new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

so i am a chevy guy
square = fav
wanted an old suburban.... everything near me- in my budget was rot box
so i found a 97 tahoe- 80k original - been sitting for a while but - well guess its mine now so ill find out....
so this is my FIRST 4x4 in my life.
and now that i have one- i need to know how to lower the truck!!!!
can't stay up there. no money for bags or big money drops at shop...
any help will be greatly appreciated.
saw torsion keys or something like that. also saw spindles.
not sure why both or either would be options.

its got 16s on it now. with tires that will need change. so ill look for some stock wheels and tires unless i need to go bigger for spindle.
i see a lowered 4x2 forum. ill go through it tomorrow. but not sure if anyone can help with the 4x4 thing.

thanks in advance.

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

You can lower using torsion keys or do a coil over conversion. I lowered my 4x4 Tahoe with the Maxxcam adjustable torsion key and a flip kit in the rear. This is a 4/6 drop on 22s

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

I can't answer your questions but would like to see some pictures. Sounds like a great find.

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

There is not way thats a 4/6 drop with the front so much higher then the rear. Maybe a 3/6.

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

Oh the skeptics. What do you think the truck in the rear is?

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

Stock height

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

4WD stance is more level than 2WD. Or at least that's what I've always observed. 2WD after drop shackles achieves roughly 4WD stance.

I'm sure there's probably a technical drivetrain reason for this but I'm no expert.

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

sweet looking truck!!!!
this is again my first 4x4 EVER...never thought i would sit behind the wheel of a 4x. anyway- i guess ill start looking for info on torsion bars.
as for the flip- other trucks I've had to notch frame with a flip- c10s and pick ups i had in the past up to 98-
is a notch needed?
you when that low up front by just turning whatever the torsion key is??? thats sic.

guess ill try and do some searching around for info.. i always had it in my head that 4x4 would be hard to drop due to the whole 4x4 thing.
i saw a kit that had spindles and shackles and hangers i think- under 400 which i thought was pretty good.
id love to slam it. but i dont have big bucks..... just trying to get out of the sky

i also saw a similar kit that had not spindles just the keys.??

id like to keep the 4x4 function i guess. will change wheels if needed down the road. for now. just like to get a little lower and find out any other issues i end up with . truck sat for a long time. dirty pig. has some rusty spots on roof. gas gauge needle is pinned at 3 o'clock.
i was hearing a clunk noise up front driver side. got under to look and noticed the shock has NO BUSHING. so the clank is that . anyone know if i can get a bushing or do i need to just get new shocks for the front?

again thanks for any help. and PLEASE feel free to keep pics coming.

i saw the 4x2 lowered tahoe thread....

point me in the direction of a 4x4 one if there is one on here somewhere!!!

thanks again guys

Just putting out some food for thought
 

2 things that should be considered when changing suspension.

First and foremost are pinion angles.
Explained here:

https://spicerparts.com/anglemaster/measuring-angles

The other is torsion bar key altering. I have never heard good things from anyone that altered the keys in any way. One of the problems shown here in this video is obviously the opposite of what you want to do. However, that direction can also have consequences.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLgTG4JwdXM

You can dig further into these 2 areas to understand better the problems. I see people every week that have pinion issues on raised trucks. The ones with altered keys don't understand the ride quality issues and think they have to live with the ride.

Good luck in your endeavors.

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

Rear truck looks more like a 4/6, maybe even 5" in front, its even looking. The blazer/tahoe front looks higher then the rear, why is that if its a 4/6 drop on it?

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

It’s probably the camera angle. The red truck is a 4/8 drop

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

so i ask the question- flip kit- needs notch? just plug and play?

another question. spent some time last night before bed looking around at torsion key drop or just torsion drops. i saw a guy just turn stock keys down. and it looked like truck went down 2 inches???
why buy the keys for 100 bucks ? can i just turn mine and get the truck a little lower or do i need to buy keys and the tool to change them out????

thought maybe till i decide or find more info that maybe i can turn the stock bolt out and get the front down a bit for now and then put a shackle i have in the garage on the truck and for now be a little lower-

read today that its not good to drop with torsion????


so should i wait and get spindles ?

can i flip rear without notch??

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

C-Notch = I’m a believer in notches and have used C-Notches and under bed notches for every 97 and up Chevy truck that I do flip kits on. No different here. Used the Belltech notch and installed air shocks.

Are notches required...depends. Some flip kits only drops 5” and a notch isn’t required. You can always get the flip kit, install it, and then see how much room you have and determine if you need a notch.


Yes, you can reclock the factory key but it can only go so far. The ride will be super crappy if you max out the torsion. But if you want to see how it looks lowered, then go for it. You will need the tool.

There are drop keys, but it is also limited in reclocking distance. That’s why I bought the Maxxcam adjustable torsion key. Read about how torsion bar suspensions work and what the key actually does. Then you’ll understand why the Maxxcam key has the center adjustable cog.

And yes, my 4x4 is still fully functional.

You will always find people that say don’t do this or that. Sure, the way torsion suspensions work, you’re manipulating engineering by reclocking the key. Does that mean it becomes a death trap? Hell no. My Tahoe rides just as smooth as it was at factory height. I customize my trucks and some people hate it. They even say the ride quality is garbage, but never even rode in my truck. I have a Porterbuilt 67, Belltech 1997 truck, Belltech 1999 Tahoe, and a McGaughy 2001 Silverado that have all been lowered and the ride quality is awesome. Two each their own...

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

Here’s my notch so you get an idea how close you would be without one. This is a 6” drop.

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

No bumpstops? Or is this before it was all finished?

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

No bump stop installed. I hit a big dip last week going about 40 mph and the rear end never hit the frame.

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

sweet
thanks for pics and replies. guess if you know anywhere i can see some more lowered 4x4 hoes....point me in the right direction.

i wanted to just turn down the keys and put the shackles in this weekend but when i see you said it will ride like crap. guess ill stay in the sky until i find some spindles or springs or some other way to get it lower.

saw a quick cheap spring shackle combo done on you tube the other day. but figure if im gonna take a bunch off to get to spring might as well do it better

ill be looking for kits or to piece together something i guess.

thanks again
and feel free to keep posting pic of your truck... looks awesome.

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

pics

Re: new to me...97 tahoe 4x4...
 

after wheel change and few turns on stock torsion key