The Stupid Lowered Questions Thread

[e-fin]

Okay so hard part expenses have delayed my 20in wheels and have to use my stock 16in steelies temporarily. Doing a Belltech 3 inch spring and spindle drop and worried about backspacing and hitting control arms with stock wheels. Hate the grinding idea but I guess it really isn’t an area you see. Is it truly useless metal your removing or does it weaken anything? On eBay there’s simple 1/4in(12mm) 6 on 5.5 spacer plates for $20-30 bucks. Would these do the trick to get wheels back on it and get me to the alignment shop or am I better off grinding? Pretty sure wheel spacer plates or adapters are always a bad idea but it would be a very temporary solution.

 

[sewlow]

Both my trucks have had the LCA's trimmed. Over 20 years between the 2 of them.
For the first year, I kept an eye on the LCA's. No bending, no twisting nor cracking around the ball joints.
I drive my trucks pretty hard. Lots of nice twisty canyon roads around here to carve up.
If there's a weak spot in a vehicle's suspension/drivetrain, I'll usually find it, one way or another.
The trimmed LCA's are the last of my worries.

Don't have the pix of the trimmed LCA's on this computer, but I have posted them here many times.
Maybe someone that's saved them for their own ref could post 'em up.

 

[deadheadhowsen]

I recently purchased a 93 GMC Sierra. It has the shackle kit on the back. I believe both front and rear lowered shackles. I want to take this off and do a flip kit in the back.
Obviously, the rear shackle is no problem. But, the front shackle mount needs to be put back to stock? If so, how hard is that to do? Are their any other options?

Thank you,

 

[10mm Nut]

I recently purchased a 93 GMC Sierra. It has the shackle kit on the back. I believe both front and rear lowered shackles. I want to take this off and do a flip kit in the back.
Obviously, the rear shackle is no problem. But, the front shackle mount needs to be put back to stock? If so, how hard is that to do? Are their any other options?

Thank you,

Are your front spring hangers bolted to the frame ? Factory are riveted so if yours are still riveted then you obviously have stock front hangers. Bolted, you most likely have dropped hangers. Like you said the rear shackle is easy. If your front hangers are indeed lowered units and bolted to the framerails then replacing them with stock ones is an easy bolt on process. Just bolt the stock hangers to the framerails using the same bolts as the lowered units.

 

[sewlow]

Driver side hangar is a real PitA to get at. Gas tank! Easier with the box off or even just tilted up on that side so as to be able to get at the bolts from the top side of the frame.

 

[deadheadhowsen]

Are your front spring hangers bolted to the frame ? Factory are riveted so if yours are still riveted then you obviously have stock front hangers. Bolted, you most likely have dropped hangers. Like you said the rear shackle is easy. If your front hangers are indeed lowered units and bolted to the framerails then replacing them with stock ones is an easy bolt on process. Just bolt the stock hangers to the framerails using the same bolts as the lowered units.

Yes, the front mounts are currently bolted on. So, I guess Ill need to buy some stock mounts. Thanks for the help.

 

[duallburb]

Thought about it more and have gotten over the price. I really underestimated the hard part prices in my build. Knew this stuff wasn’t cheap but I was guessing that was cuz of labor cost and figured I’d be saving all that doing it myself and was surprised how much the parts actually are. Found a Moog front end rebuild kit for $396, center link be another $70, pitman an idler arm be another $150 if I needed it, not sure on idler bracket. Pretty sure all that has lifetime guarantee. It would be stupid to put urethane bushings on old sloppy parts. I still am curious what other brands are out there with good warranties.

mavotec parts have served me well and normaly offer an beefed up or stonger option as well if ur vehicle came in a 4x4 option. cheep on rock auto to dont use them for mutch but do like oardering name brands from them found no diferance from summit other than price.

 

[Ratmonster]

Hello all! I'm brand new to this scene and drive a 1999 C1500 Suburban. I've read (at DJM's website, I believe) that a 3" rear drop is about all you have room for without a C-notch. On various sites, I've found 3" lowering shackles, or the combo of 2" brackets and 1-2" shackles. I'd be happy to do the 3" shackles if that'll give me a useable 3" rear drop. I plan on combining this with 2" front lowering springs for a 2/3 drop. Does this sound correct and doable? If there a preference on the options for the rear? I'm running factory steelies with 235/75r15 AT tires - and will be for the foreseeable future. Thanks!

 

[618 Syndicate]

Hello all! I'm brand new to this scene and drive a 1999 C1500 Suburban. I've read (at DJM's website, I believe) that a 3" rear drop is about all you have room for without a C-notch. On various sites, I've found 3" lowering shackles, or the combo of 2" brackets and 1-2" shackles. I'd be happy to do the 3" shackles if that'll give me a useable 3" rear drop. I plan on combining this with 2" front lowering springs for a 2/3 drop. Does this sound correct and doable? If there a preference on the options for the rear? I'm running factory steelies with 235/75r15 AT tires - and will be for the foreseeable future. Thanks!

Shackles are easy, hangers are a *****.

 

[1badgmc]

Hello all! I'm brand new to this scene and drive a 1999 C1500 Suburban. I've read (at DJM's website, I believe) that a 3" rear drop is about all you have room for without a C-notch. On various sites, I've found 3" lowering shackles, or the combo of 2" brackets and 1-2" shackles. I'd be happy to do the 3" shackles if that'll give me a useable 3" rear drop. I plan on combining this with 2" front lowering springs for a 2/3 drop. Does this sound correct and doable? If there a preference on the options for the rear? I'm running factory steelies with 235/75r15 AT tires - and will be for the foreseeable future. Thanks!

3" shackles won't fit. 2" shackles have the rear end of the leaf spring literally touching the bottom of the cargo floor. I lowered my '98 with 2" shackles and 1" hangers. Combined with the 3" coils up front, it came out just right for what I was after.

And 618 Syndicate is right. Hangers are a *****.

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