Lowering the rear?

[TexasNomad]

Hey guys I'm sitting here sipping some Captain looking at my truck out the window and i've decided I don't like the stance of my truck, the rear (Bed) end is up a little to high and I would like to drop her about 3/ 3 1/2'' in the back.
What would be the easiest and cheapest way of doing this?
Thanks

 

[Skandocious]

3 - 3.5 inches?! You sure you want that much? It doesn't sound like much but it adds up quick. My front end is lifted 4" and my rear is lifted on 2.5" and yet I can stuff 33-35" tires. You'd probably wanna look more near something like 2", depending on just exactly how raked your truck is right now. If you go too much then it'll start looking like a baja truck

Now I don't know much about lowering trucks but I've heard that on some vehicles you can relocate the rear springs underneath the axle as opposed to being on top. I don't know if this is possible on all vehicles but I feel like it would probably be the cheapest route if it's possible.That being said... Common sense tells me that a lowering like that will probably yield in excess of 3" but I have no idea.

 

[Jolly Green]

Easiest, cheapest way? Throw a half ton of cinder blocks in the bed! You'll get better traction too!

 

[smokey]

Sand is cheaper than cinder blocks.
Different rear springs is about you only option

 

[O'Rattlecan]

are they new springs or something, tex? That's a lot of 'rake' for an old truck.

Ryan

 

[lil_dq]

Take the block out if there is one under the spring pack. IDK if your axle is under the spring or over though.

 

[TexasRho83]

Not sure if I've seen an older rig like these have spring under axle suspensions...

 

[LEB Kris]

none Ive ever seen.

removing the block (if there is one) would be the easiest. Otherwise maybe taking the 3/4 leaf out or drop shackles.

 

[tomtoc]

is it any easier/cheaper to raise the front? not the look you want?

 

[TexasRho83]

is it any easier/cheaper to raise the front? not the look you want?

Good point, Tomtoc. Tex, might be worth your time to raise the front instead of lower the rear... try a stiffer spring swap? Or if you really want a dirt cheap 'lift' there are those little twisty things you can wedge in between the coils to decrease spring slouch. I tried em once on a '76 I had and didn't notice much of a difference but some people have.

 

[LEB Kris]

I like trucks that sit low on the tires. Ive never understood why people lift the truck to the sky and use small tires. Id go the lowering the rear route vs the lifting the front....but thats just me.

 

[TexasRho83]

I like trucks that sit low on the tires. Ive never understood why people lift the truck to the sky and use small tires. Id go the lowering the rear route vs the lifting the front....but thats just me.

You'd have liked my other SC then. It was pretty much the same as I've got now except that I had 4" of susp. lift on 36" ...never rubbed but there's no way I would've been able to fit a taller tire. Later, I added 3" of body lift with the intention of throwing 38s on but never did.

 

[TexasNomad]

3 - 3.5 inches?! You sure you want that much? It doesn't sound like much but it adds up quick. My front end is lifted 4" and my rear is lifted on 2.5" and yet I can stuff 33-35" tires. You'd probably wanna look more near something like 2", depending on just exactly how raked your truck is right now. If you go too much then it'll start looking like a baja truck

Now I don't know much about lowering trucks but I've heard that on some vehicles you can relocate the rear springs underneath the axle as opposed to being on top. I don't know if this is possible on all vehicles but I feel like it would probably be the cheapest route if it's possible.That being said... Common sense tells me that a lowering like that will probably yield in excess of 3" but I have no idea.

are they new springs or something, tex? That's a lot of 'rake' for an old truck.

Ryan

From the top of the tire to the wheel well I have 4'' of empty space and i'm talking about the out side edge of the wheel well not the inside..
My truck rides high in the back.

 

[TexasNomad]

is it any easier/cheaper to raise the front? not the look you want?

Good point, Tomtoc. Tex, might be worth your time to raise the front instead of lower the rear... try a stiffer spring swap? Or if you really want a dirt cheap 'lift' there are those little twisty things you can wedge in between the coils to decrease spring slouch. I tried em once on a '76 I had and didn't notice much of a difference but some people have.

No way that I know of, the front end sits low on the tires, and from looking it, it looks like the front tires fill the wheel well perfectly, but the back end looks like I'm running small tires and i'm not.

 

[LEB Kris]

You'd have liked my other SC then. It was pretty much the same as I've got now except that I had 4" of susp. lift on 36" ...never rubbed but there's no way I would've been able to fit a taller tire. Later, I added 3" of body lift with the intention of throwing 38s on but never did.

39.5s on 4" of lift now.

 

[LEB Paul]

Longer shackles, spring under (cut and reweld spring perches), moving the hangers up on the frame if there's any room, getting rid of a block if there is one, different springs would be $$. About all I can think of. You'll probably need to either get new shocks or relocated the mounts if you drop too far. Possibly shorten drive shaft depending on where your slip yoke sits now.

ps bronco down there \/ is 4" with 36's, I may have cut a little bit of the fender out though

 

[LEB Kris]

ps bronco down there \/ is 4" with 36's, I may have cut a little bit of the rust out though

fixed it



That just means you have room when you move up to big boy tires.

 

[LEB Paul]

Yeah but they damn near stuff in the fenders when I flex it out now. You ready to sell me your tires yet?

 

[LEB Kris]

I guess youre too flexy. Bulldozer springs FTW.


not yet, they are just leaning on the shop probably dry rotting though.

 

[LEB Paul]

I'll give them a good home