how low can i go?

[DiCi21]

Aight so my vette wheels are back now that the snow is gone, and I have been thinking of lowering my truck. The only concern I have is since the back wheels are sooo wide they don't exactly tuck. You can kinda see what I mean in this picture:
http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff172/dici21/IMG_9035.jpg
It sicks out just enough to where the tire will hit the fender flare... So how low do you think I can go without hitting that flare when I go over bumps? I would like to eliminate as much wheel gap as possible.

[87wildside]

It's a stock height xtreme right?

[BigTruckDrivah]

Probably not more than 2inches all the way around, maybe 3 in the back. Those are some wide a** tires, but they look nice.

[DiCi21]

It's a stock height xtreme right?
Yes its stock height

[BIG RYAN]

do a 2/3 and roll the fender in/up.

[DiCi21]

can you roll plastic fenders? or maybe just heating it up and bending it would work?

[BigTruckDrivah]

Cringe!!! I know that works with naked fenders, but I'd be careful with those plastic extreme fender flares.

[87wildside]

You would roll or cut the metal and cut the plastic. I would make sure the fender lip doesn't hold the flair on before cutting though.

[DiCi21]

ok i just checked it out and it seems like everything should clear with a little trimming and rolling. Anybody know how to remove the fender flares? I think it would make cutting them a lot easier/cleaner

[DiCi21]

Would this be my best option as far as lowering it goes? I read somewhere before that I can't use lowering springs for an xtreme.
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=BEL-614ND&view=1&N=700+150+4294908216+4294907469+4294924641+400013+ 4294844590+4294907048+4294908396+&appfilter=1

[87wildside]

That's what I would do.

[BigTruckDrivah]

Yep, spindles are better IMO. You could do springs, but spindles keep your factory suspension geometry.

[DiCi21]

ok one more question before I make my final decision on buying the lowering kit or not... Do I need the drop shocks that it comes with or will my factory ones work?

[BigTruckDrivah]

If your shocks are worn out then definately. It will ride better, the new shocks are going to be shorter than the stockers. I would.

[BIG RYAN]

Yep, spindles are better IMO. You could do springs, but spindles keep your factory suspension geometry.


i wouldnt use drop spindles unless i absolutey had too. i have them on my truck and i have tons of bump steer

go with coils!

[BigTruckDrivah]

to each is own I guess. 2inch coils probably wont wear your tires out too bad too soon.

[87wildside]

I forgot about the bump steer and they also change the offset.

[BigTruckDrivah]

Good reason to get new wheels!

[87wildside]

I thought he wanted to keep them.

[BigTruckDrivah]

Oooo, yea. my bad. well with that bigga wheel you should be alright.

[DiCi21]

so the spindles push the wheels out even more?

[12sws27]

Would this be my best option as far as lowering it goes? I read somewhere before that I can't use lowering springs for an xtreme.
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=BEL-614ND&view=1&N=700+150+4294908216+4294907469+4294924641+400013+ 4294844590+4294907048+4294908396+&appfilter=1
I would say that kit is fine. Are if you want solid aluminum blocks you can get those from http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_S10-Lowering-Blocks.html.

The U bolts their blocks come with are the real deal too. Not those weak skin ass things belltech sends you.

Then just get the spindles by their selves.

Plan on getting an alignment the same day you do it. When I installed my spindles the toe out was so bad that I had sever bump-steer I couldn't drive over 10mph. It was down right dangerous. Good thing for me there was an alignment shop a block away. Your alignment after the the spindles might not be as bad or it could be worse. I guess it all depends.
The spindle will also push the wheels out a bit. But only about a 1/4 of an inch.

While you at it you might as well get a pinion alignment kit. You want to make sure you pinion angle is good. JTR also had a kit for that. Check it out, http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_S10-DrvshftKit-Short.html

You can use drop springs. It's just that the coils and leafs the Xtremes have are 1.5" lower than the regular s10's. So if you bought 3" drop coils and leafs you would only be getting a 1.5" drop. Understand?


do a 2/3 and roll the fender in/up.


i wouldnt use drop spindles unless i absolutey had too. i have them on my truck and i have tons of bump steer

go with coils!
How would he go 2" lower like you suggested then? 4" drop coils?:rolleyes:

I have drop spindles on my truck. I don't have any bump-steer. What else does you truck have besides the spindles? Looks pretty low to me.

If DiCi21 gets the spindles and 3" blocks he will have a 3.5 front and 4.5 rear drop. I don't think he'll have a probably as lond as it's aligned right.

About the drop shocks. The front won't need them since the control arms (where the shock mounts) will stay the same distance apart. You only need drop shocks if how you lower it causes the 2 shock mounting places end up closer together. Like when you do coils or leafs. Same thing goes with the rear. The shock mounts stay the same after you install the blocks so there's no need for drop shocks. All the blocks do is raise the rear-end close to the body and farther from the leaf spring plate.

[BigTruckDrivah]

So, you only need drop shocks on something like a fullsize silvy? Since the shocks mount to the axle right? I also, have no bump steer with my spindles. But thats just me.

[12sws27]

So, you only need drop shocks on something like a fullsize silvy? Since the shocks mount to the axle right? I also, have no bump steer with my spindles. But thats just me.
IDK about dropping a full size but the same would apply. Is the mount are closer after the drop then drop shocks are suggested. They're never needed I guess. You would just have a really sh!ty ride. If a shock is designed for a certain length and it's use in a shorter length then it was designed for it would already be compressed more that it should be right. If it it was way to long then it would bottom out I would assume. This is how I understand it at least.

