I am waiting on the parts for the rest of the drop. Got bored and pulled the stock 4x4 lift blocks. The truck at least looks level for now.

I will be doing the AFP front coil over conversion for a 2 inch drop in the front and 2 inch drop shackles in the rear with the stock blocks removed. It will be low enough for me for now. Then wheels and tires will be next.

The top pic is with the stock lift blocks and the bottom 2 are with it removed. Measured about a 1 1/2 drop from before and after.

 

Decided to make a day of it and detrim the truck also.

 

Is the front end stock?

I bet it's sitting on the bump stops, with it as low as it is. Looks like the T bars needed a crank or 2. The rear was at about stock height, the front had sagged.

It's AMAZING how much better one of these trucks rides when the front is up off of those stops.

 

front end is all stock. Im actually doing the atomic fab front coilover kit here soon. No issues with the bump stop. Still very high, front end measures around 36 inches from the ground to fender.

 

The front end is sagging. Rear was right, front was low. The vehicle is on the bump stops. "36 inches" doesn't matter.

No sense arguing about it. Don't bother. Hard to make a case that the rear has grown over the last 15 years or whatever. Don't bother, your truck is the same as everybody else's. I've actually had to put in RAISING T-bar keys to keep mine level (04 AV believe it or not) because the stock ones reached the end of their crank range (bolt bottomed).

"The simplest explanation that fits all the facts is most likely to be the right one".

In this case, the facts are (a) the truck is old; (b) the front is WWWWAAAAAAAYYYYYYY lower than the rear; (c) the rear springs haven't gained rate as time goes on, so it's not likely that the rear is higher than original; (d) everybody else's truck does the same thing, where the front T-bars succumb to ED. Your truck's situation fits all the facts. Therefore the most likely explanation is ...

However all that may be though, a coilover kit, and abolishing the whole T-bar/bump stop thing, will probably put a smile on your face. Even at your lower than stock ride height.

Might be worth taking a look at just how much lower the lower control arm pivot bolts are to the ground, than the lower ball joints. The front end geometry of these trucks, like any 4-link front end, suffers drastically when the BJs aren't level with the CA pivots. That's why a proper lowering project uses drop spindles instead of cutting the springs.

 

What the **** crawled up your ***?

 

looks like my stock 2wd looked before I dropped the rear. Its the factory rake, mine was 2". If OP wants it level, you probably need to drop 2 more inches in the rear.

Definitely looks better with the trim removed. If you're doing coilovers in the front, what plans do you have for the rear?

 

Reality. Experience. Willingness to OBSERVE what's in front of me instead of just making random comfortable assumptions.

2WD may have a "rake". 4WD does NOT. Stock, they sat level.

Butt hay, coilovers, properly chosen installed and all that, plus making sure that the BJs are level with the LCA pivot bolts, will DEFINITELY make you happy.

 

To the OP, it looks good just keep going along with your plans and unless someone is physically coming over to look at your truck and give advice in person ignore it.

 

I have a 4 inch DJM kit with hangers and shackles but I will probably on end up only using the 2 in shackle. That way if I decide on a flip kit later it will be less work. I'm not looking to go full low yet. Really only looking for an over all 2/4 ish drop.