Need advice...3 inch front lowering springs?

[Redtruck-VA]

I think it would look better if I removed the O/L spring and got the 3 inch drop springs but I think I read you cant align it right and get the camber in spec with the 3 inch springs? Do you know if this is correct?

If it is I guess if I wanted to do 3 inches I would need to buy 2 inch drop spindles and trim my stock springs and put them back in to get 3 inches in the front?

You are much closer to the original geometry using a drop spindle making it easier to align. The O/L spring should drop the thickness of the spring but seems like it drops a touch more than that. I saw a picture of what was said to be a SRT10 trackbar and it looked to me to be a O/L spring with a snubber attached to the front of the spring where it flairs a little and the rear portion after the axle cut off. I don't know if you need bars or not but this seemed both simple and cheap to do. The rear springs are very flexible and if you play hard you will need a trackbar of some sort. Caltrcs are very popular and I use them and they do the job.

This will give you an idea how low Red really is sitting next to Ken's beast.

 

[derekd7987]

Well I cut the front springs Saturday. I think it turned out pretty good. After taking measurements, I couldn't decide on cutting a 1/4 or 1/2 of a coil so I cut in the middle. While I had my wheel off and things out of the way, I went ahead and cut the cups off of the front. My Timbren springs will be here Wednesday, so installing them should go pretty quick with the cups already being done.

Another question for you Red...I've happened to come across all these post about welding the perches for the rear. I need to look at mine today but I'm pretty sure mine aren't done unless the shop that put the lowering kit on was aware of this and did them at that time. I've been driving the truck with the lowering kit on it for right at 5 years and 55,000 miles with no problems. Now I'm worried though so I think I should get this done, atleast for peace of mind.

Are people only welding the stock perches to the axle, or also the new ones that come in the lowering kit? Anybody know around how much this should cost to have a shop weld these?

 

[Redtruck-VA]

Until recently I assumed everyone was welding the flip kit perches to the axle, but then I saw pictures were some folks were just adding weld to the stock perches to prevent them from being torn off. I'm of the opinion that it is stronger to weld the new flip kit perches to the axle and it is what I did many years ago and hundreds of hard launches ago.

 

[moparman]

You need to weld the new perches to the axle

 

[Redtruck-VA]

Update?

 

[derekd7987]

Sorry for the delay. Been really busy. The lowering is complete as stated in my last post. The timbren springs came in last Wednesday and I was able to get the rear ones on. I haven't had a chance to do the fronts yet. I'm thinking it will be Tuesday before I'm able to do them. I will post pics of it all after I get it all complete. Also I stopped by a shop that specializes in axles and had them lift the truck so we could check out the perches. The stock perches are fully welded. They look like factory welds though. You think they started welding them better in 2008? He said he could throw some welds on the flip kit pieces but he didn't think it was necessary so I held off on that for now.

 

[Redtruck-VA]

Sorry for the delay. Been really busy. The lowering is complete as stated in my last post. The timbren springs came in last Wednesday and I was able to get the rear ones on. I haven't had a chance to do the fronts yet. I'm thinking it will be Tuesday before I'm able to do them. I will post pics of it all after I get it all complete. Also I stopped by a shop that specializes in axles and had them lift the truck so we could check out the perches. The stock perches are fully welded. They look like factory welds though. You think they started welding them better in 2008? He said he could throw some welds on the flip kit pieces but he didn't think it was necessary so I held off on that for now.

Missed opportunity, I would strongly recommend to have them welded. Him being wrong won't cost him any money, but it'll cost you big time. Good luck...

 

[derekd7987]

Yea. The shop is only 10 min from my house so ill prolly go back one day and have him do it. he said he would only charge me 20 or 25 bucks. I was just runnin short on time that day.

The rear timbren springs feel great. There are some pretty bad dips on the interstate that I usually smack the bump stops and its ALOT LESS harsh now

 

[Redtruck-VA]

Yea. The shop is only 10 min from my house so ill prolly go back one day and have him do it. he said he would only charge me 20 or 25 bucks. I was just runnin short on time that day.

The rear timbren springs feel great. There are some pretty bad dips on the interstate that I usually smack the bump stops and its ALOT LESS harsh now

Those must be some really bad dips, maybe you need shocks? Together with good shocks I may get a really firm hit but never a bang. Your like the feel of the front and rear working together. If your front tires rub the inner fender well you can put washers (shims) under them to keep from rubbing.

 

[derekd7987]

Yea and u cant avoid it cuz its like that in all 3 lanes. Prolly wouldnt be too bad at lower speeds but sucks hittin it between 65 and 75. Yea ill have to measure the front when I do them and see if the fenders will hit or not

 

[Redtruck-VA]

The fender liners are PCV or some kind of plastic and the tire will burn a hole in them right quick.