4x4- 4 door flip questions -

[jroman]

hello all. picked up a 97 a week ago. 88k original mile truck been sitting a while but clean.
came with 16s and tires that were all cracked up- found some clist wheels and good tires- 20s for 230. purchased. did front brakes. put wheels on, turned down the stock torsion bar keys a bit.

want the truck lower. looked at lowering keys but saw a bunch of issues getting them out - so not sure its worth the pItA. for 100 keys- or spend 2 and get good spindles. read djm- might be the way to go- won't push wheels out.. my cheepo craigslist purchase was good to me on one end. 5 wheels and tires with good meat for cheep. but i dont like the way the front tires stick out - rears are good and will tuck if i lower. but the fronts- not so happy right now. but know with spindles id need bigger wheels so for now- they will do.

was under the truck this weekend checking things out. i was gonna put shackles i have in the garage on but didn't want the rear lower than the front.

so the question now- can i use 98 silverado flip kit instead of paying more for a 4x4 kit?
also- while under the truck, looks like getting the leaf spring off the side with the Gas Tank, might be hard.
dont look like theres a way to get the bolt out..
ill be flipping on the floor in my garage. how do you guys do it????
do i need to find the size of stock bolts and nuts and buy 6 new ones for each side and cut out the old?

appreciate any help - direction- pics that you guys can send my way.

j from jersey

 

[drakon543]

low miles but its still a 97 might be a pain in general to get those bolts out. whenever possible i dont mess around with suspension bolts and buy replacements ahead of time. bolts are cheap compared to finding out after you need them anyway or just the frustration of getting a bolt out.

 

[jroman]

low miles but its still a 97 might be a pain in general to get those bolts out. whenever possible i dont mess around with suspension bolts and buy replacements ahead of time. bolts are cheap compared to finding out after you need them anyway or just the frustration of getting a bolt out.

this sounds like a good idea. i was going to put shackles on the other day and it seemed the 2 on driver side rear, came off easy enough. but i know the one by the gas tank will be a pain.- any chance you know the size or where i can get that info-
just so i can grab extras in the event i need to cut it out when the time comes

 

[drakon543]

 

[jroman]

awesome. thanks

 

[jroman]

 

[hagar]

I used a 98 Silverado flip on my 99 Tahoe because it was half price and works the same. If you get a notch it's totally different, but the flip hardware worked perfectly for me. It's a 4x4 as well so it should work the same for you.

 

[jroman]

I used a 98 Silverado flip on my 99 Tahoe because it was half price and works the same. If you get a notch it's totally different, but the flip hardware worked perfectly for me. It's a 4x4 as well so it should work the same for you.

View attachment 224189

read that you did your drop with no notch-
anyone have info on how to do the notch? finally getting around to ordering or putting together a kit to lower my 4 door 4x4.

 

[Big Mama]

I don’t have that model rig but is the front sticking out further common? Almost looks like staggered wheel/tire set up but backwards.

 

[jroman]

you think thats possible?? i found on c list. super cheap with good tires. when i picked the truck up, tires where shot. so for 200 i jumped on these.
never thought that they make 20s in staggered fitment??

 

[PG01]

Thats just the track width of the truck... GM trucks have been like that for years.... fronts always stick out further than rears. Cant help you on the drop.... i have no clue

 

[Big Mama]

Also didn’t notice the wheel was turned a little. You can get staggered wheels in any size. spindles up front are the way to go. Maybe @iamdub or @PNW VietVet might have some insight about the rear.

 

[iamdub]

Definitely cut the bolt. On the assembly line at the factory, the leaf springs are put on the frame before the fuel tank is installed, that's how that bolt issue happens. Remove the nut and push the bolt in until it almost hits the tank but leave enough of the threaded part to grab and pull back through. Cut the shank just under the head, then pull the bolt out. Install the new bolt from the outside-in.

Trucks commonly have a wider front track to help with stability when turning at speed. But the difference in your front looks excessive. It could just be the pics and the wheels being turned a little. Them wheels definitely have less offset than the other ones or stock wheels, making them stick out more. Wait until you get the right wheels before lowering it.

 

[OR VietVet]

Have done a lot of suspension work over the years. Mostly stock work in shops but did belong to a 4x4 club at one time and dealt with lifted suspensions all the time on different rigs. If you are asking for help about the leaf spring bolts, cut the damn things out and install new. We always did. On a rig of that age the bolts are due for replacement anyways. We always put new bushings in and to get them out we used the torch to melt the rubber out and drive the sleeves out with an air hammer. It was quick and effective. IMO, lifting and lowering suspensions always caused the stock suspension and steering components to wear quicker. I like the stock height look and adjust the look with wheels and tires. Always go bigger and better with brakes. I am very old school and may not shed much light on this question of the OP.

Yes the front track width is wider on the GM's. Maybe others but have never owned or cared. I doubt the new wheels are offset on 2 of them at the front and narrower at the rear. The wheel offset is the same and the front width is wider. If you don't like that, spacers at the rear or a different offset at the front can change the "look" for you. I had a new 2 door 96 Tahoe when I moved to Oregon from KC, Mo. over 24 years ago. Wish I still had it and do look every day for another but so many times they are in too bad of shape for me.

 

[jroman]

thanks for replies
didn't think wheels were staggered. again. didn't ask or check. not a fan of the front poke. id like wheels even or under fenders.
think i may lower the pig. 43- lowered everything ive ever owned
just did my kids car. now kinda have an itch. wanna keep the truck- love squares. imma c 10 guy. lowered my old suburban a little.
think i need to find the right kit or put one tougher and then find stock wheels or something. not sure i can drop the truck with these. was a cheep buy quick.
need the right offset- or whatever it takes to keep wheels in the wells and be able to go lower.

flip kit.
do i need
c notch.
do i need.

anyone have a dyi on doing this.

would love a 6/7 or something close. what i didi to all the c 10s and abs ive had.

4x4- first one for me- ive seen they can get low. need to know if im ok to do this to mine and keep 4x or do i lose it?
read somewhere- you trade one for the other.

thanks again for replies

 

[Big Mama]

Do a search for lowering your rig there’s bound to be several write ups. The guys that chimed in know their stuff but you can reach out to Tony @NORCAL SS. Unsure about that low and 4WD on your rig.

 

[jroman]

thought i saw 4x lowered. guess ill keep looking.
thought spindles, shackles might be enough prob only be a 2-2 or 2-3 drop. but dont think ill be able to drive with the wheels i have now.
want to buy a kit. but if it won't work- guess ill wait.

 

[jroman]

i have been searching but find not actual diy or good write ups on a 4x4.
maybe i will order spindles- put the shackles on and see how it looks and rides. then debate on flipping or not.
love the look of these trucks lowered. will def need to find the right offset needed tho. dont want to lower it and have issues with these wheels sticking out.
thanks folks

 

[Big Mama]

Go with spindles. I believe you can use keys to go a little lower if you’d like. Contact Tony or call vendors like Belltech or McGaughys before you do anything and give them your tire size and what you want. They’ll have kits.

 

[jroman]

thanks for reply. ill look into spindles.

are there any lowered 4x4 on this site? is there a thread i can look at or ask people for opinions?
not sure if im missing it. there has to be a few guys out here that like a lowered truck. 4x4 or not

thanks again.