I plan on getting new tires soon, and was thinking of doing a little drop while I was at it. I was wondering if de-cranking the front, and taking out the rear blocks was all there is to it, and how it would effect the ride. I also don't know how much you can drop the front with the torsion bars. Will I need new shocks, or are the stock ones good. Will that be enough drop to make it look alright?

Also, What tires? I'm looking at BFG Radial T/A, 285/60/16, but am wondering if that will be to tall with it lowered.

 

Well I just did mine a few weeks ago. Removed factory lift blocks, installed 1.5" drop shackles, decranked torsion bars, and trimmed all of the factory bumpstops. Tires are 275/55-18. Still using the same shocks I was before, when my truck was pretty close to the height yours is in your sig. Ride is good except when I hit large dips and hit the bumpstops hard. Still gotta figure out what to do about that.

 

I read you thread on that, and it does look better without the trim. I've been thinking about doing that also.

Anyways, I was worried it would feel kind of spongy, or bouncy in the front decranking the torsion bars. How much did you trim the bumpstops, actually how tall are they to begin with? I haven't really climbed under the truck to take a look.

 

very interested on this topic, cannot find the thread thunder 550 made tho. any help?

 

https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...light=4x4+drop

 

I have that exact truck. I took out the lowering block and installed lowering shackles on the rear and turned the torsion bars down 10 turns. I trimmed half the bumpstops front and rear. I loved the look of the smaller tire gaps but the front end was pretty bouncy. I ended up cranking the bars back up 4 turns and removed the shackles. I had a high speed vibration also so that helped me decide to remove the shackles.
I added new modified bump stops to help control the bounce in the front. My understanding is the torsion bars are linear not progressive so they need help from the front bump stops to control the suspension travel.
As for your question about 285's...you will be very limited on the amount of drop you can run on the front if you want 285's. I couldn't get them to fit with my original amount of drop. Now that I am back up 4 turns I am going to try them again. Of course they will fit fine on the rear.

 

Mines got a shackle/hanger in back along with spring clamps and the factory block out. The front is McGaughys keys decranked alot. 275/60-17 Toyos, rubs the front pass inner fender when turning hard left. Doesnt bounce at all.

 

I actually think it rides very nice, except for bottoming out over large dips.

Here's my bumstops. I actually have a before pic of the front to compare them to. I don't have a before pic of the rears, but you can look at yours to compare.

Before, front.


After, front


After, rear


Someone over on ls1truck told me that I can remove the rear bumpstop brackets and bolt them directly to the frame. I haven't verified this yet, but if it's possible I may buy some stock bumpstops again and either not trim them, or trim less of them to keep the progressive feel, at least in the back. Still need to figure out what to do up front.

 

Thunder your front axle shafts are not near as angled as I thought they would be. I think I'm going to get the tires, and then lower the truck until it looks right. I still would like to be able to use it if I have to, so I don't really want to short of a tire, or drop it to the ground. It's not that I don't like the look, it just doesn't look very practical be that low.

 

I'm still planning on being able to use mine. I bought a set of load helper bags because I will still tow and haul stuff with the truck.