2/4 Lowering kit help

[Effeckt]

I've been mulling around the idea of lowering my Tahoe finally. I have decided that a 2/3-4 drop is where I would want to go.

I have a couple of questions though - which type of kit should I go with? From what I've seen via searching it seems that the McGaughy's kit is the preferred kit.

Doing a quick search I found a price list on McGaughy's site and saw they offered 2/3 kit with or without shock extenders. I've seen these talked about but don't really know the advantages of having them or not. I assume it is for the ride softness but I would like to be educated on their purpose.

I've also seen mention in various places for helper bags with drop kits. Would I need these for a 2/3-4 drop?

Last question is what would I be looking at as far as cost for something like this and how difficult is it to put in/would I be able to install it on my own? I don't have a ton of cash so I wanted to know up front what I'm getting into so I can make sure I have enough to do this.

 

[chistoso]

Cheapest way to do it is with springs and shock relocators in the rear and keys in the front. It should take about 4 hrs tops to do with basic tools and I've seen a few kits like this for $200-250. You can go with spindles in the front instead of keys and lowering shocks instead of the shock relocators in the rear and this will bump you into the $400+ range depending. This is the best route IMO.
I just lowered a co-workers Z71 with keys I got from Max and a set of lowering rear coils and lowering shocks I got from members here, paid about $200 for everything and it came out looking and aligning really good. Took me the better part of 3 hrs to do.

I'm willing to give you a hand with the install if you decide to do it.

 

[Grocery Getter]

I've got a set of McGauhy's 5" coils I don't need anymore since I bagged my truck.... Hit me up if your interested....

I think I paid $350 for my deluxe kit spindles, keys, springs, axle relocators, and end links and another $100 for drop shocks... It took me and my brother in law 5-6hrs to do the install but we took our sweet ass time.....

 

[NORCAL SS]

i would just do

djm front springs
rear djm 3 inch springs
rear shock extenders

That would be the cheapest and I just did one on a customers truck over the weekend. Hes 72 years old and loves the ride. You can email him at [email protected] if you want and he will tell you the same. Most of my newer tahoe customers are older and they care more about ride quality and he is very happy with that set up above. He was also on a budget and wanted a different spring rate because stock was to spongy for him.

07 up is differnet front set up then 00-06 so you have no keys in front

 

[Effeckt]

Thanks for the advice so far everyone.

Cheapest way to do it is with springs and shock relocators in the rear and keys in the front. It should take about 4 hrs tops to do with basic tools and I've seen a few kits like this for $200-250. You can go with spindles in the front instead of keys and lowering shocks instead of the shock relocators in the rear and this will bump you into the $400+ range depending. This is the best route IMO.
I just lowered a co-workers Z71 with keys I got from Max and a set of lowering rear coils and lowering shocks I got from members here, paid about $200 for everything and it came out looking and aligning really good. Took me the better part of 3 hrs to do.

I'm willing to give you a hand with the install if you decide to do it.

Thanks for your input and offer to help Jerry. I will definitely hit you up if and when I end up going for it. I obviously like the price range of the first option but I'm sure I will like the ride much more of the second. I'm looking for future obviously so I know how much money I'll need so it gives me a good benchmark to shoot for before I go looking into pulling the trigger.

 

[gettinbigger08]

Jerry, can you PM me your email and phone number? I'm in PHX and could use your help with an install as well if you don't mind!

Thanks
Jason

 

[blueflamed03]

Ian, the kit Tony is mentioning is a great kit as well, being a vendor, you have easy access to get ahold of him for questions

Mine is 2/3 dropped as well.

 

[chistoso]

07 up is differnet front set up then 00-06 so you have no keys in front

I believe his Tahoe is a NBS. 00-06

 

[Modded]

Thinl Chis made a Typo, guess he meant 00-06 is a NBS

 

[chistoso]

Thinl Chis made a Typo, guess he meant 00-06 is a NBS

Exactly

 

[bauer4567]

OK, so this may seem like a stupid question to some, but with the spindles up front, it would make sense to me that the camber issues associated with spring lowering is eliminated. Is this correct? Also, what kind of kit in the back eliminates the camber issue. I am coming from an x5, and spindles for lowering was not something that they used for lowering, so it was always an issue of camber adjustment when lowering.

I guess my question is, if I went with the 2 - 3/4 kit with spindles in the front, and the belltech adjustable springs/shock extenders in the rear, this would take care of all the camber issues. I do have autoride. But i believe the spindle itself eliminates camber problems, and the shock extenders would essentially eliminate the camber problems in the rear? Is this correct!?

 

[Modded]

Your not going to have any alignment issues with a 2/4 kit front or back. The back of these SUVS cannot have alignment issues because the rear is a 4 link straight axle suspension setup.
Its the front that can have alignment issues, but with only 2" of drop in the front, you will be problem free.
ust get an alignment after install.

 

[NORCAL SS]

OK, so this may seem like a stupid question to some, but with the spindles up front, it would make sense to me that the camber issues associated with spring lowering is eliminated. Is this correct? Also, what kind of kit in the back eliminates the camber issue. I am coming from an x5, and spindles for lowering was not something that they used for lowering, so it was always an issue of camber adjustment when lowering.

I guess my question is, if I went with the 2 - 3/4 kit with spindles in the front, and the belltech adjustable springs/shock extenders in the rear, this would take care of all the camber issues. I do have autoride. But i believe the spindle itself eliminates camber problems, and the shock extenders would essentially eliminate the camber problems in the rear? Is this correct!?

here is the kit you need no camber problems no ride issues at all. you can call me also 24/7 if you have any questions I do these suvs a lot.

http://www.tbssowners.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=87

 

[bauer4567]

Thanks for the help. This may be my birthday present for myself

Anyone have a link for a step by step on installing the rear setup. The front I have read about, and feel confident in doing myself, but the rear I am not too sure of. Also, I have read through a few weird questions relating to the factory autoride system adjustment after the rear install. Does the kit shown above take care of this?

 

[NORCAL SS]

the rear is very easy and comes with instructions. I also shorten the rod lengths to get mroe rear drop if needed

 

[bauer4567]

One more favor. I see a lot of pictures of 3/4-5 drops on here, but can someone link me to a 2/3-4 drop. Preferably sitting on the stock denali wheels. TIA.

 

[NORCAL SS]

i posted the 3/4 yesterday on a customers truck. its in this section also.

 

[bauer4567]

I saw the 3/4. looks good. I know it is only an inch less, just curious to see the 2/3.

 

[NORCAL SS]

2/3

 

[benstillerfaggot69]

I have been wondering a bit about lowering myself. I have an 012 hoe, however i do alot of towing. Would this Belltech kit affect towing? Would I be better off with something like an airbag kit? What do you all think my best option would be? Sorry for unearthing this old thread. It had some good information in here.

TIA!