For a weekend cruiser on 20's the FRPP kit is the best value/option.

 

Local guy around here can do the belltech 2" front and 3" rear w/o shocks for 600, any clearance issues with this on 295/40/20?

 

Lot of people have used this setup, but it would not be my first choice. If you drop more than an inch or so in the front with a spring or control arm drop, you will end up blowing out the stock shocks. The bump steer also gets worse the more you drop. Finally, the Belltech springs are of unknown rate and quality. A common mistake made by many in these parts is increasing the front spring rate. Considering that our trucks already understeer like a pig, that's a bad move. If anything, it's the rear rate that needs to be increased.

Unless you go stupid low in the front, there will be no wheel clearance issues with any drop kit with 295/40-20s.

 

Ah ok, the guys telling me that if I do the 2" spindles in front and 3" shackles in back and leave my stock shocks I should be fine, and if i later want to replace the shocks i have the option. Keep in mind my stock shocks are practically new, only 7,500 miles.

 

Man...all I have to add to this is Tim and Pitstain know their ***** when it comes to suspensions. I have read this board for a few years now and they always have spot-on advice and information. I would say your local guy is a dummy!


...but that's just my .02

 

3/3 drop


3/5 drop


my current 3/4 setup w/ 255-65-16


same 3/4 just lowered off of lift with new tires, springs hadnt settled back down fully

 

The spindle in the front advice is correct. They maintain the stock springs and control arm travel, so the front suspension will work the same as stock.

On the rear, you would need SoCal or Belltech shock extenders to avoid damaging the shocks. That's only a $50 expense, though.

The spindle/shackle combo would be fine, and does a better job of handling bump steer than the FRPP kit. It just costs a little more in parts and labor.

 

Thanks guys,

I end up going with the belltech spindle/shackle drop with the shock extenders. Getting installed in about 1-2 weeks,then off to Krown, then hooking up some new rubbers and im done(for now) sweet!

 

dude don't trust the shocks....i got the bilsteins and my ride is ROUGH....

then again it COULD be the traction bars and bigger sway bars... but i don think it is

 

You have a "3/4" drop, right? Then there is no way that the Bilsteins are operating in their proper range. Can't blame Bilstein for that. As a matter of fact, I'll bet you have bottomed them out and destroyed the innards.

With a spindle drop in front, and a mild drop and extenders in the rear, the Bilsteins will work the same as stock -- which is to say very well.

 

I hope your right Tim, cuz thats the route I have gone, I guess I will find out in a couple weeks.

 

I'm guessing you aren't shooting for a serious road handling/autocross drop. If this is the case, the Belltech 2/2 drop (springs and shackles) will leave you with a nice rake. Here are some pictures of mine with 18's and 22's for reference.















You would probably have about the same stance with what JDM suggested to you.

 

No. You could do that.

 

what was the shock that beltech offered with their kit about 3 years that was considered the "performance" shock... wasnt it the bilstein? or was it the nitro active? in my taste it wasn't worth a damn

 

AFAIK, Belltech has never offered Bilsteins. And most have reported the Belltech shocks to be junk.

Belltech is a curious company. Some products they make are awesome (e.g., its 97-03 C-notch). Some products are poorly engineered (e.g., its 97-03 spindles). And then some are just junk.