The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk suspension question

I want to lower my truck to a reasonable height. So I started with brothers chevy parts mono leaf springs and shocks. The rear wasnt low enough so I added some 2" lowering blocks and it sits perfect. I just installed the same kit on the front but it isnt as low as the back. So my question is this has anyone used both the mono leaf springs and the dropped axle? If so any sterring related problems? Becuase i figure i need about 3" more for a perfect ride height and the dropped front axle should do it but I have spoken with them and they said they havent heard of anyone using both set-ups on the same application I think it can be done and work but I allways have an ear avalible for someone who has tried and knows. So anyone with some in put let me know-thanks--its a 1954 3100 stock suspension style with 235-if that helps

BOLTED 54,welcome. do you have any pics of your truck ?
dont know about both dropped axle and mono leafs. i am running a droppedaxles.com 3 inch front axle and one leaf removed, which gave me a 3 5/8 total drop in front.
sheck out this site, http://www.droppedaxles.com/
and give the owner, named SID a call. he know a bunch on those type questions.
on my 57 i had to modify, shorten, the drag link and drivers side steering arm. im pretty sure you will at lesst have to shorten your drag link and maybe your pitman arm also.
hope this helps, and please post some pics of your truck.

leonard

bolted 54;
Welcome to the shop!
I'm now running one of Sid's 3" dropped axles and a set of monoleafs. You can follow the picture trail of the dropped axle in the link below. I just put the mono's on this week.

Here's the main problems when you lower a straight axle truck:
1. You'll have to "flip" the tie rod ends to run underneath the springs. This can be accomplished with over the counter parts and a little elbow grease.
2. The drag link won't be parallel with the frame anymore and you'll have bump steer until you do some modifications. I did 3 things in combination on mine, first the pitman arm was shortened 2". Next I raised the steering box about 1" higher than it's stock location, then I heated and bent the steering arm down where the drag link connects.

You should be able to get the bump steer out without moving your steering box though, I did that mainly to drop the steering wheel position inside the cab.

Enjoy your truck. This is a great place to hang out and get help.

in your pictures it looked as if the mono leafs were upside down-how did that ride? I also noticed you went back to a stack once you put the drop axle on-would the mono-leafs be too low? Your truck has a very nice ride stance but i think i am going just a little lower. maybe maybe not buti might try to flip the mono leafs first to see what that looks like-if you dont recomend please let me know-thanks

bolted 54. i dont think you can go much lower than waldo53's truck, unless you do some major modifications, like air bags or something.
he will have the expertiece on the AD trucks, just my thought. gotta watch your scrub line too. if your axle is lower then the measurement from the bottom of your rim to the ground, if you have a blow out at speed your axle will dig into the asphault. not a good thing.
lower always looks cool, and i actually want about another inch lower on mine, just keep tabs on your scrub line.
leonard

54, yeah the mono's do look like they're upside down, I had them de-arched another 1 1/2". Ride is a little harsh but that's good as there's not a lot of spring travel left before bottoming out, which it rarely does.

I did go back to a stack with 3 leafs removed when I put the dropped axle in. The pictures on the link show the new ride height with the spring stack. The spring pack minus 3 leafs gave a good ride, just wanted to go lower, and since I already had the monos..........

I don't have any pictures of it yet with the mono's. I'll get some new pictures of it soon and post them. It does sit LOW! I took it to a cruise last Fri night and had a few guys looking to see what kinda subframe or IFS it had. They were surprised to see a straight axle under there.

It's a cloudy day here so I just lifted the ol' girl's skirt and shot a couple of pictures right here in the driveway. Hopefully you can get an idea how she sits.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2072498440100049064gJJQfK

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2979754560100049064XxEnZw

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2123736900100049064kRumEA

Those pics do look alot lower. I am gonna try to flip the mono leafs first and if that doesnt work I will go to the dropped axle. But I am dying to get it on the road. I am riding on wide whites so if the truck doesnt sit right it really shows so thats why I am so anal about this. You took three out-bottom three or just three in between?-Which dropped axle are you using?

I don't think flipping your mono leafs will work - but, I guess you could try it.

I took leaf numbers 1, 3, and 5 out. #1 being the shortest.

I'm using Sid's 3" dropped axle. A 4" would have put me below the scrub line.

waldo, your truck is looking great. man, that thing is setting perfect.
now i really want to lower mine a bit more. LOL.
question, did you lose any turning radius after that drop ?
i love the white walls.
bolted54, you gotta get some pics so we can check out your ride.
leonard

No loss of turning radius. I can still hit the "stops" on the axles turning either direction. I would think that if you shortened the pitman arm too much though that you might lose some turning radius.

thanks waldo. cant wait for my new rear rims in a few weeks, hoping the extra 1/4 inch back space will give me enough room to drop the back some more, and if so, then the front will come down more also.
leonard