5+ drop

CzBlkExp · May 15, 2016

Installed 2/4 Mcg Deluxe kit just after I bought the truck, decided it wasn't low enough. Added Belltech 2" drop coils to the front. Also changed from the stock 275/60r20 (33") to 275/45r20 (29.7"). Rear I have spohn arms that I haven't installed yet and plan to cut the rear springs down at least another inch.

So relative to stock 2015 Black express I am dropped 5 inches up front and still have plenty of clearance. Ground clearance to the transmission crossmember is currently 6 1/2 inches.

razor1 · May 15, 2016

any lower and the ride quality gets very bad , specially in the rear.

Statcher1 · May 15, 2016

Yeah you can go about another inch in the rear. Before you start suffering from major ride problems in the rear.

Otherwise the truck looks good.

Sent from the Rocket in my Pocket

charonblk07 · May 15, 2016

At that height pay very close attention to your rear lower control arm, it will start bouncing off the upper arm frame mount. Your rear arm geometry is also pooched right now, you need to get the Spohn arms installed to deal with the pinion angle which I'm not surprised if you have a driveline vibration from. How is your rear axle sitting across the body? Pushed out to the passenger side any?

CzBlkExp · May 16, 2016

Thanks for the feedback, only driven 10-15 miles on it so far and no issues. Ride seems comparable to 2/4 drop. The spohn arms will correct the pinion angle and recenter the axle in the wheel openings. I am going to cut 1" out of the back and see how it sits I do like a little rake. I have a shop that will redo the lower control arm axle mounts if need be but I am trying to avoid it.

Current mods are

Mcguahy's front spindles
Belltech 2 inch drop springs up front
Mcguahy's 4 inch drop springs rear
Cheap muffler with black painted tips
Airraid intake
Hemifever 93 tune
Bakflip g2 cover
srt10 replica 20x9 wheels
Nexen N'fera 275/45r20 tires
Hellwig front sway bar
Hellwig rear sway bar
4 MB quart 8ich subs in custom sub box
MB quart amp to drive the subs

To be installed
Full set of Spohn adjustable rear arms

To be ordered when finances allow
Qa1 adjustable shocks
leather seat covers

CMil527 · May 16, 2016

ohhh me likey... she sits nice!!

razor1 · May 16, 2016

grab an adjustable panhard bar also, the axle should be to the pass side about 3/4" right now

CzBlkExp · May 16, 2016

I have the McG panhard relocation bracket installed so its still pretty well centered, I have the spohn adjustable panhard but it isn't installed.

I cut my rear springs 2 coils this morning but now I have a weird grinding noise when turning left. I rechecked all my rear suspension to make sure I didnt bind up the panhard bushings or the sway bar bushings but havent found the problem. Going to pull the front wheels off either tonight or in the morning when it isn't so hot outside to recheck the front sway bar bushings and ball joints.

BlkRamRt · May 16, 2016

do you have any pics to show how much the front wheel sticks out?

CzBlkExp · May 16, 2016

The tire stickout is actually less noticable than it was with just the spindles. I would say its probably about where it was stock.

CzBlkExp · May 16, 2016

Still having a noise when I make left turns. Jacked the front end up and gave the wheels a nice firm shake and didnt feel any play. Checked the rotors were moving freely and not binding or scraping on the dust shield. I did find the sway bar end links were a little loose (need to replace with the f-150 links), I guess I got in a hurry and torqued them down with the front suspension at droop instead of ride height. I don't hear anything just cycling the steering right to left when sitting still. Took it for a test drive and the noise is still there. I think it might be the driver side front bearing, because it does get louder the faster I go.

Anyone know a quick way to test the bearing other than a infrared temp probe?

R/T_Fire · May 16, 2016

can you snap some sots of how the front A-arms sit. Also what bump stops are you using or are they still stock?

I am thinking of installing a mixed kit like you did but with a 1" Crown spring up front to get the a-arms closer to stock position but retain the 3"+ drop I have already

razor1 · May 16, 2016

check the heat shield next to the driveshaft around the gas tank. Mine was touching after lowering it.

Quicksilver337 · May 17, 2016

razor1 said:
check the heat shield next to the driveshaft around the gas tank. Mine was touching after lowering it.

did you have to trim any metal?

razor1 · May 17, 2016

no, got it to bend enough to stay away

CzBlkExp · May 17, 2016

R/T_Fire said:
can you snap some sots of how the front A-arms sit. Also what bump stops are you using or are they still stock?

I am thinking of installing a mixed kit like you did but with a 1" Crown spring up front to get the a-arms closer to stock position but retain the 3"+ drop I have already

Stock bump stops at the moment, I have the belltech bump stops but they aren't installed. These pics are with the rear end up on ramps so it's a little more compressed than normal ride height.

CzBlkExp · May 17, 2016

razor1 said:
check the heat shield next to the driveshaft around the gas tank. Mine was touching after lowering it.

Thank you sir, that was the problem. I didn't grab a pic before but with the rear on ramps there was ~1/4 of clearance around the ring on the drive shaft. I guess with full weight and a little speed it was rubbing. I could see a little shine on the drive shaft ring where it was rubbing. I clearanced it a little with a pry bar and went for a test drive around the block.

BlkRamRt · May 17, 2016

CzBlkExp said:
The tire stickout is actually less noticable than it was with just the spindles. I would say its probably about where it was stock.

Thanks for this pics. I thought they would stick out more. Nice looking truck BTW.

CzBlkExp · May 17, 2016

more pics

Original pics at the start of thread are with 4 inch drop coils in the back, these are after cutting 2 full coils off the McG 4 inch coils to give ~5 inch of drop. Currently 31 1/4 inches to wheel arch in the front and 33 1/4 inches in the back (with my tire/wheel combo). Still has ~6inches of minimum ground clearance at the lowest point on the body which is the transmission cross-member. 2 pics with the silver VW are the after cutting rear coil pics.

I will say towing or any substantial load is probably out of the question without air bags. About to go get it aligned now so I'll update if any issues pop up.

razor1 · May 17, 2016

CzBlkExp said:
Thank you sir, that was the problem. I didn't grab a pic before but with the rear on ramps there was ~1/4 of clearance around the ring on the drive shaft. I guess with full weight and a little speed it was rubbing. I could see a little shine on the drive shaft ring where it was rubbing. I clearanced it a little with a pry bar and went for a test drive around the block.

glad it worked out for you, that is a disturbing noise on a first test drive.

5+ drop

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