Newbie needs help with lowering

[fightermatt]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the board and I had some questions about lowering my new 77 C10. This is my first project so when you see me screw something up, just let me know. My fist question is that I've heard people talk about backspacing, what is that, and my second question is that I've been looking at a 4-6 lowering kit, but I just came across a 5-5 kit for less money but my buddy told me that a 4-6 would be more street friendly because this is a daily driver. Any advice.

P.S. These are the only pics I have right now, I'll start a build thread once I get going.

[flamingbig10]

it depends on how bad your roads are I daily a 6-8
for wheel back spacing its how much space is behind the wheel the higher the number on back spacing the more the wheel sticks in the lower the number the more the wheel sticks out

[fightermatt]

I love your truck, that truck in your avatar is your daily driver, roads here not too bad but my driveway has a pretty sharp downward angle on the entry and a lot of parking lot entrances around here are really steep. To me it feels like if a 4 is ok in the front then a 5 really isn't that much worse but what do I know.

[3r!c84]

you need shorter tires tho

[fightermatt]

I know I need shorter tires they are 75s right now, I was thinking maybe a 50 or something.

[muthstryker]

I would do a 5/5 if I were you. Also, Backspace is the distance from the mounting pad to the back edge of the wheel. The best way to find out the backspacing of wheels is to lay the wheel face down, put a straight edge across it, and measure from the straight edge to the mounting pad.

As mentioned before, the more back spacing in the rear, it pulls the wheels in, and the less backspace pushes them out.

[nbpro]

nice truck tire size now is ? 235 x75 15 ?

[3r!c84]

heres mine with 235/75/15 5/6 drop front rubbed alot

[fightermatt]

Truck tire size now is 265 75 R15, I'll buy the tires when I buy the lowering kit and shocks. It's hard to decide because I see some trucks with a 4-6 that look as low or lower than other trucks with a 5-7 or whatever because of the different rim and tire choices people use. I can tell you I'd like the truck to be as low as possible but still be a good daily driver, and I will be using a 15 inch wheel with white letter tires.

[flamingbig10]

Originally Posted by fightermatt

I love your truck, that truck in your avatar is your daily driver, roads here not too bad but my driveway has a pretty sharp downward angle on the entry and a lot of parking lot entrances around here are really steep. To me it feels like if a 4 is ok in the front then a 5 really isn't that much worse but what do I know.

thanks, and my avatar pic is my daily well its my only vehicle, when my truck was 4-7 it rode much better and barley bottomed out, but now I do nearly high center it on most parking lot entrees with nearly any kind of angle, so I would go with a 4-6

[nbpro]

I would do any and everything else that I was going to do to the truck before I lowered, because sometimes they can be a pain in the butt to get under. And this is coming from experience. But anyways, good luck.

[fightermatt]

If flamingbig10 has had it both ways and recommends a 4-6 I guess I'll have to pony up the extra dough it'll cost to go an inch shorter, weird.

[3r!c84]

your going to need a cnotch if going with a 6inch drop in the rear

[fightermatt]

Yeah the kits come with the stuff to C-notch the frame, but I saw something the other day, people were talking about the chevy lean. Someone said belltech made spacers for the front springs. I think they are about an inch. I wonder if I went with the 5-5 for the cost and just put the spacers on to gain that inch back.