(For those of you that complain about where certain posts should go, I am moving this from the suspension forum because no one responded - I did the same with my previous question about tires and got many responses in this forum, not in the wheel/ tire forum)


I have a 2001 SCrew and want to do a 2/4 drop. I have a few questions:

1) What kits are good and which ones should I avoid??

2) I need to replace my shocks - do I have to use "drop shocks" or can I use stock size with only the 2/4 drop??

3) For those of you that have done this, did you install it yourself or pay someone to do it and approx. how much was the install cost??

 

Hey LightningCrew, looks like your not getting much help here so I will pass on what I know. I have two trucks and one has the Ground Force 2x4 and the other is a Screw with a Bell Tech 3X4 drop. The Screw, I did my self with the help of my truck buddies and their tools. Of the two kits, I like the Bell Tech best because it had adjustable rear shackles which allowed me to set the height over the rear tires right where I wanted it. The front coil springs are a piece of cake to do. Of course you will require a front end alignment. The rear is where the work is! You have to cut the bradded hangers off which can take the bigger part of a day if you have never done it before. You will need to insert pinion shims under the springs in the rear, which will require a rear alignment as well. Yep a rear end alignment!
You will need to install drop shocks but if you check around, they usually come with a good kit. The ride on the Screw is almost factory and I pull a Flats Boat with no rear suspension bottoming. I forgot to mention that you will install smaller bump stops that usually come with the kit. I really like the Bell Tech 3X4 drop on the Screw. I travel with my 79 year old Mother-In-Law and she can climb right in the truck very easily.
I hope all of this info helps you to decide on your project. I will post a few pictures so that you can get an idea of what it will look like
Here is the Bell Tech 3X4:

And I forgot to mention that you will probably need to make a new parking brake bracket. Here is the one that I made and it works perfectly. Just bend an 1/8 inch piece of aluminum on a vice. The factory bracket is on the left.

Here is the latest picture with the new pipes and tails.

 

Flats Man - thank you very much for all of the info - your truck looks great!!

However, I am quite confused about the parking brake bracket. Where is this located and why do you have to modify it??

 

LightningCrew,
After lowering your truck the brake cables shift forward to the point that they will not fit in the stock bracket any longer. Most Guys tie them up and go with out a parking brake. Notice the distance on the stock bracket from the large hole at the bottom left and the bend in the bracket. Your Screw will need to have its bend about 2 3/4 inches forward of the center of the hole. It will be very obvious once you get into it. I think if you could get the Bell Tech and get it installed for around $850, That would be a fair price. You can make your bracket cause no one sells one, that I know of. It is possible that you might not need a bracket cause one of my friends had an extend cab and did not need one. Another friend had a 99 Lightning and he needed one identical to mine.

 

(off the topic) man both of your trucks look awsome!!!

Flats man Are Those lightning tails???

 

Thanks for the compliments. The tails are called Black Chrome and I got them on ebay. Check out the web site of my White 98 XLT at http://www.go-rila.com/kin/flatsman.htm

 

Well this thread fit best for a search of my question, but didn't contain everything.

Above mentions removing the front spring bracket but not much for details. Any one have any tips for removing the front bracket that is factory riveted onto the frame?

I have the front springs in, the rear shackles and am now looking at these front spring brackets. And I did the springs first thinking they would be the hardest...........boy was I wrong.