OK, before anybody says, "Oh, you don't wanna do thaaaaat", let me tell you, I am very pleased with the results so far.

As many of have done, I switched to the Belltech front springs and Nitroactive shocks in hopes of gaining a more aggressive stance up front.

While, I almost achieved the ride height that I was looking for, I still missed the firmness of the stock ride. I found the Belltech springs "soft" and allowed the truck to roll alot more than it did stock.

So, as an experiment, I had the original stock springs cut down to achieve almost same level as the Belltech springs. I actually went just a little lower. I had two(2) full rings removed.

After a couple of hours in the garage, I finally have the height that I originally wanted. I could always reinstall the Belltechs if I didn't like it, right?

But, how is it going to handle? I didn't want a bouncy front(yes, even though I have attended those types of shows in the past).

Oh, my God! I could not stop driving it. No bouncing, no tire rubbing, very little roll, just a performance-type ride. And, it drove straight as an arrow. Actually, better than it did stock.

I took railroad tracks, speed bumps(carefully) and normal contours of the Florida roads without any negative results.

While this scenario isn't for rural country roads or rough city streets, it will work well for my area here in Florida.

Now to find an alignment shop that doesn't run and lock the doors when I pull up.

I'll post pictures later.

 

Glad you got what you wanted. Pics will be nice.

 

Still have 1" left in the shackles....

 

Tampa - very nice, I never thought cut springs would work that well for both appearance and performance. And your right, that hieght is a little to low for most streets and rural areas. If NJ new how to actually pave roads and keep them smooth I would love that height.

 

Very nice looking truck! I had the rear of mine lowered and I thought mine looked nice. Good to see you have the fastest color!

 

Tampa
Please post a pic of the wheel gap in the front wheel well, I have the same bel tech kit and have encountered the same problems as you, most of all it doesnt sit as low as I want it too, how much more did 2 coils out of the stockers drop it than the bel tech, and does it hit the bumpstops as much? Sweet ride man!

 

Leen:

The additional drop measures 1" lower than the Belltech spring.
It's now 29.5" from the ground to the center of the wheelwell.

Wasn't able to make it hit the bumpstops on my excursion today.

I'm not one to take the "cheap" road(just look at my signature), but it only cost me $10.00 to have the springs cut. It was a cheap experiment that produced great results, IMO.

The original photos are on the Webshots site. You can get a closer look at the gap there.

Rich

 

Thanks, guess you know what i'll be doing this weekend

 

When I had my truck dropped by a local custom shop, that's what we did for the front suspension. Of course we did install new shocks (KYB) and there was some modification to the lower OEM A-arm. I lost my sheet of notes, but I think my front fender rides about the same height if not a tad lower than Tampa's.

Sweet truck though! I'm hoping mine looks that good once I get the rest of the mods done.

~rick

 

man, I wish I could lower my L, but here in VA you can't do ***** with your vehicle. I got pulled today and warned about my JDM windshield banner. I didn't know it was illegal!!!!!!!! They even haggle me now about the stock ride height and I have to tell them its stock. I hate this state. No headlight covers, no neon of any kind.

 

2_FAST4U - I know the windshield banners are borderline, but what is wrong with lowering a vehicle? If they are bugging you about the height, either you have a tone of ricers around that lowered and used ground affects and pissed the cops of and your getting put in the same group as them, or you yourself pissed of the cops.

 

Tampa, it sure sounds like a nice mod, but I'm not sure that it would be good in my area. What if I cut my belltech springs down a bit, cause now with the 20's and the 40 series tires I'm kinda higher then before. could they cut those style too?

Dude I would lower you truck and just tell the cops that its stock like that. How are they going to know any better! Its a speacial vehicle.

 

That'll work nice in Miami as well, though tropical storms could be an issue.
Thanks for the R & D, looks great!

 

Killa:

Cutting the BellTech springs was actually my first idea, but because the springs were so "soft", I imagined that they would allow the tires to rub by cutting a full two rings off to achieve the drop that I wanted.

If you want to sit just a little lower, maybe trim the springs by 1 ring if you think you'd still have the clearance. If you don't like the drop, I've got an extra set of BellTech springs....

The stock springs seem stiff enough to keep the tires clear of the fenderwheels under normal driving conditions and still give me the even lower stance.

I expected a much harsher ride by doing this, and was genuinely suprised with the results. This is not a good mod for everybody and with the 20" wheels and non-stock tires, all bets are off....

What kind of clearance (between the top of the tire and fenderwell) do you have now?

Rich

 

Did you try cutting the stock springs 1 coil first or go 2 coils all at once?I was wondering what the drop would be from cutting one coil in the front and adding the Belltech rear 2" shackle.Any thoughts?
P.S your trruck looks awesome!