Belltech 2-4" After A Year

[Ninety5PoloZ]

I have had my Belltech 2-4" for a year now and I'm tired of the front sitting 1/2" too high. I uncranked the stock keys, but it didn't get me where I need to be. I think that the stock bumpstops are holding me back right now.

I have a set of 2500 keys and plan on installing them in a couple weeks when I do some other maintenance, but what bumpstops should I get? I keep seeing Z71 bumpstops, but I have read that they are taller than stock ones?? That doesn't make sense on a lowered vehicle IMO.

Also will I have to flip the upper control arms if I install keys with the spindles?

Thanks in advance

 

[WHITEOUT]

I have been running McGaughy spindles and keys for over 5 yrs now, and Z71 jounce stops for over 2, Love em. My geo is spot on. But... I have modified and trimmed the stops to a height, shape ect. That works for me. I have found it rides better when you can get them in that money spot like designed for. Give the progressive rate feel back. Wouldn't advise completely removing and running it like that. But could remove and see if you get lower. If so, you know they need to be trimmed.

As for UCA flip. Don't see too many people needing to do that. Or I haven't until just recently. But.. seems since the Belltech spindles being taller can cause some upper ball joint issues, possible. Or if running spindles and drop arms it may be needed. But wouldn't worry about it until or if you see the need to. May need camber kit tho. Hard to say what you need till you do it.

Just gotta remember, cranking or decranking doesn't affect the torsion bar spring as far as stiffening or softening. Just height of LCA, in turn front suspension. But since the torsion bar is linear, GM used a jounce stop as a way to get a progressive rate to the springs(torsion bar) so getting the jounce stop to be at a good height/placement with the LCA, may need to be trimmed(if lowering). Otherwise if can compress too much and be a solid peice, instead of compressible dampener.

 

[Bomba02]

Trucks looking good. Deff do the z71 stops. Drill and trim them to find your liking like whiteout said. The stops are alot stronger then the stocks one so when trimmed they still hold up. I missed the train that I should trim my z71 stops doing that soon.

Whiteout how much did you cut of the stop would you say and what does your front sit at?

Billy.

 

[Ninety5PoloZ]

Thanks for the info on the Z71 bumpstops, I hadn't heard about trimming them. Most of what I read was just about installing them as is.

I'll have to jack up my Yukon and pull the stock stops out and see if it comes down any. I have a set of keys already so I will probably put them in anyway.

Thanks again

 

[Bomba02]

I wouldn't remove them they a big part on how it rides. If you want you could trim stock bump stop prob bring it down.
Billy.

 

[WHITEOUT]

Trucks looking good. Deff do the z71 stops. Drill and trim them to find your liking like whiteout said. The stops are alot stronger then the stocks one so when trimmed they still hold up. I missed the train that I should trim my z71 stops doing that soon.

Whiteout how much did you cut of the stop would you say and what does your front sit at?

Billy.

I have cut quite a bit, probably half +/-. But have also modified, re shaped and drilled. Getting to the point of not being able to do anymore and still be affective. Why I have been thinking of getting some stock ones. IF ANYONE HAS A SET OF STOCK FRONT JOUNCE/BUMP STOPS LET ME KNOW, THX. Want to re-try modifying stock ones again. Worked well last time.

I'm also sitting at 31"-31 1/4" up front. But I just turned my keys down 1 turn, and modified my Z71 stops last week. Need to re measure, but where I was at last week.
What r your measurements Billy? Your using Tony's 6" rear spring right?

Also, don't think he was going to remove stops and drive around. Or shouldn't, rides horrible. But if u take em out, u can see if there holding u up, and if so, trim and reinstall.

 

[Bomba02]

At the moment I'm sitting roughly at 32.25 up front and 32.75 in rear with a little air in my bags sitting on a 32 inch tall tire. Been messing with it since I put the z71 one stops in really didn't like the ride at first but now I see I have to trim some and maybe shape it up I have drilled it maybe so some drilling as well. Itching to modify them! Hoping front will come down and I can let most the air out of the bags. I need some fine tuneing sounds like it should ride pretty well up front. What do your key bolts looks like whiteout decranekd cranked etc? Also the rear rides great to me with Tony's springs.
Billy.

