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Old 05-24-2021, 02:23 PM   #1
Hart_Rod
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Suburban lowering question

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
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Old 05-24-2021, 03:46 PM   #2
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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.
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Old 05-24-2021, 07:55 PM   #3
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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.
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Old 05-25-2021, 08:24 AM   #4
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Re: Suburban lowering question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ziegelsteinfaust View Post
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 View Post
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, ... The ralleys look so much better!
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Old 05-25-2021, 12:05 PM   #5
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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.
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Old 05-25-2021, 12:15 PM   #6
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Re: Suburban lowering question

I told you wrong.
These were 4” drop leaf springs.
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Old 05-25-2021, 01:07 PM   #7
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Re: Suburban lowering question

Quote:
Originally Posted by GRADYS Performance View Post
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.


Quote:
Originally Posted by lolife99 View Post
I told you wrong.
These were 4” drop leaf springs.
Whose kit did you use?
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Old 05-25-2021, 05:24 PM   #8
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Re: Suburban lowering question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hart_Rod View Post
: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.
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Old 05-25-2021, 05:25 PM   #9
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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.
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Old 05-25-2021, 05:55 PM   #10
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Re: Suburban lowering question

Quote:
Originally Posted by SCOTI View Post
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,... ^^^
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Old 05-26-2021, 08:39 AM   #11
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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.
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Old 05-26-2021, 01:27 PM   #12
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Re: Suburban lowering question

Quote:
Originally Posted by lolife99 View Post
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.


Quote:
Originally Posted by SCOTI View Post
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 View Post
Better plan,... ^^^
Agreed!

Quote:
Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper View Post
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?
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Old 05-26-2021, 03:44 PM   #13
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Re: Suburban lowering question

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



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...
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Old 05-26-2021, 04:08 PM   #14
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Re: Suburban lowering question

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.
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Old 05-26-2021, 05:01 PM   #15
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Re: Suburban lowering question

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



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?
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Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive.
It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar.....

Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.
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Old 05-26-2021, 05:11 PM   #16
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Re: Suburban lowering question

Quote:
Originally Posted by SCOTI View Post
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.
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Old 05-26-2021, 06:31 PM   #17
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Re: Suburban lowering question

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Originally Posted by BlueJeep View Post
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.
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Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive.
It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar.....

Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.
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Old 05-26-2021, 06:43 PM   #18
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Re: Suburban lowering question

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Originally Posted by SCOTI View Post
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!
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Old 05-26-2021, 08:31 PM   #19
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Re: Suburban lowering question

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Originally Posted by Hart_Rod View Post


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.
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Old 05-26-2021, 09:49 PM   #20
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Re: Suburban lowering question

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueJeep View Post
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?
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Old 05-27-2021, 12:53 AM   #21
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Re: Suburban lowering question

Quote:
Originally Posted by lolife99 View Post
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.
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Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive.
It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar.....

Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.
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Old 05-27-2021, 07:46 AM   #22
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Re: Suburban lowering question

Quote:
Originally Posted by lolife99 View Post
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.
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Old 05-27-2021, 11:00 AM   #23
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Re: Suburban lowering question

Quote:
Originally Posted by SCOTI View Post
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.

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This is the piece of the puzzle that needs to be taken into consideration in the comparison.
Correct.
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Old 05-30-2021, 12:54 PM   #24
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Re: Suburban lowering question

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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.
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Old 05-30-2021, 01:32 PM   #25
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Re: Suburban lowering question

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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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