Anybody lower a 4WD?

[mikez71]

I'm considering lowering my z71.. Possibly to stock height, or PPV height, maybe a tiny bit lower. Not slammed.

Any recommendations for springs?
I've heard PPV springs don't ride well? (Anybody have some forsale?)
Do drop knuckles work on 4WD?

Should I have purchased 2WD front struts instead of 4WD struts? (KYB monomax)
I notice the monomax 4wd struts have an extra coil compared to my z71 springs.

 

[Marky Dissod]

How To: Body Drop

These are the tools you will need: Grinder with a cutting wheel Large screw driver Ratchet with extensions Torque wrench 18mm socket 15mm wrench Grease (optional) Jack Wood (2x4 or any relatively good sized piece) Loctite Shorter M12x1.75 bolts if you don't want the stock longer...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

Biggest reason why PPVs don't ride as well is 265/60R17 instead of 265/70R17. More sidewall meat IS road cushion. Schidt, about to go from 18" to 17" wheels myself.
Choose your tires and shocks well, and they'll handle your spring choice nicely. (My Bilstein 4600s ride TOO well, I need more control ...)

 

[mikez71]

Neat! And I think my body mounts might be making noise..
When I go over curbs at an angle, I get a thunk that sounds like a loose window.

Sounds like the S10 mount is a little stiffer, but a good way to get a little lower without tweaking your suspension.

I got cop tires coming Just need cop suspension and a 440..

 

[Marky Dissod]

Neat! And I think my body mounts might be making noise.
When I go over curbs at an angle, I get a thunk that sounds like a loose window.

Likely this is just a loose window, or maybe I'm just saying this because I know something is loose in my passenger front door;
the difference between shutting the door with the window down vs the window up is gratingly evident.

Sounds like the S10 mount is a little stiffer, but a good way to get a little lower without tweaking your suspension.

I do wonder if the S10 XTREME! had slightly different body mounts ...

I got cop tires coming Just need cop suspension and a 440 ...

After my 1st two Dodge Intrepids ES 3.5L, three Caprice-9C1-LT1 sedans,
then a Fleetwood that I upgraded with 9C1 springs shocks & swaybars,
then a Caprice wagon with 9C1-inspired suspension ...

L77-ish 6.0L ... 4.10 ... PPV inspired suspension, lower than Z71, taller than PPV ...

 

[PG01]

No, no lowering of 4wd and if you do Im coming to your house, stealing it and leaving it in NYC with the keys in the ignition

 

[PG01]

Neat! And I think my body mounts might be making noise..
When I go over curbs at an angle, I get a thunk that sounds like a loose window.

Sounds like the S10 mount is a little stiffer, but a good way to get a little lower without tweaking your suspension.

I got cop tires coming Just need cop suspension and a 440..

1/2 pack cigarettes too..

 

[Fless]

Not if we use 4wd for anything other than street driving. Counterproductive for clearance.

 

[mikez71]

You guys tellin me to rip the front diff out?

I want ground clearance, but lately I've been needing to get around traffic.. ]
and was thinking better road handling would be ok.. and bigger brakes too.. But then no more 17/18's..

I could keep the 4WD for rainy days running 4Auto..

Tahoe having an identity crisis... I won't be able to decide until I try the wheels on I guess..

 

[Marky Dissod]

You guys tellin me to rip the front diff out?

I'll never say it. If you live in a state where snow tires are not a real necessity,
then AWD / 4WD is very nice to have, but may also not be required - but feel free to disagree!
Don't really need it in NYC, have barely used it, but I won't get rid of my 4WD before it gets rid of itself.

I want ground clearance, but lately I've been needing to get around traffic ...
and was thinking better road handling would be ok ... and bigger brakes too ... But then no more 17s / 18s ...

You don't need to lower it to use thicker swaybars, which would certainly enhance swervability.
18" wheels will handle the GMTK2 front brake kit upgrade.
(Looking for 17" steel wheels that will fit GMTK2 front brake calipers with careful caliper grinding ...)
Would you need to lower it to make use of an aluminum front suspension upgrade?

I could keep the 4WD for rainy days running 4Auto ...
Tahoe having an identity crisis ... I won't be able to decide until I try the wheels on I guess ...

If your tires are good enough, and you don't drive like a maniac, you don't need AWD / 4WD in the rain ... usually ...

 

[Rocket Man]

OK common sense answer here. Both my SUV’s are either AWD or 4WD and both drive extremely well in the snow and ice. It doesn’t matter if it’s 4WD or 2WD it can and should be dropped in my opinion. My 02 Yukon Denali has a blower, cam, headers, lowered, AWD…my 08 Tahoe LTZ is lowered and drives awesome. I’m not up in the Cascade mountain logging roads in the winter either though. It depends on what you do with your truck if you want it lowered or not, it does NOT depend on whether its 4WD, AWD or 2WD.

 

[89Suburban]

I lowered mine and deleted the 4WD. But yes you can certainly lower and retain the 4WD. There are two types of lowering knuckles. Get the through bolt ones for the hubs, not the nut and washer one.

 

[fozzi58]

I WISH i had 4wd now. Would come in handy during those rainy autocross events

Take a look at DJM suspension for lowering components. Don't go the 'dropped spindle' route. Their customer service is meh, but their parts are rock solid. Eventually when its time to replace stuff (again) I am getting rid of the Belltech dropped spindle and going DJMs tubular a-arms etc. and a set of Belltech coil overs.

