Lowering 4WD Basics

[Whitsican]

I’ve got a ‘92 Chevy K1500 I’ve done some research collecting answers. She’s pretty level 6” wheel gap in the rear 6.5” wheel gap in the front. I’m wanting to lower her without having to notch the frame nor take extra unnecessary steps. From what I read I can probably lower it 4” front and back. I can either get a lowering torsion key or flip the stock one and drill press the dimple(saftey hazard?), simple. As for the rear can I get away with removing the block on the U bolt and installing drop shackles & leaf spring hanger and drop it 4” total? Or will I have to do an axle flip? Will this affect my overall drivability? What are other precautions I can take as far as new bump stops/suspension components? Open to opinions and thoughts.

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[Sean Buick 76]

Mines a beater but it’s basically what you are asking about. I lowered mine about 4” front and back, maybe 3.5” but I’m happy. I used drop shackles in the rear and a drop hanger in the front of the rear leaf springs. I didn’t have any blocks to remove but I did new u bolts. Up front I used lowering keys and shorter shocks. I can lower it 5” but that was too much so I went back to about a 3.5-4” drop.

I didn’t have any complications, no notching and no other mods needed just an alignment.

 

[Whitsican]

Mines a beater but it’s basically what you are asking about. I lowered mine about 4” front and back, maybe 3.5” but I’m happy. I used drop shackles in the rear and a drop hanger in the front of the rear leaf springs. I didn’t have any blocks to remove but I did new u bolts. Up front I used lowering keys and shorter shocks. I can lower it 5” but that was too much so I went back to about a 3.5-4” drop.

I didn’t have any complications, no notching and no other mods needed just an alignment.

As far as complications you haven’t noticed any premature wear on any components? Also any issues with the CV axle due to change of angle? Is there something you’d do differently with the drop?

 

[Sean Buick 76]

As far as complications you haven’t noticed any premature wear on any components? Also any issues with the CV axle due to change of angle? Is there something you’d do differently with the drop?

I didn’t put too many miles on it before I removed the engine to upgrade that however the CV angles are better than stock so I can’t see it being an issue. There is another guy on here who did the same thing and he’s put tens of thousands of miles on it without any issues.

 

[Sean Buick 76]

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[99xcss4]

not really my thing in fact I had asked in this thread https://www.gmt400.com/threads/lowering-a-4x4.65452/why why any one would want to do such a thing but maybe it can help you

 

[matt87]

Mines a beater but it’s basically what you are asking about. I lowered mine about 4” front and back, maybe 3.5” but I’m happy. I used drop shackles in the rear and a drop hanger in the front of the rear leaf springs. I didn’t have any blocks to remove but I did new u bolts. Up front I used lowering keys and shorter shocks. I can lower it 5” but that was too much so I went back to about a 3.5-4” drop.

I didn’t have any complications, no notching and no other mods needed just an alignment.

Can you share some more pics? What size wheel and tire are you running?

 

[Sean Buick 76]

Can you share some more pics? What size wheel and tire are you running?

Running 245/70R-16 tires with 16x8 wheels.

 

[Jimmy D]

Have you looked into dropped spindles? That would give you 2 or 3 inches then use the torsion keys to finish the front drop. Dropped hangers and shackles in the rear or lowered leaf springs are available. Of course a considerably reduced tire diameter will get you a couple of inches too.

 

[matt87]

Running 245/70R-16 tires with 16x8 wheels.

That looks great