Lowering problems

madmikeismad

madmikeismad

So mad
Joined
Dec 19, 2009
Messages
14,347
Right now I've got a 3/1 drop. I want a little more. If I drop the front end 2 more inches, my pitman arm will hit the toe adjustment bar, and ill be riding on the bump stops.

I know I could notch the frame (don't really want to), but im wondering how people have avoided the pitman arm issue.

Also, someone brought up driveshaft and pinion angles. Wondering who has dropped a 4wd 5" in the front, and if the driveshaft was too short.

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Ok, let's make this easier....

Who's lowered a 4wd more than 3 inches?

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You can always cut down the bump stops but I understand your pitman arm woes. What about trac bar clearance to the diff housing. I remember that looking like the first point of contact more than anything.

Few years back (5-6years) I went to a car/truck show at stubs here in Houston. There was a shop that had a few trucks there, most were lifted but one was a 04 CR 4 door short bed. It had the stance of a 2wd but maintained the SFA. Course I wasn't really interested in lowing trucks at the time so I didn't pay much attention. Wish I could find that truck today.
 
If you have the time its easy to check for yourself. Take the front coils out, set the frame on jack stands and cycle the front axle up/down with a couple floor jacks.
 
I know of one that has had custom control arms (shorter) made to alleviate the clearance issues you speak about. Its one of the lowest 4x4's around, though not street driven.

(It has a Danco)
 
Red Sleeper said:
You can always cut down the bump stops but I understand your pitman arm woes. What about trac bar clearance to the diff housing. I remember that looking like the first point of contact more than anything.

Few years back (5-6years) I went to a car/truck show at stubs here in Houston. There was a shop that had a few trucks there, most were lifted but one was a 04 CR 4 door short bed. It had the stance of a 2wd but maintained the SFA. Course I wasn't really interested in lowing trucks at the time so I didn't pay much attention. Wish I could find that truck today.
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I figured out the pitman arm. It hit me last night when I was almost asleep. Basically im an idiot. I still have stock control arms, so lowering it pushed the axle forward into the pitman arm.

I modified my adjustable track bar by cutting it and welding it back together at an angle so that I can clear all the bars and the crossmember, and its now its adjustable up and down instead of just left/right. Diff isn't an issue at all, yet LOL

Amish Elegance said:
I know of one that has had custom control arms (shorter) made to alleviate the clearance issues you speak about. Its one of the lowest 4x4's around, though not street driven.

(It has a Danco)
Click to expand...

Know where a man could get custom length control arms? I used to know 2 different places, but they've disappeared. I may end up building my own.

If I drop 2 more inches, remove bump stops, and get shorter control arms, ill be over 5in drop in the front. Can't go lower than that without notching the frame, but I wouldn't clear the tires anyways so im not too worried about it.

BFD99 said:
2wd conversion mike! hahaha
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Hell no!

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Doesn't top gun customz do custom length control arms? I know someone else does them, but their name escapes me.
 
RickFox said:
Doesn't top gun customz do custom length control arms? I know someone else does them, but their name escapes me.
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They might, but I haven't seen them advertise them. But for now I found thorbros does them, so I think I might go with them.

Also, measured my control arms now, looks like 17.5" and 18.5". I think ill get them 1" shorter, and they're adjustable.

And my springs are 13" compressed right now, so im only 2" from my 2wd goal. Guess I can start running the shocks now lol.

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Edit: holy crap, I just realized I can use the top arms on the bottom, and then ill only need 2 new arms lol. Today just isn't my day.
 
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How did you lower the rear 3inches?
i got a 2wd and took out the adda leaf and got 2in drop shackels but I dont think it lowed it a full 2inches all together it lowered about 1 and 3/4 in hahah how can i drop back more without buying a full drop kit?
 
1995ford_kid said:
How did you lower the rear 3inches?
i got a 2wd and took out the adda leaf and got 2in drop shackels but I dont think it lowed it a full 2inches all together it lowered about 1 and 3/4 in hahah how can i drop back more without buying a full drop kit?
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I have a 4wd, so i just removed the block. And at the moment its only 1in drop in the rear. It would be 3 but I still have a shackle flip for 2.5 inch lift.

Also, you should know, that unless you drop both shackles, you'll only lower or lift it half the amount. Like I have only the rear leaf hangers flipped for 5in lift, but since the front hangers are still in stock setup, it only lifted me 2.5 inches. You might know that already, but just in case you didn't, now you do! LOL

If I wanted to, I could put the hangers back to stock, and remove my zero block, and put me at 4.5in drop in the rear, or whatever size the stock block is.

Also, on my 2wd, I just removed some leafs, and lowered it a ridiculous amount.
 
i only removed the adda leaf for now 2in drop hangers going in this weeken!
my buddy remover adda leaf and did 2in drop hangers only got 1 and 3/4 in drop?
 
madmikeismad said:
They might, but I haven't seen them advertise them. But for now I found thorbros does them, so I think I might go with them.

Also, measured my control arms now, looks like 17.5" and 18.5". I think ill get them 1" shorter, and they're adjustable.

And my springs are 13" compressed right now, so im only 2" from my 2wd goal. Guess I can start running the shocks now lol.

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Edit: holy crap, I just realized I can use the top arms on the bottom, and then ill only need 2 new arms lol. Today just isn't my day.
Click to expand...

Add a little more method to ya madness. What I'd do includes:

mathews8pt said:
If you have the time its easy to check for yourself. Take the front coils out, set the frame on jack stands and cycle the front axle up/down with a couple floor jacks.
Click to expand...

Start at current ride height, drop a plumb bob off the fender to the centerline of the wheel, tape it in place.

Using the coil removal suggestion above, set the truck at the desired height and drop another plumb bob. The distance between the two is how much shorter you'd need to go.

Make sure that in doing so you'll also clear the track bar (You'll need an adjustable one anyway to get the axle to center on the truck.) and the pitman arm/ drag link.

If moving the top arms down achieves this, great. I'd try it. Without the top arms in place and the top ones moved down, set the axle on jackstands and dial in your caster angle. Then measure center to center for the dimension of the top link. If swapping the OE top ones down works, I'd recommend boxing them to improve strength and switching to urethane bushings. You could use heim joints on the top.

$.02

Edit: While you're under there measuring the proposed changes, don't forget to measure the shocks. You're going to need shorter ones, I'm almost certain. Don't want your shock body to become your new bump stop.
 
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2" drop from here would put the arms from slightly below horizontal, to pretty much dead on horizontal. And the thorbros arms are adjustable, so no worries there. Ill put the stock top arms in the bottom, plate them for strength, and use the new tubulars in the top. My only clearance issues will be axle to the dropped part of the oil pan.

I already know ill be able to run 2wd springs, that was my goal, and im going to try to run 2wd shocks, just have to measure them out.

Thanks for the help so far!

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madmikeismad said:
Are you sure you removed an add a leaf and not the overload spring? lol
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I did the very top spring and bottom one as well....its the helper spring and bottom pack spring? if that makes sence? i have three left? i wanna say not sure exactly now im thinkin ima run out to my truck real quick!!
 
madmikeismad said:
Are you sure you removed an add a leaf and not the overload spring? lol
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YUP i have 3 leafs total left! could i take the smaller bottom one out and get any lower? Would i get wheel hop? if i do should i build some traction bars?
 
Ordered new upper arms, 1" shorter but adjustable just in case the caster adjustment doesn't have enough room.

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