Lowering 72 Chev 1/3

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Originally, I thought I needed to drop my truck 3/5 to get it level, but now that I look at this page at LMC, it appears I only need a 1/3. Should I still get spindles if I'm not going over 3" on the front? How much will lowering it effect the ride quality? Hard to install? I don't mind putting the spindles in but if the ride quality is basically going to be the same, I can't justify the additional cost or time. Also, since this is a mild drop, will I just need the springs or will I need lowering shocks? I know this is a lot of questions and I appreciate any replies.

[70c10]

Originally Posted by space_cowboy

Originally, I thought I needed to drop my truck 3/5 to get it level, but now that I look at this page at LMC, it appears I only need a 1/3. Should I still get spindles if I'm not going over 3" on the front? How much will lowering it effect the ride quality? Hard to install? I don't mind putting the spindles in but if the ride quality is basically going to be the same, I can't justify the additional cost or time. Also, since this is a mild drop, will I just need the springs or will I need lowering shocks? I know this is a lot of questions and I appreciate any replies.

There's a ton of variables here. It's possible your front springs are already dropped 1" if they are original. In that case just buy a set of rear springs!. Spindles will maintain better geometry for front end alignments but they cost more and are more work to install as you know. Those LMC pics are a rough guide only. My truck is about 4.75 front (2.5" spindles and 2.25-2.5" cut springs) and 4" rear springs (eventually will add a 1" block) and it does not look like those pics. If you go with a 2-3 drop in the front (spindles or springs), stock shocks should be fine. We recently spent 90 minutes to remove, cut and reinstall the front springs to lower it more. That also included installing new KYB Gas Adjust shocks I'm a big fan of cutting front springs rather than buying them. I have never noticed a difference in ride quality. Take your measurements right now and post your tire sizes and maybe pics and we can give you more opinions on which way to go. Also how is the truck driven?.

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Thanks for the reply Jim. I just drive it on the weekends. Forged 383 is almost ready I went ahead and ordered the new springs last week. I installed the rear springs Saturday, which only took about an hour. It definitely made a difference. I'm still waiting on the front bushings so those springs aren't installed yet. I'll post some pics in a bit.

[70c10]

If you decide you want to go lower on the rear, you can always buy lowering blocks in half inch increments, ie., .5", 1",1.5", 2".