Belltech drop w/ autoride and no spacer in the rear? Questions...

[KMeloney]

Hey all,

Just got my Belltech 2/3-4 drop put on the Tahoe last week. Right now, I'm sitting @ 35-1/2" in the rear, ground to fender lip. I'm thinking I'd like to remove the rear 1" spacer and see how I like it -- but, I'm also wondering what to expect with the autoride compressor. I have the Belltech shortened links in the rear, and I'm wondering if removing the spacer and doing nothing more with the links is going to allow the truck to drop another inch in the rear, or if the truck will try to air up the rear back to 35-1/2".

If you are running Belltech 5305 springs and removed the rear spacer, did you also shorten the Belltech links even more? Or, did the truck come down that 1" without doing anything more to the links?

What does your rear measure without the spacer? (Remember what it was with the spacer, too?)

Thanks, folks!

 

[NORCAL SS]

Hey all,

Just got my Belltech 2/3-4 drop put on the Tahoe last week. Right now, I'm sitting @ 35-1/2" in the rear, ground to fender lip. I'm thinking I'd like to remove the rear 1" spacer and see how I like it -- but, I'm also wondering what to expect with the autoride compressor. I have the Belltech shortened links in the rear, and I'm wondering if removing the spacer and doing nothing more with the links is going to allow the truck to drop another inch in the rear, or if the truck will try to air up the rear back to 35-1/2".

If you are running Belltech 5305 springs and removed the rear spacer, did you also shorten the Belltech links even more? Or, did the truck come down that 1" without doing anything more to the links?

What does your rear measure without the spacer? (Remember what it was with the spacer, too?)

Thanks, folks!

To get the truck down more you will need to cut the links to about 2.75 from center/center. You can just call me next time since I do so many of them I can answer your question faster over the phone.

 

[THE YETI]

Good info post. Is this the same with the suburban?

 

[KMeloney]

To get the truck down more you will need to cut the links to about 2.75 from center/center. You can just call me next time since I do so many of them I can answer your question faster over the phone.

Thanks for the offer to have me call you, Tony. I know you're always available -- but I also know you're usually busy. That, and by posting here, you allow others in on your insight, too. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Just so I understand, do you mean that I need to shorten the links EVEN WITH the spacer IN to bring the rear down further? Or, do you mean that IF I take the spacer out, THEN (and only then) I need to shorten the links?

If the truck will sit lower than 35-1/2" WITH the spacer in, as long as I shorten the links first, then I'll keep the spacer in. I'd like the rear to be at or just under 35". Do I need to pull that spacer in order to get to just under 35", or do I just need to shorten the links (with the spacer in place)?

I DO plan on cutting the spacer in half, assuming that that will get me exactly where I want to be...

If you could clarify, Tony, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[NORCAL SS]

take the spacer out of the rear and see how it sets up for you. If its still to high then make it 2.75 inches from center/center on the ball mounts.

you want to make sure not to make the links to short to a point when you lift the truck up they pull right ou of the ball mounts. So lift up truck and pop the mount up and move the mount on the frame and measure the shortest distance from center to center of the mounts and then you can make the rod 1/4 inch longer.

Main thing you do not want to make the rods to short so when you lift the truck off the ground they pull right out.

 

[KMeloney]

Thanks, Tony. And would I HAVE to do the free travel mod without that spacer, or do you think I shouldn't need to? (Maybe it's not necessary with autoride trucks, for some reason?)

Also, is there the option of just cutting down the bumpstops instead of cutting the BS bracket off? I'll probably go with whatever option DOESN'T require cutting off the BS bracket.

 

[NORCAL SS]

your only trying to get 1/2 inch you should be fine. You prob can make the links shorter to trick the back into coming down also without pulling out spacer.

Now that I think of it pull the spacer out and take it for a ride without changing the link size. Tell me how you think the ride is. It should be a little stiffer since more air is in the shocks.

