2.5/4 drop

[JW76]

Hi, I am new to the forum and have a quick question. I have an 86 c10 pickup with stock suspension. I am looking to do a 2.5/4 drop with spindles in the front and shackles and hangers in the back. My rims are corvette style rally rims (front) 15x8 with 4 inch backspacing Goodyear Eagle GTIIs 245/60/15 (rear) 15x10 with 4.5 inch backspacing Goodyear Eagle GTIIs 295/55/15. Will I have any rubbing issues or any other complications to worry about. The truck has disk brakes in the front factory and drum in the rear. Thanks for your help

[protrash64]

I think you will be fine. The spindles are the place where you get problems. Its where the calipers mount to the spindle...little grinding will take of it if necessary.

[JW76]

The kit I am looking at is made by Western Chassis and is from Sport Truck Direct. Is Western a good brand? Also is $349 a good price for 2.5 drop spindles, shackles, and hangers?

[protrash64]

Sounds a little steep to me, does that include shipping? I think the 73-87 spindles are around 220 on CPP. Id look at Performance Online also.

Shackles and hangers are cheap....I dont see them being another 100+ dollars.

I also admit, I havent been shopping for thses parts lately, either.

[JW76]

Also, would it be better to skip the shackles and hangers and just get 4" lowering leaf springs. The springs I have on the truck now aren't the best and 1 sags a little more than the other. I have another set given to me and the person says they are good, but still they are used. Has anyone used the 4" drop leafs. If so, do they just bolt in to the factory shackles and hangers? Pricewise they are a lot more than the shackle and hanger kit too.

[protrash64]

Sounds like a good way to get 2 birds with 1 stone to me.......yeah, the leafs are just replaced. I did it to an S10 a while back. It wasnt hard but still took some wrestling around to get it done.

[JW76]

Thanks for your help. Do the lowering springs ride better, smoother, etc. Also, will a 4 inch lowering spring or shackle/hanger require a c-notch?

[protrash64]

Again, my 4" were on an S10, extended cab, with a fiberglass shell and it rode very nicely.

You will NOT require a notch because your axle will remain on the bottom of the spring in either case; assuming your truck is stock now.

Maybe a 73-87 guy could chime in on clearance....Im guessing. Get a measuring tape out there and check.

[JW76]

Thanks for all of your help. I am definitely going to go with the drop leafsprings like to you said since I will kill two birds with one stone. Also, I like the idea that I don't have to modify the hangers already on the frame. I will probably end up doing the front drop first and then the rear drop after, when my new differential is set up. Again, thanks for your all of your help

[JW76]

So, right now I want to get 2" drop leafs for the rear and use them with the stock hangers and shackles. I think this is a sufficient drop since my tires are wide and are pretty much even with the bedsides.

If I decided that I wanted to go an inch lower after-the-fact and bought drop shackles to use with the stock hangers would I still have to notch the bed? or do you only have to notch the bed when you do a hanger and shackle kit?

Thanks for your help.

[protrash64]

Back in the day, I had a 75 2wd Blazer. I put 5" lowering leafs on the rear and it would hit the bumpstops. I think 3" would be ok, but AGAIN.... put on your snowmobile suit and climb under the truck with a tape measure.