Lower more front suspension on ppv 2007-2014

[88mike]

wassup ppv guys, so i got my ppv this week, 204k odo, 2014 ppv 2wd, came with the correct tire size 265/60/17, i say that cuz I’ve seen so many different modifications pd does to theirs. Like I saw one using 265/70/17 tires on and was 2wd not the ssv. Anyways driving it back home i noticed how i couldn’t see much further away from behind me the road, i mean when looking on the center mirror that gives view of the back liftgate, it would kind of cut the further portion of the road behind me. I figured it out being this way because the rear is level to the front. And it also makes me think that maybe the reason the other versions of the tahoe having the rear raised up a little for towing also maybe was planned in a way the rear window have just enough openings for see the rear through the mirror. I might not make much sense in my explanation. I have better time explaining in audio. Anyways. I want to lower more at least the front. Being used to
Drive trailblazer 2007 , it’s also weird having the front hood taller. I can still drive fine but wife will struggle.
With all this blah blah here. I just would like have some advice on how to
Lower the front. The ride i felt driving the ppv was fine, i just would like to keep it the way it is on the handling side, if the ride gets more quiet and not so bump is not bad, if doesn’t change is fine for me. I just don’t wanna more bumpy or noise while cruising in the highway. Iam having some electrical issues that i read on thread here and will try follow those directions to
Fix. If not i come back here.
Even tho is high mileage it works smooth no weird. Noise in the engine, not yet!, one good think it came with all seats , and even has the third row, how? No idea but the floor is rubber as ppv and even the vin brings up the trim police vehicle on search. The second row seems be leather like LT or LTZ, and not vinyl as ppv usually has. And the dash miraculously doesn’t have any cracks, yet!
Going outside right now to tune with diablo and disable the afm. Hope engine stays good

 

[Big Mama]

I’m not sure which front spindles goes on a ppv but changing that keeps your suspension geometry in tact. Call Belltech or McGaughy. They’ll know what you need.

 

[88mike]

I called both, the belltech spindle would need some adaptations related to cut the stud of the lower ball joint and use a tiny narrower nut, wasn’t comfortable with that. So I went with the whole upper and lower controls arms drop of 3” from macgaughys. But they said still I would need alignment. I wonder if there is a way to install some of theirs alignment bushings and be alignment free. Anyways the thing that bothers me the most is the front strut it came in this ppv, the spring and the strut shocks are silver color. The springs has less coils by 1 compared to the ones in my 14 z71, and the distance between the coils seems more. It might be the reason why even the tires being the low profile 265/60/17 still unbelievably the front is higher than the z71 by almost 1”. I don’t understand. I wonder if was a sloppy maintenance just throwing any parts on it. Already found the oil filter used last time was one model that goes either on ford explorers or tahoe 15-20. This ppv came with 3rd row added, and clearly was adapted after. Still lots of evidence it had cage and all police stuff, but I wonder if after that either was passed for being used for different purposes or even sold to another agency. I got in an auction and didn’t have much info about it.

 

[Big Mama]

The spindles issue was for 17” wheels. Cutting the bolt short and using the smaller nut is common but you’re passed that.mine has been like that for 15 years I would assume the ppv spring was softer, which is why the new one is taller. I ran into something similar when I swapped out for a strut/spring combo. I ended up removing the new spring and putting the factory one back on.the new strut. It solved the height issue. I have zero experience using control arms to lower it but an alignment is needed no matter which way you go. @Doubeleive may be able to shed some light here. He’s been working on these for years and has good advice.

 

[Doubeleive]

You can move the front strut lower by bolting it under the control arm, won't be much difference but might be what you are after

 

[88mike]

You can move the front strut lower by bolting it under the control arm, won't be much difference but might be what you are after

Yeah Ive heard of that before, I read some with same concern I have of it not hold enough. Yeah I get afraid of the worse happening. Still not sure definitely what I will do. For now I ordered and waiting on the djm control arms. I got the drop spindles just in case. Ordered the monroe struts assembly 39104, I heard the correct strut is 39106 for ppv right? I have these 39106 in my cart . $80 each amazon, bot sure if I should trust lol, amazon flooded of china fake ones.
Does the front strut uses standard monroe spring on the front? Is the only difference between ppv and civilian the shocks? I called belltech and they said their shorter spring and shocks would not lower more the ppv in a correct way. And if i try run their shocks with their shorter springs id run into issues not possible getting it aligned later. I really wanted to have this ppv with the correct front strut shocks and springs… BUT.. still lower more the front about 3” or 4” using the controls arms from djm and maybe combined with the lower spindles. Am I overkilling it? For more comfort I got the z71 2014. So not really trying civilizing the ppv. This why I got ppv. Was a good deal. The whole price without plates or registration was about 1k, high mileage though 204k engine seems smooth and trans. I plugged in a afm disable obd port. Booster,from amazon. Supposedly all usa made prts. I got the diablo already tuned the z71

 

[Doubeleive]

Pretty sure it's just a standard shock

 

[88mike]

So since last time I came asking for some help I ordered the djm front upper and lower control arm for a 3” drop, after Installed these on one side , attached the spindle and upper control arm is almost 2” longer, throwing a hell lot of positive camber. Adjusted the camber on the upper pivot bolts but still positive camber. Don’t know what when wrong . I suspected djm sent me a wrong one. Djm said never heard of problems similar. It should not change the alignment as they said( even though yeah I know is always recommended) but the thing is , now I have no choice other than put back on the stock upper arm. Then getting only 2” drop, due to the area that bolts the shock is lower like if had bolted the shock under like you mentioned. At this point I might try also the drop spindle. I measured everything. The upper control arm is longer and had a big bent shape. If you look sideways reminds those luck bone of a chicken lol.

 

[Big Mama]

The 2” drop spindles simply move the spindle up 2” from the stock location thereby providing drop. If that’s your starting point anything else is a bonus. As Wes stated moving the mount underneath is usually at least another inch. I don’t have any experience swapping control arms so I can’t speak to that. I’d recommend getting everything back to the right alignment spot first.

 

[88mike]

Wassup guys, so since last post I just went with belltech 2509 and I replaced the front struts with oem monroe but for LS trim, not ppv ones. It seems fine and lowered more than the unknown brand it was before when I got out of auction. Seems like is lowered a bit almost 1-1/2” then spindle if did lowered more. And one thing I realized is that when I compared to
The 14 tahoe z71, that also
I got with wrong tires, it’s supposed to be 265/65/18 for the tahoe z71 2014 but it has 265/60/18. Wonder if prior owner did on purpose or had only available tires or just wasn’t aware. So this would also lower the z71 making
The ppv looks taller or about same. But still the overall diameter is bigger on the 18” rim.’so yeah ppv was bit
Taller up front.
Anyways Iam happy with the height front now. With the push bumper if lower more would scrape on stuff. Also I don’t wanna that or not be able to drive over simple obstacles when needed. Now I do noticed that the whole left side is leaning about 3/4 front and 1/2” rear. Is that the chevy learning true? Will try replace the sway links and bushings as I read here before. I do hear now also what I haven’t noticed before, when i turn the steering wheel to special right turns it makes some noise like something not lubricated right. Nothing for sure steering pump or fluid. Id say maybe a kind of squeak but not really. Is like an old door hinge sound. Anyways my front lowering
Height issue is SOLVED.