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Any lowering questions. Step in here...

NORCAL SS

Full Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2012
Messages
44
Location
SAN FRANCISCO
Been lowering these trucks since late 99 and if you have any questions just ask.  Ive done from 2 inch rear drop only all the way to my 3/5+ kits.  I'm always around to help 24/7

Feel free to email me at tony@tbssowners.com or you can text or call 24/7 at 415 519 2432

 
First of all on warranty no it doesnt Only voids the parts you changed out.  Here is my new escalade on my custom 2.75/3.75 drop and still take it in for service work no probelm and I even have 24" replica wheels and wilwood 16" front brakes and 14.5 rear
20120916_125433.jpg





Now question is how low do you want to go??  I've done my 3/5+ kits on many trucks without issue (same as the 07 up tahoes)

Also if you go with 5 inches in rear you can still tow fine all you do is add the helper bag kit inside the springs.  I have a few trucks that tow their cars to the street races and the suburban kits ive done with a ford lightning on a trailer it tows fine on the 5+ kit as long as you add helper bags.

Also I have a strut mod which ive been using for over 6 years now that gives you 1 inch more drop and rides fine.  People have been sending me their struts so i can do the mod for a while while other guys end up doing belltech spinldes along with drop struts with the belltech camber kit so it aligns.

Any other quetsions just holler back.
 
Is there a problem with riding on the bumps stops?
 
With no travel how would the truck feel driving it? How about if the front is riding on the bumps but not the back?
 
LornesAV said:
With no travel how would the truck feel driving it? How about if the front is riding on the bumps but not the back?

What year Avalanche do you have? If you are calling those large cone shaped ones in the front bumpers then no it will not hurt the ride, they are tortion bar dampers. (2002 through 2006 only)
 
2008 Z71 Bump stops are on the shaft of the coil over struts. I have been trying to figure out why the truck wanders so much. Alignment has been checked 3 times. The rear starts out at a fingers depth on the bump stops but the gap gets bigger while driving, front bumps are covered by rubber covers. I figure if the rear is going up then possibly the front is going down.  I have cameras to watch the suspension.
 
The only other thing I suspect is the panhard bar. This is what keeps the rear suspension from moving side to side.
 
are the bushigns bad?? ive done more than a few customers trucks where the rear panhard and or upper or lower a arms bushings are shot.  I use the del sphere spohn kit in these trucks works great.
 
They dont appear to be, I even pulled on the bar but the truck has more weight and shifting than I could simulate. All these parts cost to much to try this and that. I am going to Try a lazer pointer and some marking on the rear end so I can see how much it moves. The wind and this truck was killin me today. If I don't figure it out soon this thing is gone.
 
Z71 4X4 152000 (bought with 31000)but it been this way for at least 100000 just seems worse now or I am just fed up. Rancho 9000, I wanted to lower or at least level it but didn't have the money for both and someone suggested shocks where the problem. I have had your website bookmarked for a long time and I go there every so often to drool.
Driving tonight I had the open highway to myself, seems pretty rare these days. So I took the steering wheel one way with a bit of a jerk and the truck continues in the direction and then a bit of a jerk the other way with the same results. The steering doesn't seem to center itself back if that makes since. If I course one way I usually have to correct immediately back the other when going around a LNG sweeping turn the rear seems to come around and keep me in the turn some. I increase tire pressure from I think Butch's suggestion and this affect seemed to lighten up but it's not gone. I go back and forth from the cause rack and pinion or rear but chevy wasn't any help when it was under warranty.
 
I looked at this thread and looking at the coils in the rear they are 5 free turns, is that the drop spring because mine has 5 and I never dropped the rear. My understanding there are less turns on a drop. I also pulled the tag off one of the spring front and rear the other did not have one and search for the numbers that are on them, no luck with that. I don't know if GM has a part number that is consistantly the same since there are some many parts that make up this vehicle.

http://chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,136548.0.html
 
norcal, whats the lowest you have been on 26's? im debating between just a 2' level on the rear or a 2/4 kit... already had to take care of some slight rubbing issues on the front at stock height so i dont know how well that would work out...
 
Norcal, I have a 2007 avalanche on 22's. I'd like to drop the rear end only, just to even it out. Right now I have about 8 inches from the top of the tire to the bottom of the fender. Would rather not have to buy new shocks. What would you recommend?
 
I hear that Belltech gives the best ride and that is all that I have ever used.
 
Norcal,

I've levelled my truck with belltech springs so far and am contemplating lowering the front a lil bit.  I plan on lowering the front by 1" -1.5". Is it worth it to use the spindle kit or will my ride quality suffer much by just replacing the spring? Will i need a front alignment done with the spindles or springs?

TIA
 
in front you can do my strut mod for 1 inch.  Ive been modifying the factory struts for over 6 years on the 07 up trucks no issues

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44758
 
Is this possible on the front struts with Rancho 9000?
I think I am on my way to a fix with the wandering. I firgured what the heck maybe forth time is a charm on an alignment and yes things got way better, caster was out on one side. So then things are better but not quite there so changed the tie rods. Still better but man these high winds and I am still correcting. I can slightly jerk the wheel (either direction) and the truck continues to go that way, this is at any speed. The isse can be refered to as memory steer or return ability. I. Have another shop visit scheduled to increase caster to a more positive adjustment which should help with returnabilty. The only side effect that I have read about is harder steering to turn. Mine is so easy now I can afford to give up a lot of it as far as I am concerned.

Sorry to put all this in a lowering thread but I figured NorCal SS would be a great suspension guy to run my many miles of trouble past. 
 
LornesAV said:
Is grooving possible on the front struts with Rancho 9000? how deep is the groove?
I think I am on my way to a fix with the wandering. I firgured what the heck maybe forth time is a charm on an alignment and yes things got way better, caster was out on one side. So then things are better but not quite there so changed the tie rods. Still better but man these high winds and I am still correcting. I can slightly jerk the wheel (either direction) and the truck continues to go that way, this is at any speed. The isse can be refered to as memory steer or return ability. I. Have another shop visit scheduled to increase caster to a more positive adjustment which should help with returnabilty. The only side effect that I have read about is harder steering to turn. Mine is so easy now I can afford to give up a lot of it as far as I am concerned.

Sorry to put all this in a lowering thread but I figured NorCal SS would be a great suspension guy to run my many miles of trouble past.  

Don't remember quoting myself.... Mmmmmm
 
LornesAV said:
Is this possible on the front struts with Rancho 9000?
I think I am on my way to a fix with the wandering. I firgured what the heck maybe forth time is a charm on an alignment and yes things got way better, caster was out on one side. So then things are better but not quite there so changed the tie rods. Still better but man these high winds and I am still correcting. I can slightly jerk the wheel (either direction) and the truck continues to go that way, this is at any speed. The isse can be refered to as memory steer or return ability. I. Have another shop visit scheduled to increase caster to a more positive adjustment which should help with returnabilty. The only side effect that I have read about is harder steering to turn. Mine is so easy now I can afford to give up a lot of it as far as I am concerned.

Sorry to put all this in a lowering thread but I figured NorCal SS would be a great suspension guy to run my many miles of trouble past. 

if there is a snap ring on the rancho then I can do it.  I usually do the stock shocks or the bilsteins.

are you running front/rear swaybars?
stock suspension otherwise?
tires new? and what brand?
 
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