Lowering a Hybrid

[NORCAL SS]

nope no boxing needed

 

[07Burb]

No reason to do this. The bracket isn't structurally integral to the frame.

Oh, ok. I was envisioning something different. So there's no cutting into the actual frame for this then


...Carry on, carry on

 

[soulsea]

With that ride height (but not knowing your tire height), I bet the crappy ride is due to the rear bumpstops, as in they need to go away. Actually, that's not quite true. You should cut the entire bracket off the frame rails as shown elsewhere on this forum.

Hi cendres, thanks for chiming in ... for the record my tires are 295/35/24.

As far as what you and others are suggesting to do I am afraid that I am not going to do that. I was under a simple impression, that I buy this kit, have it installed, and go on about my business with a lowered truck that is comfortable to drive and I can easily revert back to stock when it is time to sell.

This is my dd car and as much as I love the lowered look I am not going to keep modifying the truck haphazardly and ad infinitum until we stumble onto a solution. I'm about to get her aligned, I will have them measure the gap Tony asked me to measure to see if there is an installation issue.

If the solution is something as simple as changing shocks, adding bags to the springs, or something equally simple then I am happy to consider it, if not the kit is coming off and I'll chalk it up to an expensive experience and lesson learned.

Guys, it's not that I don't appreciate the help, I really really do, but I'm not cutting up the truck no matter how minor a cut it is.

 

[NORCAL SS]

ive put this kit in with no problems and you can cut the rear bumpstops more if needed. not the bracket but the rubber stops.

These springs ride great in rear and honestly would take 10 minutes of your time if you do indeed need to cut the bracket off.

Lets see how much space you have with rear bumpstops then we can go from there. And your making it seem like your truck is the first. Ive lowered they hybrids and many other tahoes like yours and we are not looking for a magic solution. All the solutions have been tested many times WITHOUT issues but we need to start from the bumpstop and then go from there.

no matter what rear belltech shocks help the ride also.

 

[THE YETI]

Amen to what Tony said, Serge. You DONT need to cut the metal on the truck, just cut down the rubber on the bump stops. You could do this with a flippin' fishing knife if you wanted to! LOL! And it'll all go back to stock when you are done!

 

[cendres]

Hi cendres, thanks for chiming in ... for the record my tires are 295/35/24.

As far as what you and others are suggesting to do I am afraid that I am not going to do that. I was under a simple impression, that I buy this kit, have it installed, and go on about my business with a lowered truck that is comfortable to drive and I can easily revert back to stock when it is time to sell.

This is my dd car and as much as I love the lowered look I am not going to keep modifying the truck haphazardly and ad infinitum until we stumble onto a solution. I'm about to get her aligned, I will have them measure the gap Tony asked me to measure to see if there is an installation issue.

If the solution is something as simple as changing shocks, adding bags to the springs, or something equally simple then I am happy to consider it, if not the kit is coming off and I'll chalk it up to an expensive experience and lesson learned.

Guys, it's not that I don't appreciate the help, I really really do, but I'm not cutting up the truck no matter how minor a cut it is.

Don't be so quick to give up on it. Modifying vehicles is rarely as straightforward as it seems. The process suggested to you is not as haphazard as it may seem. You have to be willing to experiment a bit to get desired results. Your truck looks fantastic. You're so close to having what you want that it would be a shame to revert to stock.

Take a look at those bump stop bumpers as Tony suggested. Perhaps it is even a simpler solution than I mentioned. Trimming the bumpers with a hacksaw or even a bread knife (don't let the missus catch you) is definitely a better first step. If you can change a flat tire, you can do this. Super easy and absolutely reversible.

Hell, I have a pair of trimmed bumpers I'll donate to the cause... That way you can just swap the stockers back at trade-in/sale time.

 

[B.G.]

I say hang in there Soulsea.. Everything mentioned doesnt seem too extreme. And like the others have mentioned, I have never modified a car and it been an easy road. But the end result is so rewarding and you will have a hybrid Tahoe like no other! So stick with it man and everyone on here tries to help resolve this issue brotha!

 

[soulsea]

Guys I'm not giving up ... I did say: "If the solution is something simple ... I am happy to consider it"

Anyhoot, it seems that nothing can be easy with these mods. I just went to five tire places to get the alignment and none of them have the equipment to align 24s. Finally found one place that can but the soonest it can be done is tomorrow 1pm. So all is on hold till then.

One bit of good news is that the truck seems to have settled in a way that the front tires don't rub anymore. I guess I'll keep dieting.

