I will be getting 18" chrome lightning rims for my truck and I am debating weather to lower it or not. My first intentions is not to lower my truck however I am concerned with the gap between the tire and the fender. Will the ride be better or will it have a bad ride if I lower my truck? I know a guy who works for a Ford dealership and he has a 2/4 lowering kit for $400. I do not how much lowering kits run. The description claimed to have a superior ride and handling. Another friend said that he lowered his lightning but did not like it after. What do you guys think? Any suggestions and pictures? Rims and tire information will be greatly appreciated. Just wanting to make the right decisions before buying.

Thanks,
Blake

 

The price for the kit is about right and maybe a little cheaper. Look at magazines like "Truckin" they have a lot of dealers that offer lowering kits. Plus you may see a picture of a truck similar to yours and you can see exactly what you want. If you are worried about ride harshness, then do not lower. Along with lowering comes stiffer springs and the ability to bottom out quicker. The only way around this is to check out an airbag setup at all four corners. Put in a triangulated rear suspension and air bags at all four corners to make you handle pretty well and ride extremely plush and you can adjust the height of the truck at all times.
If you do not use your truck for towing or anything, maybe the rousch system would work better for handling or the Hotchkis system if you need to keep your towing weight up. It all depends on what you want to do with your truck.
Hope that helps.
The more specific you are the better response you will get from everybody.

Brian

 

if you want to do a lightning screw, then no doubt about it lower it. At least do a mild drop with like 2" in the rear and 1 or 2" in the front. the ride won't suffer all that much, and the looks will be worth it. i felt zero ride difference with my 2" rear shackles. if you want to keep the same spring softness up front, then go with western chasis 2" drop lower Aarms so you can keep the stock springs

 

Just to give you some pics of wheel well spacing - I lowered the rear 2" - nothing to the front. Running 285/60/18 Falkens STZ01's.

Rear:


Front:


Note: These are old pics - due to the people who were so worried that I was "posing", the L badges are no longer on the truck.

 

02 L wheels, 295/45-18 rubber with 2/4 lowering.


BEFORE THE LOWERING

 

AFTER





The handling seems to be a lot better, and the sterring seems quicker. I can deffinatly take the curves at a higher rate of speed now. I'm going to get sway bars, so I would recomend it while doing the lowering, you will like them a lot.