Opinion on lowering my 01 Tahoe using front end keys

[Bomba02]

+1 on you saving your money and buying known good parts, and the fellows on here know a thing or two or which parts are the ones to use. I started off with a $250 kit of eBay and installed it and my truck drove like ass. So pretty much ended up with 250$ drop keys. From info on this site and from the guys I got the truck riding 95% better. Tony (NORCAL SS) info and prices are great. His customer service is great and he'll help in anyway just like the rest of the members. Like they said do it right the first time trust me. I wish I did that, my $250 could of gone to Djm LCA which I don't have (near future purchase). Id save up more money or buy some parts now and rest later. Not telling you what to do just been there giving my 2 cents. Good luck whichever way you go.
Billy.

 

[Austin196]

I've decided im just going to save my money and do it "the right way" the first time. It seems like the better way to go. If i go with a $250 kit then yeah i may have a truck that looks good. But when you ride in it you may need neck surgery. I think the best route is to wait. I'll probably go with Norcal SS Custom 4-5/ 5-6 drop. If im going to spend money i may as well get the best. The only problem with that is I need 18inch wheels to use that kit. I have 16inch.

 

[M Hankel]

You could always just get some keys and springs for now and upgrade as you go. You can combine the keys later on with whatever you decide (arms/spindles). The Belltech 5305 rear springs have dead coils and also come with a 1" spacer which means they are basically adjustable from a 4"-6.5" drop for the rear and they still ride great.

Just some more options for ya.

Mike

 

[Austin196]

You could always just get some keys and springs for now and upgrade as you go. You can combine the keys later on with whatever you decide (arms/spindles). The Belltech 5305 rear springs have dead coils and also come with a 1" spacer which means they are basically adjustable from a 4"-6.5" drop for the rear and they still ride great.

Just some more options for ya.

Mike

Can you link me to them? I was actually thinking of getting just keys and springs and then later upgrading.

 

[WHITEOUT]

I've decided im just going to save my money and do it "the right way" the first time. It seems like the better way to go. If i go with a $250 kit then yeah i may have a truck that looks good. But when you ride in it you may need neck surgery. I think the best route is to wait. I'll probably go with Norcal SS Custom 4-5/ 5-6 drop. If im going to spend money i may as well get the best. The only problem with that is I need 18inch wheels to use that kit. I have 16inch.

Be more like ass & back. Haha.

Hankel hit it. Get some keys and rear springs. Keys can ride decent if you work on it. Keys don't affect spring rate, but they do affect the LCA relation to jounce stop. And will end up crushing it, leaving a very stiff ride. Just gotta modify them, and will ride better. Can be cheap way to start. Then get some spindles or arms , and other components, down the road. Will at least get you started. And can always use the keys with whatever you plan on getting. What I would do if money was tight. Just get some good coils now, that way you won't need to upgrade or replace down the road. And can add spacers if too low for front now. Always options.

 

[Austin196]

Be more like ass & back. Haha.

Hankel hit it. Get some keys and rear springs. Keys can ride decent if you work on it. Keys don't affect spring rate, but they do affect the LCA relation to jounce stop. And will end up crushing it, leaving a very stiff ride. Just gotta modify them, and will ride better. Can be cheap way to start. Then get some spindles or arms , and other components, down the road. Will at least get you started. And can always use the keys with whatever you plan on getting. What I would do if money was tight. Just get some good coils now, that way you won't need to upgrade or replace down the road. And can add spacers if too low for front now. Always options.

I know im all over the place. I want my drop now, but i don't want to wait to save $1,000+. Makes much more sense to do it this way. I'm probably just going to get some springs and keys for now and eventually get spindles which will make it a much nicer ride. Can you recommend me some decent springs and keys that wont need to be replaced in the long run?

 

[NORCAL SS]

How low do you want to go? If you want keys for now with the belltech 3-4 rear kit with shock extenders i sell that for 345 shipped.

I also have a custom 3/5-6 kit which rides by far the best out of all the drop springs out there and ive tested them all which is why i made my own design
http://www.tbssowners.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=88


and one of the many customer feedback on the kit
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49997


any questions just ask.

 

[Austin196]

How low do you want to go? If you want keys for now with the belltech 3-4 rear kit with shock extenders i sell that for 345 shipped.