When you do dropped spindles you change the geometry too much and then its an uphill battle when you want to make additional changes. Also 18" wheels won't fit anymore cause the stud for the bottom of the LCA will hit the wheel. I found that out the hard way.

 

[PG01]

I knew id get you both….
@Rocket Man @89Suburban

 

[Rocket Man]

I knew id get you both….
@Rocket Man @89Suburban

 

[mikez71]

Thanks for the suggestions!
Maybe I won't be lowering at all..

But I do think I could use some swaybars.
Any thoughts on Hellwig vs. Nolathane 38mm F / 33mm R swaybars?
Nolathane's are cheaper.. Uses stock rear endlinks.

@Marky Dissod I thought there was some issue with the lower aluminum control arms? Needed the right aluminum knuckle?
I'll probably stick with delphi's I have for now tho..

Raining today, wish I had 4WD finished (need to swap front diff).
It's nice to pull out from a stop reliably..

 

[Marky Dissod]

... do think I could use some swaybars.
Any thoughts on Helwig vs. Nolathane 38mm F / 33mm R swaybars?
Nolathane's are cheaper ... Uses stock rear endlinks.

Know for a fact that I could use some swaybars too, but my 'fetish' is to make use of ALTERNATE GM OE solutions whenever possible (H2? 2500 stuff?),
not only because they'd likely be cheaper than aftermarket.

... thought there was some issue with the lower aluminum control arms? Needed the right aluminum knuckle?
I'll probably stick with delphi's I have for now tho ...

My oversimplified understanding is that either your front suspension stuff is 'all iron', or 'all aluminum', no mix'n'matching.
At least you get to aluminize your front suspension stuff - does GMT800 have GM OE aluminum suspension options? ...

Raining today, wish I had 4WD finished (need to swap front diff). It's nice to pull out from a stop reliably.

Remember when my (former) dispatcher begrudgingly let me choose the replacement tires on my '12 Yukon XL.
When we switched vehicles for a week, he was so impressed with my tire choice - specifically that he could leave it in RWD in pretty snowy conditions -
that he had me choose tires for his family's (3) other vehicles.
He groaned at the initial outlay, but thanked me 5 weeks later when the tires helped him avoid a collision with one of his kids in the car.
Point being, choose your tires with inclement weather in mind, that front diff will likely last quite a long time.

 

[Rocket Man]

Thanks for the suggestions!
Maybe I won't be lowering at all..

But I do think I could use some swaybars.
Any thoughts on Hellwig vs. Nolathane 38mm F / 33mm R swaybars?
Nolathane's are cheaper.. Uses stock rear endlinks.

@Marky Dissod I thought there was some issue with the lower aluminum control arms? Needed the right aluminum knuckle?
I'll probably stick with delphi's I have for now tho..

Raining today, wish I had 4WD finished (need to swap front diff).
It's nice to pull out from a stop reliably..

I just installed the Nolathane on my 08. They’re 1 3/8” solid steel for the front, very heavy. I like them.

Rocket Man’s 2008 Tahoe Build Thread

Parts ready to install. I bought Moog rear control arms. The OE ones on it have some bushing damage. The adjustable panhard bar is a Spohn knockoff. I went with the Nolathane sway bars due to the positive feedback here. They’re beefy enough. :happy107:

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

 

[mikez71]

I just installed the Nolathane on my 08. They’re 1 3/8” solid steel for the front, very heavy. I like them.

I see they have some 38mm, should be 1.5". Too thick?

Nolathane - Front (38mm) and Rear (33mm) Swaybar Set

A Swaybar kit is a packaged solution designed to improve performance and enhance the driving experience of your vehicle. Boasting a front sway bar and rear sway bar. Achieve perfect balance and precise tuning with this Nolathane Sway Bar Kit.

www.nolathane.com

 

[PG01]

I see they have some 38mm, should be 1.5". Too thick?

Nolathane - Front (38mm) and Rear (33mm) Swaybar Set

A Swaybar kit is a packaged solution designed to improve performance and enhance the driving experience of your vehicle. Boasting a front sway bar and rear sway bar. Achieve perfect balance and precise tuning with this Nolathane Sway Bar Kit.

www.nolathane.com

Thats wut she said…..

 

[kbuskill]

I see they have some 38mm, should be 1.5". Too thick?

Nolathane - Front (38mm) and Rear (33mm) Swaybar Set

A Swaybar kit is a packaged solution designed to improve performance and enhance the driving experience of your vehicle. Boasting a front sway bar and rear sway bar. Achieve perfect balance and precise tuning with this Nolathane Sway Bar Kit.

www.nolathane.com

It's funny, their website is incorrect. It shows that set you posted as fitting Escalade, Avalanche, Tahoe, and Yukon but not a Suburban... lol

Also, Autozone has them listed over $100 cheaper...

Nolathane Steering Stabilizer Mount Kit REV013.0030

Shop for Nolathane Steering Stabilizer Mount Kit REV013.0030 with confidence at AutoZone.com. Parts are just part of what we do. Get yours online today and pick up in store.

www.autozone.com