lowering FAQ

[batman13]

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

[00dakota]

Also a fyi if you remove the lowest leaf thats not attached to the pack itl soften your ride with little affect on load capacity

[AmberFireDaK]

Originally Posted by batman13

leaf spring flip kits:
when your leafs are above the axle, a flip kit will allow you to mount the leafs below the axle.

Won't that lift the truck?


And where do hangers come into play?

[00dakota]

yup thatl lift yo shit

[batman13]

leafs over the axle are higher, mount them below and it will lower.
will fix the hanger thing after work

[djwolf37]

have you ever ridden in a Dakota with lowering leaf springs or one with shackles and hangers? I have never heard anyone say they like the ride of shackles and hangers. I have ridden in both types of suspensions setups, and leaf springs and even blocks ride better and are both way easier to install than shackles and hangers. but that's just my $.02

[TWEEKIN]

Originally Posted by djwolf37

have you ever ridden in a Dakota with lowering leaf springs or one with shackles and hangers? I have never heard anyone say they like the ride of shackles and hangers. I have ridden in both types of suspensions setups, and leaf springs and even blocks ride better and are both way easier to install than shackles and hangers. but that's just my $.02

as always jay i have to disagree, i have blocks and they are the worst ride ever and they almost caused me to crash the dakota. i think shackle and hanger kit would be better because if don right you still have the same suspesion as stock. now when i mean done right i mean you are using drop shocks made for your drop and your not on bump stops. all your doing is bringing the mounts higher so it's still stock just lower


oh and by the way ,for people

[AmberFireDaK]

Originally Posted by batman13

leafs over the axle are higher, mount them below and it will lower.
will fix the hanger thing after work

the axle will end up lower.....but the truck will sit higher, or I'm missing something

[TWEEKIN]

Originally Posted by AmberFireDaK

the axle will end up lower.....but the truck will sit higher, or I'm missing something

alot of you guys are missing it, i get it. on a 4x4 the leafs sit ontop of the axle, on a 2x4 the leafs hang from the axle......sooooooo. if you unbolt your leaf springs and run the under the axle and then bolt them back up .......kaboom ......your 4x4 is lowered ( or some mixed up 2x4 ).

if you don't get it know then i'm forced to have someone else post pics of a 2x4 leaf setup and a 4x4 leaf set up. i don't understand how you guys don't understand.

[TWEEKIN]

Originally Posted by AmberFireDaK

the axle will end up lower.....but the truck will sit higher, or I'm missing something

oh and also.......axle ......lower........wtf?... the axle can't go lower unless you run some small rims.