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-   -   Suburban lowering question (https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=822066)

Hart_Rod 05-24-2021 02:23 PM

Suburban lowering question
 
2 Attachment(s)
Will the lowering kits for 84-87 fit on the 89? If so, what kit do you use? If not, what kit do you use? TIA

Ziegelsteinfaust 05-24-2021 03:46 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Kits for 73-88 or what ever the change over is will work.

Being a Burb you should 1.25 inch rotors.

I would do spindles before coils depending on how low you desire to go.

lolife99 05-24-2021 07:55 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
89-81 suburbans are the same as the 73-87 burbs.
Also mentioned you should have the 1.25” rotors.

I had a 91 burb lowered with 4” drop leaf springs.
You will need to shim the carrier bearing mount to help with driveshaft length.
I had drop spindles and springs up front.

I see a lot of people using flip kits on the rear.
TinWorks Fabrication make a bolt in c-notch with the “suburban only” body mount built in.
This gets you axle clearance, but also gets the center section of the rearend close to the bed floor.
Good luck with your build.

Hart_Rod 05-25-2021 08:24 AM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
2 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziegelsteinfaust (Post 8924375)
Kits for 73-88 or what ever the change over is will work.

Being a Burb you should 1.25 inch rotors.

I would do spindles before coils depending on how low you desire to go.

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolife99 (Post 8924494)
88-91 suburbans are the same as the 73-87 burbs.
Also mentioned you should have the 1.25” rotors.

I had a 91 burb lowered with 5” drop leaf springs.
You will need to shim the carrier bearing mount to help with driveshaft length.
I had drop spindles and springs up front.

I see a lot of people using flip kits on the rear.
TinWorks Fabrication make a bolt in c-notch with the “suburban only” body mount built in.
This gets you axle clearance, but also gets the center section of the rearend close to the bed floor.
Good luck with your build.

Thanks Keith. Not sure I'm lowering it yet. I kinda like the look as is with the ralleys. Here's a picture with the factory 7" wheels that were on it when I got it, :barf:... The ralleys look so much better!

GRADYS Performance 05-25-2021 12:05 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Lower it just a couple of inches with spindles and shackles, it wide ride the same and look nice with your wheel and tire combination.

lolife99 05-25-2021 12:15 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
1 Attachment(s)
I told you wrong.
These were 4” drop leaf springs.

Hart_Rod 05-25-2021 01:07 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by GRADYS Performance (Post 8924733)
Lower it just a couple of inches with spindles and shackles, it wide ride the same and look nice with your wheel and tire combination.

:metal:

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolife99 (Post 8924741)
I told you wrong.
These were 4” drop leaf springs.

Whose kit did you use?

lolife99 05-25-2021 05:24 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod (Post 8924757)
:metal
Whose kit did you use?

No kit.
They were Chisholm Leaf Springs, (out of business now)
I would use Western Chassis if you want drop leaf springs.
I thought a flip kit would be too low and no one made a bolt-in c-notch back then.
Belltech 3” drop spindles and 2” drop springs.
Belltech nitro drop shocks with rear shock extenders.
15x7 and 15x8 rally wheels.
215/70-15 and 275/60-15 tires.

SCOTI 05-25-2021 05:25 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Standard C10 lowering stuff up front.
Tinworks c-notch & flip kit out back. Swap a lift shackle in place if the flip is too much.

lolife99 05-25-2021 05:55 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTI (Post 8924879)
Standard C10 lowering stuff up front.
Tinworks c-notch & flip kit out back. Swap a lift shackle in place if the flip is too much.

Better plan,... ^^^

72c20customcamper 05-26-2021 08:39 AM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
I purchased 4 inch drop leafs and 3 inch coils for my Burban from Western chassis. Sold the truck before I had a chance to install.

Hart_Rod 05-26-2021 01:27 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by lolife99 (Post 8924877)
No kit.
They were Chisholm Leaf Springs, (out of business now)
I would use Western Chassis if you want drop leaf springs.
I thought a flip kit would be too low and no one made a bolt-in c-notch back then.
Belltech 3” drop spindles and 2” drop springs.
Belltech nitro drop shocks with rear shock extenders.
15x7 and 15x8 rally wheels.
215/70-15 and 275/60-15 tires.

:metal:

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTI (Post 8924879)
Standard C10 lowering stuff up front.
Tinworks c-notch & flip kit out back. Swap a lift shackle in place if the flip is too much.

Thanks Scoti, looks like a good way to go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolife99 (Post 8924892)
Better plan,... ^^^

Agreed!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper (Post 8925110)
I purchased 4 inch drop leafs and 3 inch coils for my Burban from Western chassis. Sold the truck before I had a chance to install.

I'm guessing the parts went with the Burb?

