How low can you go with a 4x4?

[MiniD]

I'd like to start building a 1999-2006 4x4 for the road. I'm wondering how low you can go without impacting the 4x4 functionality.

[franken]

So you want to make the 4x4 part useless? People usually want to lift a 4x4. Maybe you need a 2x4?

[MiniD]

Ummmm... 4x4 is not useless on lowered vehicles. Especially trucks in bad weather. I don't off-road. I'd like something that handles ice better than a 2wd truck.

[EVRLET]

Do tell how lowering a 4x4 makes it useless?

Apparently you think 4x4 is only for off-roading and rock climbing. What about traction in snow conditions or launches on drag strips. Sure, you may have limited yourself to how you can use the 4x4 feature when you lower it but it’s not useless. I’ve seen trucks with 6” lifts and can’t clear some off road obstacles. Does that make it useless? You probably think lowering a diesel also is useless.

Here’s my 4x4 Tahoe lowered. Torsion bar set up same as NBS. I used adjustable keys to get the front lower than 3”

[LT7A]

My OBS Z71 was easy to lower about 2 inches. I just loosened the torsion bar bolts until the truck dropped as much as it was going to, and then snugged them back up without lifting it again. Then got drop shackles for the rear. Front needed to have an alignment done. EVRLET may know more based on his post above - I don't know the specifics on the GMT800s. Mine was easy and cheap. Looks good and drives well. Not the rig I take off road anymore but still can fit 285/75-16s on it without rubbing. Sounds like you may want more lower. Probably new keys for the torsion bars per EVRLET and drop shackles along with lowering springs hangers to get a bit lower for a total of maybe 4 inches front and rear. More than that and you probably have to start fabricating unless someone makes a kit - not super likely for a 4x4. Could probably put a flip kit on the rear but I don't know how you'd get the front to match since I don't think there are drop spindles for a 4x4.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by EVRLET

Do tell how lowering a 4x4 makes it useless?

Apparently you think 4x4 is only for off-roading and rock climbing. What about traction in snow conditions or launches on drag strips. Sure, you may have limited yourself to how you can use the 4x4 feature when you lower it but it’s not useless. I’ve seen trucks with 6” lifts and can’t clear some off road obstacles. Does that make it useless? You probably think lowering a diesel also is useless.

Here’s my 4x4 Tahoe lowered. Torsion bar set up same as NBS. I used adjustable keys to get the front lower than 3”

This looks good! Can you tell us a little more about it - separate thread maybe?