If you lower a S10/Blazer more than 1" with coils or leafs it's suggested you use drop shocks or I guess a shock designed for that length between the 2 shock mounts. I wanna know how I figure that out? Just measure the distance between the mounts and find a shock designed to work?

[87wildside]

I always use drop shocks weather it spindles/ blocks or springs. My theory is they are stiffer and it will help keep the truck off the bump stops. Gives a stiffer ride though and a lot of people don't like that.
Scott is correct that they are not needed unless the mounting points for the shocks are moved.

[12sws27]

I always use drop shocks weather it spindles/ blocks or springs. My theory is they are stiffer and it will help keep the truck off the bump stops. Gives a stiffer ride though and a lot of people don't like that.
Scott is correct that they are not needed unless the mounting points for the shocks are moved.
I prefer sniffer ride myself. Feels safer unless it's so damn hard the rear end tends to hop when you hit a bump like a 3/4ton truck does.

[BigTruckDrivah]

mines so low that stiff is the only way, with the cheapo drop shocks I have on my truck surprisingly it hardly ever bottoms out. Oh and btw shocks are still holding up!

[87wildside]

mines so low that stiff is the only way, with the cheapo drop shocks I have on my truck surprisingly it hardly ever bottoms out. Oh and btw shocks are still holding up!Do you still have the factory bump stops?

[12sws27]

What shocks you using?

[BigTruckDrivah]

No bumpstop on the back, I cut them out. On the front I think they are pretty worn but still there.

The shocks are "suspension max".
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb230/xacy0303/IMGP0035.jpg

[87wildside]

That pic brings back memories :)

[DiCi21]

Thanks for the info scott... So I should go with the spindles, the blocks from JTR w/the pinion alignment plate, and I don't need drop shocks.... Does that sound like everything?

[BigTruckDrivah]

Those shocks are some off the wall cheapos from ebay and they still havnt blown. Ive bought bell techs before on a sec gen I had and they didnt last for ****e man!

[12sws27]

Thanks for the info scott... So I should go with the spindles, the blocks from JTR w/the pinion alignment plate, and I don't need drop shocks.... Does that sound like everything?
Yes. That would be my suggestion. As well as what I will be doing on my Jimmy in the future. Zq8 stuff with spindles and blocks.

[BIG RYAN]

I would say that kit is fine. Are if you want solid aluminum blocks you can get those from http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_S10-Lowering-Blocks.html.

The U bolts their blocks come with are the real deal too. Not those weak skin ass things belltech sends you.

Then just get the spindles by their selves.

Plan on getting an alignment the same day you do it. When I installed my spindles the toe out was so bad that I had sever bump-steer I couldn't drive over 10mph. It was down right dangerous. Good thing for me there was an alignment shop a block away. Your alignment after the the spindles might not be as bad or it could be worse. I guess it all depends.
The spindle will also push the wheels out a bit. But only about a 1/4 of an inch.

While you at it you might as well get a pinion alignment kit. You want to make sure you pinion angle is good. JTR also had a kit for that. Check it out, http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_S10-DrvshftKit-Short.html

You can use drop springs. It's just that the coils and leafs the Xtremes have are 1.5" lower than the regular s10's. So if you bought 3" drop coils and leafs you would only be getting a 1.5" drop. Understand?




How would he go 2" lower like you suggested then? 4" drop coils?:rolleyes:

I have drop spindles on my truck. I don't have any bump-steer. What else does you truck have besides the spindles? Looks pretty low to me.

If DiCi21 gets the spindles and 3" blocks he will have a 3.5 front and 4.5 rear drop. I don't think he'll have a probably as lond as it's aligned right.

About the drop shocks. The front won't need them since the control arms (where the shock mounts) will stay the same distance apart. You only need drop shocks if how you lower it causes the 2 shock mounting places end up closer together. Like when you do coils or leafs. Same thing goes with the rear. The shock mounts stay the same after you install the blocks so there's no need for drop shocks. All the blocks do is raise the rear-end close to the body and farther from the leaf spring plate.


i never said anything about 4" drop coils, did I? i said do a 2/3 drop, thats 2inch coils and 3inch blocks. his truck is stock height, 2inch coils will lower it about 2.5 inchs not 4. i dont even understand what you're trying to say. its looks like your trying to one up me, but nice fail...

[87wildside]

It's because the truck is a ZQ8 so the springs are shorter. 2" coils would technically only work out to about a 1/2" drop up front.

[12sws27]

i never said anything about 4" drop coils, did I? i said do a 2/3 drop, thats 2inch coils and 3inch blocks. his truck is stock height, 2inch coils will lower it about 2.5 inchs not 4. i dont even understand what you're trying to say. its looks like your trying to one up me, but nice fail...
What it looks like is what I said flew way over your head. I was pointing out that you contradicted yourself. One up you? Fail? LOL! Really? Read it again. Yeah he's at a stock height...the stock height off a xtreme. The xtreme is 2" lower than reg s-series. It already had lower coils and leafs from the factory.

If you're going to give advice, at least put some thought into it.

[87wildside]

Stop.
Honest over sight.

[BigTruckDrivah]

Happens to the best of us

[BIG RYAN]

What it looks like is what I said flew way over your head. I was pointing out that you contradicted yourself. One up you? Fail? LOL! Really? Read it again. Yeah he's at a stock height...the stock height off a xtreme. The xtreme is 2" lower than reg s-series. It already had lower coils and leafs from the factory.

If you're going to give advice, at least put some thought into it.


i dont mess with static stuff, so i didnt know extremes were lowered from the factory...