BlueJeep 05-26-2021 03:44 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Here's 4/6 drop, details are all in the build thread:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1593270466

And the notch will get you axle clearance, but before the axle hits the frame or the diff hits the floor the tires will rub on the tops of the wheelhouses. That was NOT something I factored in...

Ol' Drippy 05-26-2021 04:08 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
1 Attachment(s)
I used drop spindles and springs up front. In the back, I flipped the axle but then it was too low. In order to avoid notching the frame I lifted it back up a little with some short shackles from Rancho. That gave me enough clearance.

SCOTI 05-26-2021 05:01 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueJeep (Post 8925238)
Here's 4/6 drop, details are all in the build thread:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1593270466

And the notch will get you axle clearance, but before the axle hits the frame or the diff hits the floor the tires will rub on the tops of the wheelhouses. That was NOT something I factored in...

I thought I mentioned that clearance caveat & why I suggested raising the floor directly above the differential?

BlueJeep 05-26-2021 05:11 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTI (Post 8925263)
I thought I mentioned that clearance caveat & why I suggested raising the floor directly above the differential?

You did mention that, but the floor is NOT the problem. The wheel tubs are the problem, tires rub on them before the diff ever gets close to the floor....

Effectively, the tires rubbing on the wheel tubs are the "bump stops". ;) I assume the wheel tubs are lower than the equivalent pickup ones, which is why the axle flipped truck guys don't mention this.

SCOTI 05-26-2021 06:31 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueJeep (Post 8925267)
You did mention that, but the floor is NOT the problem. The wheel tubs are the problem, tires rub on them before the diff ever gets close to the floor....

Effectively, the tires rubbing on the wheel tubs are the "bump stops". ;) I assume the wheel tubs are lower than the equivalent pickup ones, which is why the axle flipped truck guys don't mention this.

Interesting. I never thought about the tub location relative to the floor. My assumption was they bolted to the flooring just like the trucks which would yield similar height limitations. I was solely focusing on the differential to floor clearance.

Thanks for the insight.

BlueJeep 05-26-2021 06:43 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTI (Post 8925281)
Interesting. I never thought about the tub location relative to the floor. My assumption was they bolted to the flooring just like the trucks which would yield similar height limitations. I was solely focusing on the differential to floor clearance.

Thanks for the insight.

If you step back and think about it, it makes sense. The floor over the diff in a suburban is lower than the floor above the diff in a truck. If the same height wheel tub (unvalidated) is bolted to that floor, the top of that tub will also be lower than a truck.

Hopefully all of this is somewhat helpful to Hart Rod!

72c20customcamper 05-26-2021 08:31 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
1 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod (Post 8925204)
:metal:

I'm guessing the parts went with the Burb?

No I still have them . New owner was keeping it all original . I guess I can see his point truck had never been touched.

lolife99 05-26-2021 09:49 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueJeep (Post 8925267)
You did mention that, but the floor is NOT the problem. The wheel tubs are the problem, tires rub on them before the diff ever gets close to the floor....

Effectively, the tires rubbing on the wheel tubs are the "bump stops". ;) I assume the wheel tubs are lower than the equivalent pickup ones, which is why the axle flipped truck guys don't mention this.

Just so everyone can compare “apples to apples”,... what HEIGHT rear tire are your running?

SCOTI 05-27-2021 12:53 AM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by lolife99 (Post 8925363)
Just so everyone can compare “apples to apples”,... what HEIGHT rear tire are your running?

I recall he was using 295/45-20's @ ~30.4" tall in the rear.

GRADYS Performance 05-27-2021 07:46 AM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by lolife99 (Post 8925363)
Just so everyone can compare “apples to apples”,... what HEIGHT rear tire are your running?

This is the piece of the puzzle that needs to be taken into consideration in the comparison.

BlueJeep 05-27-2021 11:00 AM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTI (Post 8925401)
I recall he was using 295/45-20's @ ~30.4" tall in the rear.

Yep, they are what seems to be a "normal" size rear tire for squarebodies. 235/75R15 was stock and that is @28.9", so 1.5" taller, and .75" closer to the wheel tub.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GRADYS Performance (Post 8925445)
This is the piece of the puzzle that needs to be taken into consideration in the comparison.

Correct.

Hart_Rod 05-30-2021 12:54 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper (Post 8925329)
No I still have them . New owner was keeping it all original . I guess I can see his point truck had never been touched.

Are you interested in selling those parts? LMK.

72c20customcamper 05-30-2021 01:32 PM

Re: Suburban lowering question
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Hart_Rod (Post 8926681)
Are you interested in selling those parts? LMK.

I have been looking for a square to use them on . I did speak with St.Louis about the leaf spring and the guy told me they fit my 72 C20 I'm not so sure though


I think shipping would be way more than they are worth.


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