Last minute tips before 5/8 drop [Archive] - FSC

lilkajun

08-16-2006, 10:00 AM

Well, I finally have all my parts to do my 5/8 drop. My present setup is a 3/5. I have 3" DJM coils up front, shackles/hangers and 1 leaf removed from rear w/ drop shocks. I just put on my new shoes (255/40-20 Yokohomas) and I am ready to install DJM 2" spindles up front and Hothkis 4" leaf springs with DJM c-notch in rear.

I think the back will be basic. Take off old leaf springs, cut frame and bolt in c-notch. Install new drop leaf springs w/ shims and shock extenders. Next, the front. Take off old spindles then put on new spindles.

Any suggestions or helpful tips on the install? This will be my first attempt at doing this. I am not stupid by any means, but just want to get it right the first time. Thanks...

98GMAJB

08-16-2006, 10:04 AM

I'm putting mine on tommorow and right now I have 3'' coils for the front and i'm putting the 2'' drop spindles and 5'' shocks. For the back I have 4'' hanger/shackle hanger combo. I bought a used stock hanger and i'm putting the stock one back on and i'm installing a flip kit and putting a Super-C notch, I also have airshocks for the back. I have my 255/35/20 on my truck so mine should sit a litttttttle lower than yours. Hope it all goes well!

Jroc

08-16-2006, 10:25 AM

do you need a cnotch with leafs? With the axle on the bottom still i dont see why you would need it, maybe i'm confused :confused:

Izzy

08-16-2006, 10:30 AM

With 8" of drop no matter how you do it you need a notch, even a standard bolt in notch may not be enough to not bottom out frequently.

Jroc

08-16-2006, 10:33 AM

my mistake, would u need it with only 6? sorry not trying to jack

lilkajun

08-16-2006, 10:40 AM

With 8" of drop no matter how you do it you need a notch, even a standard bolt in notch may not be enough to not bottom out frequently.

From what I gather from other members, the notch I have should be adequate (I hope). It is a DJM c-notch, and should be the biggest standard notch there is before stepping up to a super/monster c-notch. I understand I might bottom out every once and a while but I hope not all the time...

98GMAJB

08-16-2006, 10:43 AM

I got hte airshocks for if I ever needed to put something in my bed I could just put some PSI into them and be good. For you I would get helper bags if it ends up bottoming out all the time. The super-C that I have is supposed to give about another 2'' of clearance.

Slowhite

08-16-2006, 10:47 AM

are your tires going to be ok running 40 series?

Izzy

08-16-2006, 11:24 AM

are your tires going to be ok running 40 series?
The wife had 245/40/18's with 5/8 and it worked fine, the ride was another story.

Izzy

08-16-2006, 11:25 AM

From what I gather from other members, the notch I have should be adequate (I hope). It is a DJM c-notch, and should be the biggest standard notch there is before stepping up to a super/monster c-notch. I understand I might bottom out every once and a while but I hope not all the time...
Hopefully you're right, I know codeman had to take his DJM notch out with his 8" rear drop because it bottomed out on everything.

Kenduhl

08-16-2006, 11:31 AM

Hopefully you're right, I know codeman had to take his DJM notch out with his 8" rear drop because it bottomed out on everything.

i rolled a 5/8 with a DJM for like 8 months or so it didnt ride bad

Otto

08-16-2006, 11:32 AM

i thinik it will be easier to cut for the notch with the flip kit already installed. Finish the rear suspension up, then jack the rear up as far as it will go. mark, then cut and bolt up.

drpdshrty

08-16-2006, 11:36 AM

i did my c-notch after i had the flipkit installed and it was easier to line up where to cut. i just got some 2" shackles and im waiting on my air lift helper bags to also install.

Otto

08-16-2006, 12:03 PM

word. the axle moves back and forth as it travels. id suck to cut it a lil off and have the axle not fit center on the notch. with being so low, your going to need it to be exact.

lilkajun

08-16-2006, 01:15 PM

i thinik it will be easier to cut for the notch with the flip kit already installed. Finish the rear suspension up, then jack the rear up as far as it will go. mark, then cut and bolt up.

Thanks for the information, but I am not running a flip kit. I am using dropped leaf springs. The springs will stay on to of the axle.

So you are saying, still put on the new leaf springs and then do the c-notch would be easier??

lilkajun

08-16-2006, 03:09 PM

speedfreek

08-17-2006, 05:54 AM

So what size/brand of shocks are you using for the rear? I just blew the guts out of my driver side shock.:banghead:

CKTA

08-17-2006, 06:03 AM

Anybody has anything to add???

Not much to add, but you shoulda went back to stock leafs a flip-kit and shackles.

Drop leafs and hanger combo does'nt work to well IMHO.

Also you should get helper bags for a number of reasons, but being you have drop leafs/hanger combo you won't be able to fit them in there.

CKTA

08-17-2006, 06:05 AM

Hopefully you're right, I know codeman had to take his DJM notch out with his 8" rear drop because it bottomed out on everything.

His truck was all kinda hacked up w/ that static drop, the front was even worse. I roll 6/8 w/ no issues....and my home-made notch is only 1/4" "deeper" then a standard DJM notch.

lilkajun

08-17-2006, 01:49 PM

So what size/brand of shocks are you using for the rear? I just blew the guts out of my driver side shock.:banghead:

I am running Nitro Drop Shocks on all 4 corners...

lilkajun

08-17-2006, 01:52 PM

Not much to add, but you shoulda went back to stock leafs a flip-kit and shackles.

Drop leafs and hanger combo does'nt work to well IMHO.

Also you should get helper bags for a number of reasons, but being you have drop leafs/hanger combo you won't be able to fit them in there.

You are not the only person who has said that. Being I am a newbie when it comes to lowering trucks, what is better about the flip kit and shackles??

Otto

08-17-2006, 06:00 PM

it allows for better pinion angles. a flip kit is designed to be used alone or with drop shackles. drop leafes are the same. the only reason to use drop hangars is to aquire the 4inch drop used along with shackles.

and yes. finish up the drop, then cut for cnotch

Izzy

08-17-2006, 06:15 PM

His truck was all kinda hacked up w/ that static drop, the front was even worse. I roll 6/8 w/ no issues....and my home-made notch is only 1/4" "deeper" then a standard DJM notch.
The front was horrible I know since Jess had the same stuff. The back was 8" of drop with a good shock and it bottomed out a ton. Could have been partly to do with the hangers but it was 8" of drop no matter how you slice it. Hopefully this guy has better luck, either way I'd run helpers.

Otto

08-17-2006, 06:20 PM

His truck was all kinda hacked up w/ that static drop, the front was even worse. I roll 6/8 w/ no issues....and my home-made notch is only 1/4" "deeper" then a standard DJM notch.

may also do from you having more weight up front due to the 6inches. i know when my front end was higher, the back end bottomed out a lot. lowered the front two more and it stopped most of them and softened the bigger bumps

CKTA

08-18-2006, 04:37 AM

either way I'd run helpers.

:aniteef:
However, it will be hard (almost impossible) to do w/ leafs and hangers. The bag and brackets will have no room.

Izzy

08-18-2006, 04:41 AM

:aniteef:
However, it will be hard (almost impossible) to do w/ leafs and hangers. The bag and brackets will have no room.
There's that too, so he's basically fugged, right? :LOL:

CKTA

08-18-2006, 04:43 AM

There's that too, so he's basically fugged, right? :LOL:

Not yet, he did'nt install the stuff yet. I would sell off what he has and got to the stock leaf and flip/shackle set-up. It may cost you a little more, but it will be WAY worth it in the long run.:head: