
modified springs that are shorter to lower your truck.
[more than 1-2 inches on an otherwise stock setup, will be difficult to get aligned properly, and ride roughly]
better>
drop springs:
new springs that lower your truck
[same warning as above]
best>
drop control arms:
new control arms that hold the spring lower to drop the truck even on stock springs.
[easily alignd because you will maintain factory geometery]
overall,
if you plan more than an inch or 2 of drop, plan on getting 4 new shocks
and if you touch the front, always get an alignment as soon as possible.
PM me with any questions/ additions, i will revise this as nessisary
the "best" way to do a drop on a truck is to use lowering leaf spring shackles in conjunction with drop lower control arms in the front.
The Cheapest way is to use drop blocks and lowering springs in the front,
heres where confusion usually hits....
i'm going to attempt to clear things up for you.
for the rear;
cheap>
drop blocks:
steel or aluminum blocks installed between your leaf springs and axle to lower the frame, or lift if your axle is mounted above the axle in the first place.
[will create a rough ride, should not be used to drop more than 4"]
remove a leaf:
do it yourself, remove your leaf spring pack and remove one or 2 leafs to allow your truck to drop,
[will soften your ride but you will lose load capacity]
leaf spring flip kits:
when your leafs are above the axle, a flip kit will allow you to mount the leafs below the axle.
better>
lower leaf spring pack:
a replacement leaf spring pack that is designed to lower your truck
best>
lowering shackles:
moves the mounting position of your front and rear leaf spring mounts higher on the frame to lower the truck without adding parts.
[maintains factory ride quality]
to drop your truck more than 4" you will want to notch the frame to avoid allowing your axle to hit it on bumps.
to drop more than 6 inches, you're gonna need a step notch. period.
to drop more than 8 inches, you're gonna need air bags to get your frame off the ground.
for the front;
cheap>
cut coils:
modified springs that are shorter to lower your truck.
[more than 1-2 inches on an otherwise stock setup, will be difficult to get aligned properly, and ride roughly]
better>
drop springs:
new springs that lower your truck
[same warning as above]
best>
drop control arms:
new control arms that hold the spring lower to drop the truck even on stock springs.
[easily alignd because you will maintain factory geometery]
overall,
if you plan more than an inch or 2 of drop, plan on getting 4 new shocks
and if you touch the front, always get an alignment as soon as possible.
PM me with any questions/ additions, i will revise this as nessisary