I also have a custom 3/5-6 kit which rides by far the best out of all the drop springs out there and ive tested them all which is why i made my own design
http://www.tbssowners.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=88


and one of the many customer feedback on the kit
http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=49997


any questions just ask.

I would love something along the lines of a 4/5 drop. But I really don't have the money as of now to get that and make it ride smooth. NathanJax has some 5 inch springs for sale for about $110. I think ill pick those up and use those for ny rear end. Correct me if im wrong, but for belltech 5inch spring I need shock extenders right? And if so do you sell them? Also what's the best way to lower my front end 2 to 3 inches without breaking the bank until I get some spindles?

 

[NORCAL SS]

front keys will do 2 inches and wont break the bank those are 95 shipped

in rear if you go 4 or more inches you will need to
1) cut off bumpstop bracket
2) get djm links/my nbumpstops (110) so swaybar doesnt hit panhard bar bracket
3) and I would get shock extenders

 

[Austin196]

front keys will do 2 inches and wont break the bank those are 95 shipped

in rear if you go 4 or more inches you will need to
1) cut off bumpstop bracket
2) get djm links/my nbumpstops (110) so swaybar doesnt hit panhard bar bracket
3) and I would get shock extenders

Okay, will the keys stiffen up my suspension and wear my tires unevenly? And not to sound stupid but what is djm links/ bumpstops?

 

[NORCAL SS]

Keys on the trucks i do if you go more than 1 inch then ride suffers thats why i say do spindles or the djm a arm since its adjustable 2-3 inches.

keys wont stiffen it up at 2 inches will just bounce more.

i have my bumpstops that attach to the top of the axle so when you cut the bracket off it wont ever be a metal to metal contact

and rear endlinks here
http://www.tbssowners.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=200

if your planning to lower it just save up your money and do it right the first time. keys and spindles will require many times a camber kit. That being said keys/camber kit/spindles your looking at 450 and your still left with stock shocks. For about the same price you can get the djm 2-3 inch arms and front belltech sp shocks which rides better then spindles with drop keys and aligns fine and you start with fresh shocks.

Got more questions just shoot em away at me lol

 

[Austin196]

Keys on the trucks i do if you go more than 1 inch then ride suffers thats why i say do spindles or the djm a arm since its adjustable 2-3 inches.

keys wont stiffen it up at 2 inches will just bounce more.

i have my bumpstops that attach to the top of the axle so when you cut the bracket off it wont ever be a metal to metal contact

and rear endlinks here
http://www.tbssowners.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=200

if your planning to lower it just save up your money and do it right the first time. keys and spindles will require many times a camber kit. That being said keys/camber kit/spindles your looking at 450 and your still left with stock shocks. For about the same price you can get the djm 2-3 inch arms and front belltech sp shocks which rides better then spindles with drop keys and aligns fine and you start with fresh shocks.

Got more questions just shoot em away at me lol

My first question is how low can i go with stock tires and rims? As for lowering, I don't know what i want to do but im pretty sure ill wait. I want my drop now, but it pays off in the long run to wait and get a good kit that will ride good and last longer. I may end up getting ur 3/5-6 lowering kit around Christmas time and then ill be set with what i want and a smooth ride. Now if i get this kit,

http://www.tbssowners.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=88

if i ever want to go lower with the front, can i just buy some 2'' drop spindles?

 

[NORCAL SS]

Like i tell local guys trucks I do and guys on here. I rather see someone save up for a few more months to get the right kit the first time around then piece something together and then say "man i should have just done this the first time right"

I learned this back in 1993 when I did my own Silverado. Did 3 inch springs in front and looked cool but rode like crap. I then replaced it with DJM spindles and 1 inch drop spring and was so much better. More travel and ever since then just learned my lesson becuse it took a long time for me to afford spindles/springs when I was still in high school working at a $6 dollar a hour job.

 

[Austin196]

Okay, that kit will work with stock tires and rims? Also if i want to drop the front more later on, can i just buy 2'' drop spindles?

 

[NORCAL SS]

Yes will work with stock 16s and yes you can do the spindles. I posted pics of the 5/6 on 26 inch rims on a customers truck not to long ago