Front and Rear Suspension

[st1x10]

I was wanted to upgrade brakes and also need new joints on the front. Also will lower the truck at the same time. 3.5" front and 5" rear. Do I need shock relocators, adjustable track bar, and where should I get the stuff??

I was looking at http://www.p-s-t.com/truck/tvfekstd.html for their front end kit 63 -72. Then GMCPauls.com for drop spindles, 5 lug disc brakes, caliper, and springs. Looking at around $1200 for the full setup front and rear if I get adjustable track bar and shock relocators. Anybody use this stuff and if so how is it?

[st1x10]

Looking at http://www.performanceonline.com/sto...at=1076&page=1 It includes 73 and up ball joints and tie rods with adjusting sleeves for 50 more. It should save me money in the long run right? (Have a 73 and up spindle and ball joint)

[dave2953]

I don't know if those tie rod ends would work with your 70 centerlink. I think you'll probably need a booster, too, if you don't already have one. I haven't ever dealt with this company before so I can't offer anything in the way of their customer service, tech support, etc.

[st1x10]

ttt still need some help with this.

[BowTieOgre]

I bought my front 5 lug disc conversion kit with drop spindles from http://www.truckandcarshop.com for $600 and it came with rotors, calipers, all new ball joints, inner and outer tie rods and connecting sleeves. I also picked up a set of 2/4 springs and shocks for $350. You can also get shock mount relocators for $40 and an adjustable track bar for $60 (you might want to pop for ECEs super trac bar kit though).

All total it cost me $1050 for all of the above and I went ahead and got myself a front sway bar for $135 and while I was at it I picked up a new idler arm and pitman arm, with shipping I spent right at $1375 for everything.

Its too bad you dont live near Georgia, Truckandcarshop is coming to the Moultrie swap meet in two weeks and im sure you could score a deal for those parts and pay less than I did. They dont want to ship that stuff back home...its HEAVY! Im hoping to get some bumpers, window rubbers and maybe a wood bed kit while I am there.

Hope that helps.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by st1x10

ttt still need some help with this.

What kind of skills do you posess? If you can turn your own wrenches & fab you can do a disc-brake swap & drop for less than $1200.

You can purchase drop spindles for a 73-up 1/2 Med duty truck (w/1.25 rotors). Summit brand 2.5" spindles are less than 3-bills or do some searching. I found some recently for my buddy on e-bay..... 2.5" spindles shipped to my door for $125.

A wrecking yard will usually let a complete front end go for $100~150 including the a-arms, sway-bar, hydraulic brake-lines & prop valve (@ least in my area they go for that amount). Use many of the smaller BS parts (brackets & clips specific to disc brakes) & the rebuildable stuff is used as core deposits for the new stuff. The later model (73~80) trucks are more available in yards & the center-link + pitman/idlers will work w/the current steering box in your truck. By using the wrecking yard stuff, the truck isn't down until the actual parts swapping begins. You can rebuild the front a-arms w/fresh bushings & ball joints on the bench & then clean them up w/a fresh coat of color to make everything look good too.

Go to your local parts house & get the later model front end rebuild parts (or use one of the on-line suspension places or a board supporting vendor). I like the local source for 2 good reasons: just in case somethings not what it's supposed to be & it's easier for warranty stuff.

2.5" spindles + 1-coil cut from the stock front springs will net you about 5~5.5" of drop. Get some good off the shelf HD gas shocks & invest in some urethane sway bar bushings.

The rear is as simple as ordering some new drop coils & adding some lowering blocks. You don't have to mess w/shock relocators until you go more than 6" of drop (lowering blocks don't alter the distance between the shock mounts vs. a shorter spring). However..... the practical limit is 1.5" on lowering blocks when using 15" wheels because anything more & scrub line issues start (suspension or frame parts hang below the wheel/tire bead). Get an adjustable panhard bar to get the rear axle centered perfectly or take careful measurments & modify the original one (I cut them down on my first few trucks). 4" drop springs + 1.5" lowering blocks nets 5.5" of drop which can squeak by w/o having to add a c-section for axle clearance. Again, a good set of HD gas shocks works wonders (I like Bilsteins but Monroes or Gabriels get the job done for far less).

[st1x10]

I have all the tools and help I would need to do this. I was just wondering what others had done and how cheap and safe it would be? Thanks for the advice.

[Ram-Man]

I'm installling the performanceonline kit right now (complete front end rebuild kit). I am very impressed with the quality and fit of the parts.

[st1x10]

I like it. Which kit is that? I was looking at their stage 2 with new front 1" spring, rear "4 springs, shocks, sway bars, and adjustable track bar. And then their front disc brake spindle wheel kit deluxe with 2.5" spindle, rotors, calipers, ball joints, tie rods, bearing, and hoses. Then a 1" drop block for the back.

[Ram-Man]

It was the "disc brake conversion front end rebuild kit" with 2.5" drop spindels. Those are my stock springs I sandblasted.

[st1x10]

OO ok. Well thanks for the info I will probably go with them.