i have a 2002 silverado Z71 ECSB thats my daily driver. i was looking to lower it maybe 3/5 and run a SS replica 20 or 22inch wheel (ive always been into lowered trucks but they all were 2wd). i use the truck to pull a 16ft car trailer. what parts do you guys use that give the best ride? also for those that tow trailers and such - do you have helper springs or air bags? my trailer has lift bars so the truck is always level.

thanks for your responses, and feel free to post pics of your setups.

 

well i dont have a lowered 4x4, and my 2wd isnt even lowered yet (soon, just waitin on the fed ex man lol) but there is a ton of information on this website and on the web about lowering a 4x4. With a 2002 4x4 to achieve a 3/5 drop I have read about people running 2" drop spindles ( i think mcgaughy's makes a 4x4 drop spindle) and 2500 torsion bar keys to achieve another 1" of drop (pretty sure they were 2500 keys). Using the keys and decranking your bars will affect ride quality, but only decranking them for 1" of drop probably wont be too bad on your ride quality. For the rear, removing the lift block on top of your axle, and installing lowering shackles and hangers will get you to 5" of drop in the back. The issue there is that i'm not sure how close your axle will be to the frame and how much rear travel you'll have. Just not sure about those effects.

I think it was on gmfullsize or one of the other forums there was a 100pg thread on "how to lower your 4x4" so i would think that'd be a good spot to start researching. also just type in search for lowered 4x4 threads on here and you'll get a ton of information. GOOD LUCK. looking forward to the build thread

 

I had air bags with a self-leveling compressor on my old 2001 when it was lowered. Towed with no problems.

 

I pulled a car hauler with mine the way it sits. 2in drop spindles in front, 2in rear drop shackle and remove the block under leaf spring for another inch. So roughly 3/3 drop and still tows just fine. I later added belltech drop shocks to help the ride some. I think I may do the belltech 4in drop leafs and leave put the shackle back on the 1in drop slot. Then Ill be 3/5 drop. Then just make sure you cut your bump stop down to maybe 1/3 original lenght. Post pics when your done

 

+1
Air bags are the way to go imho. Their near-infinite adjustability has proven useful time and again.

>> https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...towing-501726/

 

thanks for the replies so far. im waiting for the bodyshop to get me in to fix the bed side because someone backed into it while its there im getting it resprayed all black with the color matched front bumper cap and grille (truck is 2-tone gold/black and i never liked it). if i lowered it now it would look terrible so im hoping by spring. it currently has a leveling torsion key key and 285s
here's how it looks now:

 

i'm going the air bag route as well, my ss just doesn't have the suspension for towing our camper, it just bottoms it out. and after the snow melts this spring I'd like to lower it about two inches so I'll definitely need it then.

 

I'll link you to a guy on CGM that is like 5/8