Drop kit
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 1,719
Likes: 1
From: Blue Ridge Mountains, GA
Mr. Wizard, Your truck looks great lowered. I was wondering if you lowered it yourself and if you have any problems with tire rub. We have the same size tires. I dropped mine 2" in back but will probably go 2"/4" when the warranty is up. Oh yeah, did you have to change the pinion angle of the rear axle. Thanks.
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'97 XLT Reg. Cab, 4.2V6, 5spd, Superchipped, K&N Air Filter, Lund Deflector, Dash Mat, MagnaFlow Muffler, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Edelbrock Shocks, Duraliner, Extang Saber Tonneau, Bell-Tech 2" Rear Drop, Amer. Rac. Atlas Wheels Clad in 275/60/17 Eagle GTII. Likes straightaways, loves twisties.
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'97 XLT Reg. Cab, 4.2V6, 5spd, Superchipped, K&N Air Filter, Lund Deflector, Dash Mat, MagnaFlow Muffler, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Edelbrock Shocks, Duraliner, Extang Saber Tonneau, Bell-Tech 2" Rear Drop, Amer. Rac. Atlas Wheels Clad in 275/60/17 Eagle GTII. Likes straightaways, loves twisties.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: California, USA
Frank S -
I did not do the work myself since I didn't really have all the proper tools needed to do the job right. My local Big O tire store took care of the jog in only four hours. I'm real picky when it comes to front end alignment and I told them I wanted it to be right on and in factory specifications. They did it.
The Belltech drop kit comes with shims that are placed on top of the axle housing under the leaf spring. This shim maintains the proper drive shaft angle. The tires do not rub under any circumstance that I've encountered so far. I don't think I will have any problems - I did a lot of measuring before I started the project.
I did not do the work myself since I didn't really have all the proper tools needed to do the job right. My local Big O tire store took care of the jog in only four hours. I'm real picky when it comes to front end alignment and I told them I wanted it to be right on and in factory specifications. They did it.
The Belltech drop kit comes with shims that are placed on top of the axle housing under the leaf spring. This shim maintains the proper drive shaft angle. The tires do not rub under any circumstance that I've encountered so far. I don't think I will have any problems - I did a lot of measuring before I started the project.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: California, USA
dmatlock-
I don't really have much information concerning the Ground Force kit. What I can tell you is that I test drove a truck that had the GF kit installed. I also took a close look at the installation and there did not appear to be any big differences between the GF and the Belltech kits. The ride of the two trucks was virtually the same. The rear hangers looked the same on both kits. In my area (California), the Belltech folks are located in Fresno, CA. so their kits are the ones that are the most readily available. I do think Belltech markets more kits and they have the bigger name.
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Black '97, SC with 4.6, automatic, 2-4 Belltech drop kit, SnugTop fiberglass lid, billet bumper grill, fog lights, American Racing 17x8 wheels with 275-60 Goodyear Eagle GT II tires.
I don't really have much information concerning the Ground Force kit. What I can tell you is that I test drove a truck that had the GF kit installed. I also took a close look at the installation and there did not appear to be any big differences between the GF and the Belltech kits. The ride of the two trucks was virtually the same. The rear hangers looked the same on both kits. In my area (California), the Belltech folks are located in Fresno, CA. so their kits are the ones that are the most readily available. I do think Belltech markets more kits and they have the bigger name.
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Black '97, SC with 4.6, automatic, 2-4 Belltech drop kit, SnugTop fiberglass lid, billet bumper grill, fog lights, American Racing 17x8 wheels with 275-60 Goodyear Eagle GT II tires.
Member
Joined: Jan 1999
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Arlington, Tx, usa
Do any of you that have a 4" drop on the back ever launch boats? How does it work? Last time I went to the lake the ramp I was on was a little shallow and I had to back the brake drums down into the water to get the jet ski's off. When I pulled up to the stop sign a block away I had trouble stropping...they locked-up, in front of a cop no less. I figured it was water that hadn't drained out of the drums. I guess lowering it wouldn't make any difference in this situation, but it would affect the bumper/exhaust/water height.
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'98 f150 STX 4.2l, 3.55, Busted @ss 5- speed, custom dual exhaust, K&N mods, clears, shackles, snuglid, Pioneer head, TS-A6813's, MTX 12" 3000's, Kenwood KAC-848...
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'98 f150 STX 4.2l, 3.55, Busted @ss 5- speed, custom dual exhaust, K&N mods, clears, shackles, snuglid, Pioneer head, TS-A6813's, MTX 12" 3000's, Kenwood KAC-848...
Registered User
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: California, USA
slickstx -
The receiver for the hitch ball on my truck is 9 inches above the pavement with nothing loaded in the truck. This is with a 2-4 drop kit. The actual drop was 4-1/2"in the rear. I usually back my truck into parking spaces and there have been times when I have bumped the receiver and wiring harness connector against the curb or whatever. With a trailer or boat hooked up to the receiver, I'm sure it will be even closer to the ground so ground clearance could become an issue. Since I don't tow anything, its really not a problem for me. It sounds like you will be towing so you'll want to check things out carefully.
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Black '97, SC with 4.6, 3.55 gears, automatic, 2-4 Belltech drop kit, SnugTop fiberglass lid, 3 chamber Flowmaster muffler, billet bumper grill, fog lights, American Racing 17x8 wheels with 275-60 Goodyear Eagle GT II tires.
The receiver for the hitch ball on my truck is 9 inches above the pavement with nothing loaded in the truck. This is with a 2-4 drop kit. The actual drop was 4-1/2"in the rear. I usually back my truck into parking spaces and there have been times when I have bumped the receiver and wiring harness connector against the curb or whatever. With a trailer or boat hooked up to the receiver, I'm sure it will be even closer to the ground so ground clearance could become an issue. Since I don't tow anything, its really not a problem for me. It sounds like you will be towing so you'll want to check things out carefully.
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Black '97, SC with 4.6, 3.55 gears, automatic, 2-4 Belltech drop kit, SnugTop fiberglass lid, 3 chamber Flowmaster muffler, billet bumper grill, fog lights, American Racing 17x8 wheels with 275-60 Goodyear Eagle GT II tires.