 

[cendres]

If I were you, I'd put the stockers back on for the alignment anyway. Why tempt fate?

 

[soulsea]

Mmm, I'm not sure I understand ... how would I be tempting fate by aligning on 24s?
Isn't it better to get aligned with the rims/tires I plan to use?

 

[Modded]

If I were you, I'd put the stockers back on for the alignment anyway. Why tempt fate?

Don't know where you got that from.
Its better to align a car with the set of wheels/tires that are gonna be on it for the greater amount of time. The only time people usually just settle to align on stockers is if they absolutely cannot find someone that can align it with their bigger wheels.

Also Soulsea look around your area for places that align Semi's, since they have 25" wheels they can normally do an alignment on big wheels on regualrcars.

 

[soulsea]

Thanks Neo, I wasn't really sure myself about why I would want to go through the hassle and expense of swapping wheels back and forth for an alignment.

I found a place that says they have the gear to align 24s, appointment tomorrow at 1pm, if they have issues I'll take it to a semi place as advised.

Thanks again.

 

[cendres]

If I were in Soulsea's shoes (and I was yesterday), I'd prefer the alignment tech hang the equipment on something other than my nice wheels. He has what appear to be very nice 24s; it'd be a shame if they were to get accidentally marred. I'm not saying it will happen, but the possibility is there. To me, it's worth the effort to ensure nothing will happen to them.

Don't know where you got that from.
Its better to align a car with the set of wheels/tires that are gonna be on it for the greater amount of time. The only time people usually just settle to align on stockers is if they absolutely cannot find someone that can align it with their bigger wheels.

I'm not sure I follow what you're saying. Are you suggesting the alignment will somehow change based on which wheels are on the vehicle? If so, how?

 

[soulsea]

Thanks cendres,

I think I will point out to them to be careful and hope they get it right.

I have a question for Tony or whomever else might know ...

Whilst they're doing this I will ask them to measure the space between the bumpstops and the axle pad. What should that space measure ideally? My reasoning being is that if the stops need to be cut I could presumably ask them to do it right then and there while she's on the lift. Am I thinking about this correctly?

 

[sumo]

i wonder why i didnt have much trouble as you Soul. Yenno all this talk about bumps stops and trimming, How is the actual shock? if you take a look is it leaking? Bad shocks can give a ****** ride too.

 

[soulsea]

I don't know how to gage shock condition, the truck only has 16k miles on it ... but I suppose I can ask them to take a look at them tomorrow during alignment.

 

[sumo]

at 16k it mostly unlikey, but not unheard of. Leaking shock would look oily and wet on the Tube.

 

[soulsea]

Plus I'm sure the installers would have told me a shock is leaking when they installed the kit ... I'm afraid that the source of the rough ride must be something other than that.

 

[Modded]

If I were in Soulsea's shoes (and I was yesterday), I'd prefer the alignment tech hang the equipment on something other than my nice wheels. He has what appear to be very nice 24s; it'd be a shame if they were to get accidentally marred. I'm not saying it will happen, but the possibility is there. To me, it's worth the effort to ensure nothing will happen to them.



I'm not sure I follow what you're saying. Are you suggesting the alignment will somehow change based on which wheels are on the vehicle? If so, how?

Most shops will not do any damage if they are even slightly careful, especially not to chrome wheels because they are hard to scuff. Now black wheels are a different story.
And yes alignment can change when changing tire size, especially width. Simply put, imagine if you have like 1 degree of negative camber with a 275 tire. When you go up to a 305 tire or any tire that is wider than 275 yes you will still have 1 degree of negative camber (same alignment specs), but that 1 degree will definitely do more damage to the 305 tire than it would the 275.
That's why it's better to align with the wheels you drive on more.

 

[cendres]

Most shops will not do any damage if they are even slightly careful, especially not to chrome wheels because they are hard to scuff. Now black wheels are a different story.
And yes alignment can change when changing tire size, especially width. Simply put, imagine if you have like 1 degree of negative camber with a 275 tire. When you go up to a 305 tire or any tire that is wider than 275 yes you will still have 1 degree of negative camber (same alignment specs), but that 1 degree will definitely do more damage to the 305 tire than it would the 275.
That's why it's better to align with the wheels you drive on more.

Okay, I think I see what you're saying. Is it your position that the alignment should be modified outside of stock specs to accommodate this phenomenon?

I maintain it's better to align on wheels you don't care about. Unless you know the tech and how carefully they go about their work, the 20 minutes invested in swapping the wheels is well worth the peace of mind. It is to me, anyway. Others may be less particular about their stuff.