Author Topic: Best way to lower my DuallySuburban?? LONG  (Read 6839 times)

Offline DuallyBurb

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 13
  • Newbie
Best way to lower my DuallySuburban?? LONG
« on: January 26, 2015, 08:23:44 pm »
Alright guys. Here is what i got.  1977 C10 Subrban w/ a 13,000GCWR Trailering Special, 454/th400, 10bolt dana 70 dually rear-end. LT215,85,R16's.  Eventually it will have P30 19.5" 8 lug rims w/ tires all the way around. I would like to keep the towing capability as close to what it is as possible as i bought this truck to be my tow rig.

 What results do i want?  2/4 static drop preferably.  I have 7 leaves in the pack including the overload spring. 2.5 inch wide springs, hanger is 4" from center to center of bolts.  No rear sway bar. 2 piece drive shaft

I have NOOOO idea if the shackles and hangers are 1/2, 3/4, or 1 ton or something else.  Identification on those would help a lot as im not sure if i have 1/2 stuff from the leaf springs up and 1 ton stuff below that.

Yes, i know the front is a stock 5-lug...that will be changed over to 1ton spindles, rotors, and control arms, etc. But the questions i have for the front suspension part of the build is for another day.

I want to lower the rear end 4 inches max.  The 4inch max is due to several reasons. 1.) If i go more than 4 inches i will have clearance problems with the INSIDE of the OUTER tire hitting the inner fender lip under load or under normal suspension travel over bigger bumps (here in wisco there are A LOT of bumps).  2.) If i do a 5 inch axle flip, i will have only roughly 1/2" between the axle and the frame (with bump stop removed) and notching the frame isnt really an option i want to even consider. 

Now, why not just do a drop shackle and hanger kit?  I'm trying not to spend a bunch of money, and i really do not want to take out 30+ rivets...i got under the truck and doing it just looked like a complete nightmare.  Also, if i do a 2" drop hanger, i am within 1/2" of my fuel inlet hoses to my tank....picture #1, just to the right of the bushing eyelet where the main leaf starts...2.5 inches or so straight up from that are my fuel inlet hoses.....

I have called DJM, Bell Tech, Western Chassis, and Crown Suspension

-DJM did not even want to talk to me after i said "suburban".  It was like i was in a Harry Potter movie talking about "HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED" They literally did not even want to hear about what i was looking for or had...they simply said....We do not touch suburbans.
-BellTech-I could not get a hold of a real person at BellTech.  Left voicemails, and no return call.
-Western Chassis- Called, and they told me to send pictures. I sent a email with pictures to them, after not hearing from them for 3 weeks, i followed up with a return call...they said they possibly had something figured out and that they would call be back the following day...after a week or so of no call back, i touched base with them today and they told me they had nothing they would help me with. They referred me to Crown Suspension.
-Crown Suspension-Called them and Eric was very helpful...still in the early stages of contact with them. They said they have a 5" axle flip kit for a 1 ton dually rear

So, after hours and hours of research and soaking up knowledge on this board and around the web, this is what i'm thinking may work for a 4" drop. And please correct me if im wrong and give me your advice....cause i need it. 

----Do the 5 inch axle flip kit, and replace the stock hangers with a shorty hanger from DJM Part #SH1000 which has a 2.75" center to center length vs my 4" center to center length which would put me in the 3.75" drop range and give me roughly 2.5 inches from top of axle to frame with bump stop removed..

[/URL]










DAT :(!!




Offline 1979cheyenne

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 43
Re: Best way to lower my DuallySuburban?? LONG
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2015, 11:20:58 pm »
I don't know much about lowering truck but I'm learning myself. I've seen axle flip kits with spacers to go under axle to lower another 1" or so.  Is it possible the kit your looking at has that? maybe I have just seen people use spacers but it's an idea.

Offline LTZ C20

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3795
  • "I'm here for a good time" -George Strait
Re: Best way to lower my DuallySuburban?? LONG
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2015, 12:07:07 am »
No help here from me but I just wanted to say that your dually burb looks so awesome!! Nice truck!
LTZ Cheyenne C20

Offline Captkaos

  • OWNER and Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18458
    • http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com
Re: Best way to lower my DuallySuburban?? LONG
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2015, 01:09:49 pm »
If you do a flip kit you are going to lower the truck the total amount of the spring pack + the axle diameter which is going to be about 6".
Why not just put a shackle on it?
No one makes hanger for suburbans.  You could remove it in the front and raise it up some also.

Offline DuallyBurb

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 13
  • Newbie
Re: Best way to lower my DuallySuburban?? LONG
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2015, 04:03:12 pm »
If you do a flip kit you are going to lower the truck the total amount of the spring pack + the axle diameter which is going to be about 6".
Why not just put a shackle on it?
No one makes hanger for suburbans.  You could remove it in the front and raise it up some also.

-Regarding the shackle....are you saying just put a 4" drop shackle in the front?  Will a 4" drop shackle actually lower a suburban 4"....i'm under the impression that the suburbans already have a "lower" shackle than a c10 truck....so if a 4" drop shackle is based off a c10 truck shackle, would the actually amount lowered be 2" with my suburban?
-what are you referring to by, "you could remove it in the front and raise it up some also"....are you referring to putting a stock c10 truck shackle on to raise it 2", then using the flip kit in conjunction with the c10 truck shackle?  Which would give me 4" of drop??   Would that create pinion angle issues??

Offline Captkaos

  • OWNER and Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18458
    • http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com
Re: Best way to lower my DuallySuburban?? LONG
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2015, 01:48:39 pm »
A shackle goes on the back of the spring.
The hanger is at the front and the Suburban due to the frame is different than a pickup.  You could move it up to get it down some if you wanted.

Other options would reduce you load capacity, but you could put an air over leaf on it and then change springs.