 

[KMeloney]

Tony -- I don't want the ride any stiffer. I want to go the route that makes it the LEAST stiff...


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[NORCAL SS]

if you take spacer out and let rear down will have less air in shocks. IF you keep levelers at same position it will fill up shocks more to lift the back up

 

[KMeloney]

if you take spacer out and let rear down will have less air in shocks. IF you keep levelers at same position it will fill up shocks more to lift the back up

That's my understanding.

Could you just confirm my suspicion once and for all: more air in the shocks = stiffer/harsher ride?

Thanks!


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[NORCAL SS]

yes it will get stiffer

 

[ihaveamustang]

KMeloney - what was the outcome w/ this? I have the exact questions and plan to do the drop this weekend. Did you pull the spacer and cut autoride links to 2.75?
Did you trim your bumpstops further? Sounded like you didn't want to have to cut the brackets off (I don't wan to either).

 

[NORCAL SS]

due to some trucks having different springs in front rear will vary.

Usually no spacers in rear and 2.5-3 inches from center to center on the rear autoride links truck will have a little rake in rear.

Im doing the trailing arm relocators which makes it sit lower in rear.

 

[KMeloney]

KMeloney - what was the outcome w/ this? I have the exact questions and plan to do the drop this weekend. Did you pull the spacer and cut autoride links to 2.75?
Did you trim your bumpstops further? Sounded like you didn't want to have to cut the brackets off (I don't wan to either).

Sorry -- Was away most of last week.

I haven't done anything different with this. I've got the spacer IN still, and I have the links set @ 2-3/4". I don't think I'm going to pull the spacer, since it looks perfect to me when the compressor doesn't air up. What I think I'll do it leave the spacer in, and shorten the links even more so that it's always down where I think it's perfect. Right now, it still airs up every now and then...

 

[PACE]

I have had the 3 / 4 kit for a couple years now. I still think the rear is too high so I was searching and found this thread. I may try to cut down my autoride links a bit more... but I was under the truck and I noticed that it's sitting on the bump stops right now just chilling in my garage.

Is that right?

If that's the case I can't go lower unless I cut down or remove the yellow bump stops rights?

EDIT: Also, since it's been a couple years... shorter the links = the lower the rear sits... right?

 

[PACE]

Here is a pic from in front of the rear tire looking back on the bump stop and spring.

How can I go lower if it is sitting on the bump stop right now? I have auto ride, I removed the spacer at the time of install.... What am I missing?

 

[NORCAL SS]

Here is a pic from in front of the rear tire looking back on the bump stop and spring.

How can I go lower if it is sitting on the bump stop right now? I have auto ride, I removed the spacer at the time of install.... What am I missing?

you need to cut the bumpstop bracket off the frame. if you look at my escalade build thread you will see how mines cut and I use a 1/2 inch tall bumpstop thats drilled and tapped into frame.

 

[KMeloney]

EDIT: Also, since it's been a couple years... shorter the links = the lower the rear sits... right?

Essentially, yes. If you're not ever hearing your compressor air up the rear, then cutting the links won't do anything. But, if your truck is airing up, raising the rear higher than you want, then cutting the links shorter will keep that from happening.

 

[ridindirty]

It seems that everybody has different outcomes when installing their drop kit. Im about ready to purchase Tony's Belltech 2/3 kit for my autoride Hoe, but I dont plan to do the install myself. My question then is how in the world to explain all this to the shop guy that will do the install? Are the instructions that come with the kit very user friendly for someone with possibly little to no experience? I read this board all the time trying to understand it and im still confused about spacers in vs out;
cutting this and that, ect.

 

[PACE]

you need to cut the bumpstop bracket off the frame. if you look at my escalade build thread you will see how mines cut and I use a 1/2 inch tall bumpstop thats drilled and tapped into frame.

Thanks Tony.... Is it odd that the truck is sitting on the bump stops like that? That means i have no rear suspension right now huh?

So I'm clear, nothing will push the ass down further right now without cutting those off right?