 

[Ninety5PoloZ]

I wasn't planning on driving it around without the stops, just take them out to see if they are what is holding me up. Right now it rides like complete **** with the stock keys completely uncranked. I haven't measured the ride height in a while but with a 285/40/22 there is about 2" of wheel gap up front and about 1" in the rear. It looks terrible IMO and I need to address it now that I will have it apart for a bunch of work.

Thanks again for the info. Maybe tomorrow morning I will trim the stock stops and see if it rides any better. Just haven't had any free time lately and when I do it's usually raining

 

[NORCAL SS]

if you decide you want the best ride in front the djm a arms with the belltech sp shocks rides great. Hell you can even use the spindles you have now with the arms and crank up the oem keys for a 3.75 drop in front and will ride great.

Either way all of us are here to help you.

 

[WHITEOUT]

I chopped the bottom probably in half, then cut & re shaped the top, drilled some holes, and opened up the ring a bit. But can't really do much more to them now without being pointless. One downside I see to the Z71, with only one ring(dampening/compression area) you can't trim too much and still have a good dampening affect. Why I wanna try stock ones again. It's all about experimentation

As for my keys, I am only de cranked like 3 turns. Pretty much cranked up. So I got more drop left. But currently running smaller tires up front then rear. So when I finally get the same in front as back, should have little to no gap in front. Be NICE!! 16 1/2" center hub to fender. Then to get the back down another inch or so. Think I'd be happy n done... Static drop wise.

Ninety5PoloZ- you may have to drive around the block to get front to settle, so you can see exactly where your sitting at with stops out. But in all likely hood, probably holding u up a bit. So trimming should help n ride better. Just don't do too much. You wanna find the right height of em. Otherwise will either be like not having them, or stiff. Can be a fun trial n error experience

 

[Ninety5PoloZ]

I have really been thinking about lowering it more like a 4.5-6, but I use it to haul my boat, my 4 wheeler, and sometimes my car and some of the local boat landings are terrible. If I can just get the front to come down to match the rear I will be happy, but it's about 1/2 to 3/4" too high at the moment.


On a side note I picked up an ORY to replace the plugged up factory converters, some eBay head studs, and a corvette servo. I still need to get a top end gasket set, a water pump, efans, and an Airaid Jr then the real fun will begin. Head gaskets made it almost 185k though. I'm also going to get studs for the manifolds because I know damn well most of them are going to break off and I will have to drill them out. I may do valve seals and springs while everything is tore apart.

 

[NORCAL SS]

My 6 inch rear springs with helper bags tow fine

 

[Ninety5PoloZ]

My 6 inch rear springs with helper bags tow fine

I'm not talking about the towing, I'm talking that I may not be able to launch my boat if I go any lower. I'm going to trim the stops and see where that puts me, then I will go from there.

 

[NORCAL SS]

I'm not talking about the towing, I'm talking that I may not be able to launch my boat if I go any lower. I'm going to trim the stops and see where that puts me, then I will go from there.

airlift helper bags will lift it up just not sure how much more you can go down then what you have now?

 

[Tahoewhat]

What ever came of this OP? Did you install keys?

I have basically same setup as Whiteout and sit at 32" even front and rear on 50 series sidewall on 20's. My 3/4 (2500) keys are cranked up all the way, maybe only 1 turn down.

I have had this setup for about 3-4 years. Rides alright, stiff for sure. But think it may be my shocks.

 

[NORCAL SS]

Na its the keys. At 32 inches your resting ******* bumpstops.

 

[Tahoewhat]

Na its the keys. At 32 inches your resting ******* bumpstops.

lol. Yes i am. But, even with the keys not really cranked down at all?

BTW= just emailed you about some questions.

 

[Ninety5PoloZ]

I was saying that the boat landings around here are terrible and it's not just the rear I have to worry about so going to a 4.5-6" drop might not be a good idea. I'd probably have to replace my lower valance once a week lol

As far as what I have done is nothing. Been working a lot of overtime and my wife and I have spent ever extra hour working on remodeling a room in our house. I plan on trimming the bump stops and adding the keys when I install the ORY and the corvette servo. I'm also going to put in new head gaskets (leaking), add head studs, new valve springs, new valve seals, and probably an Isky Triple 12 cam. Just have to order a few more things, get a base tune done, and then the hardest part......find the time to get it all done.