Champion201

As far as my truck sitting 2 inches higher in the rear, this is not the case.
My truck is a 2005 VHO

RPO Code BV4.
SILVERADO PERFORMANCE EDITION: (LQ9) Engine, Vortec high-output 6000 V8, (M32) Transmission, 4-speed automatic, heavy-duty, (GT4) Rear axle, 3.73 ratio, (Z60) Suspension Package, High-Performance, (G80) Differential, locking, heavy-duty, rear, (NW7) Traction assist system, electronic, (KC4) Cooling, engine oil, (KNP) Cooling, external transmission oil cooler, (Z82) Trailering equipment, heavy-duty, (UK3) Sound system feature, steering wheel mounted radio controls, (QR9) Wheels, 4 - 20" x 8.5", cast aluminum, chromed, 5-spoke, (QSS) Tires, P275/55R20, touring, blackwall, (ZAN) Tire, spare P265/70R17, blackwall and 17" Wheel, steel, spare

The way I understand it is the Z60 Suspension Package gives my truck a lower stance and makes it sit level, well almost level. The height difference between the front and back is maybe 1/2 inch at the most.

So from the sounds of it basically the only things I can still do are lower it, to lower the center of gravity of course, and get different shocks seeing how I already have sway bars.

shakesvho

iTrader: (1)

Please let me know what you come up with, going to be doing something like this soon

budhayes3

iTrader: (19)

As mentioned above, lower it, get good front and rear sway bars, and some different shocks (I believe that Bilstein now makes them for SS's and VHO's, but I'm not sure if they have lowered applications), and you should definitely feel an improvement in handling. After lowering my truck and installing 285/50 20 Toyo Proxes, the handling was night and day. My truck was at factory Z71 height on 33" tall BFG AT's, so you can imagine how much of a difference those mods made. I also added some negative camber in the front, but I believe that your truck is already at the spec I put mine (-.5 on each side), since you have a VHO, and I used SS specs. If I had the dough, I would have swapped in some shocks for lowered applications and definitely some Hotchkis or Hellwig sway bars (still undecided on which brand)

*EDIT* My truck doesn't handle like a sports car, but the handling is greatly improved over stock. I'd compare it to the handling characteristics of my 85 Monte SS with stock suspension, prior to some suspension mods.

Nick99Chevy

With your 285/50's you probably won't be able to lower it much. There's no way I could run 285/50's on my 2/4.

budhayes3

iTrader: (19)

I think that Belltech offers a 2/2 drop for the SS/VHO's that consists of lowering keys and rear shackles (maybe shocks too?), it will work with the factory 275/55's which are about 32" tall, so it will definitely work with the 285/50's which are about 31" tall. Pretty much what I'm running, except I got a little more than 2" dropped up front (somewhere between 2 -3"), and 4" dropped in the rear since my truck came with 2" 4x4 lift blocks from the factory.

99Silver6.0

iTrader: (1)

Get some Hotchkis parts....... Or install solid steel rods for shocks. But thats pretty much how the Hotchkis stuff will ride anyway.

Champion201

Thanks for the replies. As far as tire size goes, I thoiught I did my homework, I wanted something just a little wider while keeping basically the same diameter. Below is from a tire caculator site,

Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
285/50-20 5.6in 15.6in 31.2in 98.1in 646 0.0%
275/55-20 6.0in 16.0in 31.9in 100.2in 632 2.2%

BTW, I appreciate all opinions. I've heard that any drop ruins the ride and I've heard that a good one wont. I would really like to tighten up the suspension but still keep my smooth ride. Is this actually possible or just a pipe dream? One thing I'll be removing the stock shocks and I'll be giving the Edelbrock shocks a try.

budhayes3

iTrader: (19)

A good drop with the proper shocks shouldn't ruin the ride quality. My truck rides noticeably harsher with the 20's on in the summer, but not quite as harsh with the 16's on in the winter...the added sidewall really absorbs alot of the shock. I'm still using the factory length shocks which are probably close to max compression though. I'm sure that if I got some shorter, properly valved shocks, my ride quality would improve.

From what I've read, drop spindles up front seem to be the way to go to retain ride quality...there's also drop control arms available from DJM, but I'm not sure of their affect on the truck's ride.

Nick99Chevy

The SS/VHO's must be almost as tall as a 4x4 in front then.

Champion201

I just measured my truck height in the garage, flat and level. From the ground up to the center of the bottom of the wheel well, 34 3/4 inch up front and 35 1/2 inch in the rear so there is only a difference of 3/4 inch. I seem to recall my 2WD, RCSB 2002 sat lower stock, hmmmmm.

Does my VHO sit higher than a stock 2WD?