Author Topic: What lowering shocks?  (Read 18415 times)

Offline SinisterC10

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What lowering shocks?
« on: October 04, 2016, 05:55:11 PM »
This 81 c10 I just bought has been supposedly lowered 8" in the rear and 6" in the front. The previous owner did not know how it was done as he bought it like that.

I have the truck up on my lift and really can't say either. The axle is sitting on top of the leafs but I'm not sure if that's how they came from the factory. It also has a 10 bolt rear instead of the 12 bolt that's supposed to be in it. I guess 81' was the last year for the 12 bolt rear in these trucks?

The rear shocks are Monroe and seem to be a stock length shock according to the part number but they seem to be compressed almost all the way in.

I'm wondering what my best option for shocks would be on this truck? Should I just keep the stock style or buy a set for lowered vehicles? If the later which is a good brand to go with? I won't know much about the front until I pull the engine and do a front end rebuild this winter (new steering linkages, suspension bushings)



« Last Edit: October 04, 2016, 06:04:41 PM by SinisterC10 »

Offline boulky12

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2016, 06:20:15 PM »
You should definitely not keep the stock ones or your gonna be bottoming out on your shocks.

Check out Western Chassis DS2's. I used em on my last truck. They worked great.
86 Swb GMC, 2/2 drop, stock 305/350, Quadrajet, Dual Tanks, 3.08 gears, Rally wheels

Offline SinisterC10

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2016, 06:38:29 PM »
You should definitely not keep the stock ones or your gonna be bottoming out on your shocks.

Check out Western Chassis DS2's. I used em on my last truck. They worked great.

Will I need to relocate the bottom shock mounts?

Offline boulky12

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2016, 06:55:00 PM »
Nope
86 Swb GMC, 2/2 drop, stock 305/350, Quadrajet, Dual Tanks, 3.08 gears, Rally wheels

Offline SinisterC10

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2016, 06:59:16 PM »
Alright cool.

I swap the shocks out this winter when I rebuild the rear.

Offline boulky12

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2016, 07:30:36 PM »
Post some pics of the truck from the outside if you got any
86 Swb GMC, 2/2 drop, stock 305/350, Quadrajet, Dual Tanks, 3.08 gears, Rally wheels

Offline SinisterC10

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2016, 10:39:12 PM »
Post some pics of the truck from the outside if you got any

Outside? As in just side and rear views of the truck?

There is a rear view in my first thread up in the new member section. It's titled "Hello from WA"

I'll have to shoot some full side views tomorrow

Offline SinisterC10

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2016, 12:43:01 PM »
Post some pics of the truck from the outside if you got any

20" wheels


Offline MrFiveOh

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #8 on: October 05, 2016, 01:08:33 PM »
You should definitely not keep the stock ones or your gonna be bottoming out on your shocks.

Check out Western Chassis DS2's. I used em on my last truck. They worked great.

Will I need to relocate the bottom shock mounts?

You can verify by measuring from center spindle to bottom of wheel well. Factory is 19.5 inches. That is for both front and rear. You can keep factory shocks if you get the shock extenders, using shock extenders will actually improve the overall ride quality. Getting drop shocks and using them with factory shock location are not the correct angle and will not properly compress while driving down the road.
1974 C-10 AKA "Smurf"
350/700R4 Hooker Headers 134-A A/C
4/5 Drop - Ridler 650 rims 20x8.5/20x10
Kenwood single din radio 2 IB-Flat Pioneer Subwoofers Rockford Fosgate Power 1000-bdcp amp

Offline SinisterC10

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2016, 01:50:57 PM »
You should definitely not keep the stock ones or your gonna be bottoming out on your shocks.

Check out Western Chassis DS2's. I used em on my last truck. They worked great.

Will I need to relocate the bottom shock mounts?

You can verify by measuring from center spindle to bottom of wheel well. Factory is 19.5 inches. That is for both front and rear. You can keep factory shocks if you get the shock extenders, using shock extenders will actually improve the overall ride quality. Getting drop shocks and using them with factory shock location are not the correct angle and will not properly compress while driving down the road.

Ok. From the bottom of my fender lip to the center of the wheel is 14" in the rear and 15" in the front.

How do shock extenders attach?
« Last Edit: October 05, 2016, 01:53:12 PM by SinisterC10 »

Offline MrFiveOh

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #10 on: October 05, 2016, 02:15:53 PM »
http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/57f5515830d2c/Shorty%2007-2008%20%281%29%20%28Small%29.jpg?


It attaches to the factory mount

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk
1974 C-10 AKA "Smurf"
350/700R4 Hooker Headers 134-A A/C
4/5 Drop - Ridler 650 rims 20x8.5/20x10
Kenwood single din radio 2 IB-Flat Pioneer Subwoofers Rockford Fosgate Power 1000-bdcp amp

Offline MrFiveOh

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #11 on: October 05, 2016, 02:17:24 PM »
You should definitely not keep the stock ones or your gonna be bottoming out on your shocks.

Check out Western Chassis DS2's. I used em on my last truck. They worked great.

Will I need to relocate the bottom shock mounts?

You can verify by measuring from center spindle to bottom of wheel well. Factory is 19.5 inches. That is for both front and rear. You can keep factory shocks if you get the shock extenders, using shock extenders will actually improve the overall ride quality. Getting drop shocks and using them with factory shock location are not the correct angle and will not properly compress while driving down the road.

Ok. From the bottom of my fender lip to the center of the wheel is 14" in the rear and 15" in the front.

How do shock extenders attach?
Looks good though

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk
1974 C-10 AKA "Smurf"
350/700R4 Hooker Headers 134-A A/C
4/5 Drop - Ridler 650 rims 20x8.5/20x10
Kenwood single din radio 2 IB-Flat Pioneer Subwoofers Rockford Fosgate Power 1000-bdcp amp

Offline SinisterC10

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #12 on: October 05, 2016, 02:51:28 PM »
http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/57f5515830d2c/Shorty%2007-2008%20%281%29%20%28Small%29.jpg?


It attaches to the factory mount

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

heck heck, that makes it easy. Saves money on shocks too. NOW, what about the front? Can I get away with running a lowering shock in the front? I'm not sure if the fronts are stock height shocks or not. I can't see part numbers.

Offline MrFiveOh

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #13 on: October 05, 2016, 02:55:23 PM »
http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/57f5515830d2c/Shorty%2007-2008%20%281%29%20%28Small%29.jpg?


It attaches to the factory mount

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

heck heck, that makes it easy. Saves money on shocks too. NOW, what about the front? Can I get away with running a lowering shock in the front? I'm not sure if the fronts are stock height shocks or not. I can't see part numbers.
Yes, I would run a lowering shock. I have a 4inch drop in the front and am running belltech drop shocks. If you have anything lower than 3 inches a factory shock will bottom out

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk

1974 C-10 AKA "Smurf"
350/700R4 Hooker Headers 134-A A/C
4/5 Drop - Ridler 650 rims 20x8.5/20x10
Kenwood single din radio 2 IB-Flat Pioneer Subwoofers Rockford Fosgate Power 1000-bdcp amp

Offline BIG RED 1983

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Re: What lowering shocks?
« Reply #14 on: October 05, 2016, 07:38:43 PM »
I used Belltech's Nitro Drop 2's. They worked great.