help getting a lowering kit

[Atreyu]

my friend just got a 2004 Silverado Extended Cab 1500 2wd. he wants to lower it using springs, spindles and upper arms. what companies make good lowering kits and where can i order online ?

[Mike]

how much drop is he wanting to get front/back? Right now you have 4in of front drop listed and none in the rear.

[Atreyu]

i dunno. he said he wants to replace the upper arms, coils and spindles. i have no idea what kinda drop he needs in the rear to level the truck. im into lifting not lowering. im just going to do the install and want to get him the best stuff possible. he has 18" rims with 40 series tires. not sure if that matters. im guess he can use a 5/7????????? is that right?

[Mike]

5/7 is gonna be super low.

[Atreyu]

ok. well maybe a 3/5 then ? can he use spindles, upper arms and coils to get that?

[LinuxNative]

Originally posted by Atreyu
ok. well maybe a 3/5 then ? can he use spindles, upper arms and coils to get that?

I would do either , or....not all. You can drop 3 in the front with just coils.

[Atreyu]

i told him he can use just coils but he said he wants to use spindles and upper arms and coils if possible so it replaces everything and rides super nice.

[BeastZ71]

Originally posted by Atreyu
i told him he can use just coils but he said he wants to use spindles and upper arms and coils if possible so it replaces everything and rides super nice.

you can get coils/spindles or just lower control arms and it will ride about the same as stock.

[Atreyu]

so when installing coils and spindles..... you dont need to replace the upper arm ? will it still align ?

[Mike]

it should still align fine with a 3-4 inch drop. no upper arm is needed.
this might help you some:
http://www.mcgaughys.com/99truck.html

[Atreyu]

is belltech good ?

[454ss]

Mcgaughys or DJM ...belltechs spindles are not good for a NBS truck.

[Mike]

what 454ss said

[Atreyu]

whats ground force ? he mentioned them to me.

[brock]

id personally go with djm...

[Atreyu]

i just got off the phone with him. he specifically want new upper arms, spindles, coils and lower arms (if needed). he doesnt want any stock suspension components.

[supermo26]

I wish I had the kind of money this guy has to spend. :D

[Atreyu]

Originally posted by supermo26
I wish I had the kind of money this guy has to spend. :D

cant be any more expensive than lifting the truck i assume. thats what he origioanlly wanted to do but his wife talked him out of it.

[BeastZ71]

Originally posted by Atreyu
i just got off the phone with him. he specifically want new upper arms, spindles, coils and lower arms (if needed). he doesnt want any stock suspension components.

why??? this guy obviously doesn't know anything about lowering kits if he is asking for all that stuff (most of which isnt needed). you can get a DJM 4/6 kit with LCAs, UCAs, and the flip kit out back for like $600-$700.

[Atreyu]

seems like so much of a hassle. ill try to convince him to lift the damn truck....... he said he read somewhere that the factory spindles are weak so thats why he wants to replace them. he said the upper arms wont allow him to align the kit after he put the new coils in. im just repeating what he says.

[BeastZ71]

Originally posted by Atreyu
seems like so much of a hassle. ill try to convince him to lift the damn truck....... he said he read somewhere that the factory spindles are weak so thats why he wants to replace them. he said the upper arms wont allow him to align the kit after he put the new coils in. im just repeating what he says.

yeah well tell him he is completely wrong. ive installed both lowering and lift kits... lowering kits are a lot easier. to be honest with you he doesnt know what he is talking about. the stock spindles are fine. you see them being used everyday with 4wd CST lift kits, dont you? i've never heard of problems with the stock spindles, ever.

as far as upper arms go, they arent even needed. i had a buddy who just ran the 4" lower arms and his alignment was perfect on one side and off by 0.1 degree on the other.

[Atreyu]

i dunno. ill talk to him more about it tonight. he is on his way over.

can he just get a 3" lowering spring and a 4" block for the rear ?

[blueice]

the rear takes either a drop leaf or shackles and hangers

[BeastZ71]

Originally posted by Atreyu
i dunno. ill talk to him more about it tonight. he is on his way over.

can he just get a 3" lowering spring and a 4" block for the rear ?

4" block? this isnt a lift kit bro.

get a flip kit that will flip the leaf springs under the axle and will drop the rear of the truck 6"

[2001RedChevy]

Front: 2" Coils + 2" LCAs or 2" LCAs + 2" UCAs
Back: Flipt kit = 6" or Shackles and Hangers = 4"
Or 3" Leaf springs + 2" Shackles for 5" drop in rear
There's combinations of things you can do, it just depends on what exact drop he wants to do and what ride he wants...

[Atreyu]

am i confused.....on my old S10 i had a few years back i installed a block. why cannot i do that on a fullsize?

[Mike]

the leafs are on top of the axle. adding a block between the leafs and the axle will raise it. s-10's have the leafs below the axle so it would lower it adding a block in there.

just ask your friend how low he wants the truck, and we'll tell you what parts he needs. There is absolutely no reason to switch every part out for new stuff, stock stuff is strong enough and will produce a better ride. The only reason he would need upper arms is if he is trying to lay the truck on the ground with some sort of variable suspension which would cause the upper arm to bind.

[Atreyu]

cant i just flip the axle? thats what i used to do when lifting an S10 to gain ride heigth. i assume it could work jsut the opposite to lower the rear. im not trying to be a pain guys. just gaining more info on the lowering scene. like i siad before. i only know lifting trucks.

[Mike]

yes you can flip the axle, it will give you a 6inch drop in the rear. You would need 4inch in the front to level it out.

[Atreyu]

thanks Mike

[LinuxNative]

I want to sell this guy his kit. He sounds like he has more money than brains.

( I have no brains AND no money :( )

[Atreyu]

ok. so what kind of kit can i use that has new upper arms, coils and spindles. and how much lowering will it give me ?

[BeastZ71]

Originally posted by Atreyu
ok. so what kind of kit can i use that has new upper arms, coils and spindles. and how much lowering will it give me ?

WHY??????? There is NO POINT to changing out all these parts. Anyone who does so is a FOOL.

[Atreyu]

i cannot sway him. he is still insiting.

[BeastZ71]

Originally posted by Atreyu
i cannot sway him. he is still insiting.

Then flat out refuse to help him. If he doesn't know sh!t about what he is talking about, he shouldn't be insisting anything.

[Mike]

www.mcgaughys.com has everything you need to lower his truck.
2in spindles, 2in coils, rear flip kit. therer is your 4/6 drop.
Give them a call, or have your friend call, and ask for everything you need for a 4/6 drop. They'll set you up with a quality kit.

[88donkeydoo]

i know very little about lowering kits as well but i do know that stock parts are plenty strong enough to handle anny load you put on them... thats y they put them on there in the first place... unless you are going to use airbags or hydrolics u dont need UCA or LCA