73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Brakes, Frame, Steering & Suspension => The Lows (Lowering/Drops) => Topic started by: sgoody43 on April 10, 2008, 06:47:13 pm
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I just wanted to ask what could I expect if I take off 1 1/2 coils off my 1/2 ton 87. I have no money but I want to lower my truck the old style, cutting the front coils and taking some leaves off. so my question is. Is 3 inches safe to lower by taking off coils. and in the back 4 of 5 taking leaves off.. or what do some of you guys sugest. I just bought this truck so I have no budget , the truck is the budget.
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You will probly get a more formal reply from some of these guys but, i have had lowered trucks for a while and have a ton of friends with them. For the front coils, you will have to measure very precise to make sure they stay even and will privide a very bouncy ride(yet i understand the low budget)! For out in the back, i would not recomend taking all leafs but one out. For me no more than 2 leafs..... Shackles are really cheap to catch 2inches safely.....
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forgot to mention I have 6 leaves on my 87 . I like the idea of buying a 2 inch shackle and taking a leave or two off and taking a coil and a half off my front coil. I just want to know how much coils do I take off for 2 inches, one coil or 1 1/2. that is my main question
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Don't go more than 1.5 coils! As far as the rear goes shackles are probably your best bet since you won't be going too low.
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I agree with VileZambonie,
1 1/2 rounds is the most to cut up front..
I also know a little something about a tight budget.....
Keep asking questions around here, someone will give you good sound advice.
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You really don't want to lower one 3" with just coils and I third the opinion of not cutting more than 1.5 off..
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thanks for the advise guys I will definatly not go past the 1 1/2 coils. After reading on these forum I went to check my leaves and they are 56 inch across and there are 6 leaves so with that in mind what do you guys sugest for the rear. I just ordered a 2 inch shackle from ebay for $43 (on a budget but still want to keep the truck capabilities so removeing 3 leaves was out of the question.) Do you guys think the bottom 2 leavess and a 2 inch shackle will match the 1 1/2 coil choppng out in the front. buy the way I am getting more and more into this truck. At first I just wanted a truck and I scored on my 87 350 fuel injected 1/2 ton shortbed fleetside , but now I want to make it look better, but all I have to barter are parts that I have acumulated. Thanks for the advise guy and belive me more questions will come.
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If you are doing this on a budget, are you having to drive the truck? Reason I ask is if you can, I would lower the rear and then cut the front accordingly.
When I said I wouldn't cut more than 1.5 off, I meant at the max, so I would measure the truck first then take the spring and mark it at that point, cut both springs 1/2 coil, install it and DRIVE it, then see how it sits. Make a note of the amount of drop and then cut 1/4 coil at a time. This way you can fine tune the drop and not get too much. Remember, if you cut it off too much, you are out of luck. If you have a spare set of springs, you will be fine...
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what if I use spring compressos because my friend said he would give me a set, do you guys think they will work
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No. The only thing a spring compressor is good for is removing springs...
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what if I use spring compressos because my friend said he would give me a set, do you guys think they will work
Using the spring compressor as a lowering method to drive around on? I would think that would be dangerous and a accident waiting to happen! Just my .02cents!!!!!
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I can surely understand a budget project. My 87 is a long way off from being where I want it. And my low low budget is keeping that progress at an almost standstill. But, I would say, scrape a $150 and get a pair of drop spindles for the front. That way it won't take away from the front suspension at all. You can deal with it for a while but the bouncieness will get to you sooner or later. I plan on getting some spindles for my 87 and I feel like it will be a good investment.
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sorry for the bumd sugestion but you guys baled me out before I made the mustake of trying spring compressors, but some one at work told me that thats what they used. I now know for sure that I am going to cut one coil off the front and put a 2 inch shackle with only four leaves. How much do you guys think that will lower my truck?
I will save up later for the real 2 inch springs
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If you are doing this on a budget, are you having to drive the truck? Reason I ask is if you can, I would lower the rear and then cut the front accordingly.
When I said I wouldn't cut more than 1.5 off, I meant at the max, so I would measure the truck first then take the spring and mark it at that point, cut both springs 1/2 coil, install it and DRIVE it, then see how it sits. Make a note of the amount of drop and then cut 1/4 coil at a time. This way you can fine tune the drop and not get too much. Remember, if you cut it off too much, you are out of luck. If you have a spare set of springs, you will be fine...
Please follow this advise, it will save you time/money in the long run.
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ok guy I dit the shackles and I got as advertised 2 inches. So that put me at 32 inches from fender to ground. Then I went ahead and removed two leaves of leaving me with 4 leaves(from top to bottopm leave 1,2,3,5
took out leave 4 and 6. I got another 1 and a 1/2. Now I am at 30.5. Front is 31.5. One coil is 2 inches right just want to make sure. I do like a little rake so if the front is an inch lower I will be happy, even also but air bag look is a definate no no. >:(
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1 coil does Not necessarily equal 2". It depends on the spring. I would start at 1/2 and work my way down in 1/4ths...
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I lowered my truck once by removing the bow on the leaf springs.
The straighter the leaf springs, the lower it will drop.... i achieved a 3 and 1/2" drop by doing so. ;D
by the way - I got a very smooth ride after the drop.
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ok Guys I finally came around to doing the front. I took off a coil and a half and my truck came down about to about 28 inches from ground to fender. The truck lowered almost four inches. NO I have a dillema. the truck is raking too much. LIke I said before I have four leaves and the only thing I could do is take another leave off what do you guys think, is haveing three leaves safe.
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How many were in the pack originally? Depending on the amount of rake you have, I would just get a shackle kit.
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Is it hard to take the springs out? just wonderin cause i have some free time and i get bored and was gonna lower my front that way
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Why lower the front if you're not going to lower the rear? ???
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well the rear is lowered now so is the front hard?
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Is it hard? Well if you don't have tools then yes. If you have tools and a floor jack I think it's fairly easy.
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in my 3/4 ton leaf pack I had 12 leafs per side and i removed all but 5 and got just about 4" drop. turned out looking good with my cut coils up front
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ok took another leave and the truck now sits better. I also put some 18s on so tell me what you guys think
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To me, the tires look too small. That is a tough area on these trucks, (especially the back wheel well) that big up-over & down needs some tire to fill it up. Just my opinion again, to me it takes a about a 28" tire minimum to look right regardless of the height, unless it's a 4x4, then it takes a taller one pretty fast. Lorne
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what was the last leaf you took out? im going to do the same to my truck. how is the ride quality? cant you still hall things in the bed without it getting to low? thanks
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i have about $40 in my 8/8 drop kit. cut 1ton springs, made my flip kit out of axle perches i had, took the overload leaf out and added shackles. and put some monroe shocks on it i had sitting around. rides better than stock.
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i have about $40 in my 8/8 drop kit. cut 1ton springs, made my flip kit out of axle perches i had, took the overload leaf out and added shackles. and put some monroe shocks on it i had sitting around. rides better than stock.
8" drop by cutting coils? hows your camber doing?
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i have about $40 in my 8/8 drop kit. cut 1ton springs, made my flip kit out of axle perches i had, took the overload leaf out and added shackles. and put some monroe shocks on it i had sitting around. rides better than stock.
8" drop by cutting coils? hows your camber doing?
its not that good but its nor that bad. the truck maybe get drove a few time a month. those springs are in there till i get my lower control arms