Lowered the 'Hoe today but....

[Autbond]

Ok, I bought a used kit from a guy locally on eBay and had it installed today, it is (to the best of my knowledge, and his) a Belltech 2/3-4. The tahoe is now sitting at more of a "rake" than it was stock. The kit included the front spindles and rear springs (for $200), it also included some kind of brackets that the installer could not find out where they were supposed to go. My first question is, how are the rear springs adjustable? And, the tahoe is a LTZ, so it has the autoride air shocks in the rear, not putting on the autoride links would or would not matter; in height I mean? Thanks for any input, it would look good if it didn't have the rake it has now so any other suggestions would be great!

 

[Getinyukinlower]

Hey I'm somwhat new to lowering yukons as I just did mine with the 2/3 drop. When I did it sounds like your problem. What I found out is my factory shocks where actually holding the rear up 2" from where it was supposed to be sitting. I got different shocks for the rear and BAM my problem was solved!! I don't know about your air ride mine doesn't have that. But those brackets should be for your shocks to lower them... And to get the difference between the 3/4 is there is a 1" spacer you can put under your spring for 3" or take it out for 4".

This is what I know I hope it helps you out!!

 

[Autbond]

Hey I'm somwhat new to lowering yukons as I just did mine with the 2/3 drop. When I did it sounds like your problem. What I found out is my factory shocks where actually holding the rear up 2" from where it was supposed to be sitting. I got different shocks for the rear and BAM my problem was solved!! I don't know about your air ride mine doesn't have that. But those brackets should be for your shocks to lower them... And to get the difference between the 3/4 is there is a 1" spacer you can put under your spring for 3" or take it out for 4".

This is what I know I hope it helps you out!!

Ok, another question after this response, would it be recommended to just remove the the air suspension and put in some other type of shocks? If so what shock is recommended? Thanks Matt for your input!

 

[Getinyukinlower]

A lot of people go with belltech shocks. Me on the other hand am "young and dumb" so they say. I was just impatient after finding out it was just shocks (didnt want to wait on shipping) and went to o'riellys looked up my shocks for the fitting size then found a shock that fits and was the right length. If you went my route you need to find one that's 20" extended. I guess it is up to you on your air ride but like I said I'm not real sure on that setup as I don't have it. Bet it would be better ride with them for sure. Are those brackets you have look like you can stick your shock eyelet in it? If they do they bolt to the bottom of your shock mount to drop your shock down.... But that still didn't work for me...

 

[yates ™]

I think norcal has 2" shock extenders that take care of this problem also if it has factory air shocks I believe you need to do some adjustments on the ride height sensors. Contact Norcal and he can sell you the rest of the parts you need and also tell you what else you need to do.

 

[Autbond]

I think norcal has 2" shock extenders that take care of this problem also if it has factory air shocks I believe you need to do some adjustments on the ride height sensors. Contact Norcal and he can sell you the rest of the parts you need and also tell you what else you need to do.

Thanks I will do that!

I did find the answer on another forum, supposedly you can bend the linkage instead of buying more parts, and also trim the factory bumpstop. Here it is in case anyone needs to know in the future: http://www.tahoeforum.com/showthread.php?t=5618&page=2

 

[soulsea]

Before you start trimming bumpstops or anything else Austin, install the autoride links or get them from NorcalSS.

Are the brackets the installer couldn't figure out the shock extenders?
Cause you need those.

 

[NORCAL SS]

Ok, I bought a used kit from a guy locally on eBay and had it installed today, it is (to the best of my knowledge, and his) a Belltech 2/3-4. The tahoe is now sitting at more of a "rake" than it was stock. The kit included the front spindles and rear springs (for $200), it also included some kind of brackets that the installer could not find out where they were supposed to go. My first question is, how are the rear springs adjustable? And, the tahoe is a LTZ, so it has the autoride air shocks in the rear, not putting on the autoride links would or would not matter; in height I mean? Thanks for any input, it would look good if it didn't have the rake it has now so any other suggestions would be great!

1) you need the autoride links
2) you need shock extenders
3) depending on how muh lower rear is lower than front you will need the belltech 1 inch rear spacer also

do the rear springs say 5305?

 

[Autbond]

1) you need the autoride links
2) you need shock extenders
3) depending on how muh lower rear is lower than front you will need the belltech 1 inch rear spacer also

do the rear springs say 5305?

So I cannot just bend the factory ones, at least temporary? There seems to be quite a few people in other forums that have done it and not had issues. I have some sort of bracket, it must be the shock extenders. Where do they go on the airbags? Thanks!

 

[NORCAL SS]

So I cannot just bend the factory ones, at least temporary? There seems to be quite a few people in other forums that have done it and not had issues. I have some sort of bracket, it must be the shock extenders. Where do they go on the airbags? Thanks!

you can get shorter rods from hardware store and screw them in should be 3 inches center/center

you need the shock extender brackets which attach to rear end then reposition the shocks farther back. $75 shipped

 

[THE YETI]

Tony = lowering guru

 

[Autbond]

What size rods do I need to pick up at the hardware store? So it would sit at 3 inches lower in the rear? So should be close to perfectly level?

 

[B.G.]

What size rods do I need to pick up at the hardware store? So it would sit at 3 inches lower in the rear? So should be close to perfectly level?

I may have the autoride links from my kit that were never used. Ill let you know tomorrow. I could just send them out w everything else. Keep you posted

 

[KMeloney]

You might want to read more before tackling this on an Autoride truck. You need to understand how this all works before diving in like this.

The Autoride links tell the truck whether to put air in the rear shocks or not -- and it does this when it senses that the rear is lower. (If you put a bunch of stuff in the rear, or are towing a boat, etc., it'll try to raise the rear so that the truck sits level again.) With no links in place, or the factory links in on a lowered truck, the compressor is going to keep the rear shocks filled with air. It won't let the truck drop. That's why you need to shorten the rear links so that the truck doesn't see that any drop to the rear has occurred.

The length you need your new links to be is something shorter than the stock links. You're going to have to mess with it to get it right. Shorten them a lot, and the truck will never raise the rear -- and that's fine IF the truck sits perfectly like that. Otherwise, you're going to have to mess with the link length to let just the right amount of raising to occur.

You can't just swap out the shocks for non-autoride ones, unless you want constant codes and warnings.

I'd also be more than a little bit concerned if your installer doesn't recognize what shock extenders looks like/where they go. I'm not trying to be disparaging -- I just think you ought to have a drop installed by someone who knows a decent amount about these things.

It's all been discussed here before. Keep asking questions, but check out all of the threads on lowering in the meantime. There's a lot to know.

Good luck!

 

[yates ™]

Who's Chris?

 

[KMeloney]

Who's Chris?

Whoops! Sorry. There's a Chris here with a similar avatar. Sorry about that! I'll go delete that part.

 

[yates ™]

Whoops! Sorry. There's a Chris here with a similar avatar. Sorry about that! I'll go delete that part.

 

[ChrisAU]

I see whats going on here...

 

[yates ™]

What? We are getting e-drunk and giving advice. I think your questions are answered now get it fixed so we can see pics!!

 

[ChrisAU]

What? We are getting e-drunk and giving advice. I think your questions are answered now get it fixed so we can see pics!!

Oh dear...