this is my truck with 2 inch belltech shackles
it looks like it didnt do much.i was gonna buy the 3/4
kit but it might be too low for my everyday driving
and i really dont wanna cut the factory hangers off.
i would add the 1inch front springs to do the 1/2 drop
but im afraid itll make the rear look even higher?
is there something in between ?

 

You could always lower the front and then throw some blocks in the rear to level it out

Well you've seen my truck, thats a almost true 1/2" drop. It's 1¼" front and 2" rear. So you can judge by that.

 

pete how many bricks per inch

can i add the hotchkis 2 inch leafs to my rear
with the bell tech shackles so i dont have to cut
the hangers off.?

if so then what springs for the front ,3inch?

 

Trash,

Here is my truck with a "2/3" drop........



3" (2 for the L) Belltech Coils- 4804
2" Hotchkis Leafs
1" Belltech Shackle


Things I've learned.....

Spring Rates

stock........650, 180

belltech coils, 1000
hotchkis coils, 950
hotchkis leafs, 300

With the Hotchkis Leafs you'll wear through your shocks in no time if you don't upgrade them. At least that is what happened to my Edlebrock IAS shocks, went through those in less then a year.

If you think you are going to take the Belltech 2" shackle and use the 1" hole, it won't work. They sell seperate 1" or 2" shackles, they share a common box. I tried.

Let me know if you have any questions, I learned the hard way by experimentation. We won't even mention the Eibach Coils.

 

For some reason those numbers seem a little high to me, I recall seeing lower numbers for both.


Anyway, since you are in the NJ/NY area, I really wouldn't recommend more then 2" in the front because of our wonderfull road system.

Do you want the truck level or do you want a rake look?


[edit]
I searched around and came up with 850 and 960 for the Hotchkis fronts, at the time of release people calling were getting different answers. Didn't see anything on Belltech.[/edit]

 

thanks 1fastlride
that drop looks great but my front bumper cover
wouldnt last a day in ny

pete , im looking for the raked look, i guess the hotchkis
1/2 is the way to go,i was lookin for something sorta
in the middle of like yours and 1fastlrides but i guess there
isnt any.is the shock and end link change necessary with the
1/2 or is the stock stuff ok?

 

Trash - next time I see you, give my L a drive. That way you can feel the Hotchkis spring/QA1 combo.

As for the endlinks, you can if you want. I highly doubt you will notice the difference though. You can buy front endlinks from PepBoy's for around $15, and if you can find someone to cut the rear ones and re-weld them together then I say do the endlinks. It won't hurt, but don't get your hopes up on thinking it's going to be a really noticable difference.

 

I recommend the So-Cal rear adjustable end links. I just got mine yesterday. Very nice pieces. Not only can you accommodate future changes in ride height, but you can also fine-tune the anti-sway action (I'm getting a little too much oversteer with a full Hotchkis setup).

 

do a hotchis leaf spring in the back and a western chasis lower control arm. the control arm is around 1.5 inch lower then stock, and the hotchis with the bell tech shackles will be pretty adjustable from a 3inch drop to a 1.5 inch drop.

p.s. what holes do you have the shackle on cause that drop shouuld be more then that. You should have the shackles on the last hole on the top of the shackle.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by captainoblivious
For some reason those numbers seem a little high to me, I recall seeing lower numbers for both.



High #'s

Nope they should be right on the money. Unless my (3) seperate calls to each Hotchkis and Belltech were wrong. I always call a few times, speak with different techs. to see if I get the same answer. I'm an engineer, what do you expect but varified data. Straight from the source is a lot more reliable then the internet.



I didn't directly say before but......... the Belltech's (4804) are a 2" drop were as the Hotchkis are supposed to be a 1". The lower you go the stiffer the spring you need, hence the 1000 vs 950. Hotchkis being more performance oriented.

 

Onelfastlride - thanks for the info. I was more concerned with the hotchkis springs. Like I said,in a post a long time ago one person posted Hotchkis told them 850 and another person posted they were told 960. After that I don't remember seeing anyone else repost and I had completely forget to follow up, until you made you post.

 

Pete,
did you get that 1 1/4 right off the bat or did it settle into that height later on?

 

If memory serves it settled about ¼"

 

Al - you going to get new sway bars too?

 

I just put the Ground Force 1"/2" drop on mine and I love the new look. Still has the rake. IMO the rear is not too high.