GMT900 SUV - Belltech drop
#11
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Got the new rear springs today - Belltech p/n 5323. I'm hoping to slap them - along with the 1" spacers - on this weekend to see how it looks with a 3" rear drop. I'm worried that it'll take away all the rake...but that I'll otherwise love the look...meaning I'll have to pull the spacers up front. Darnit...just when I thought I'd gotten away, they pull me right back in.
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Update...my time has been stretched a bit, but I had a break in the schedule last night and got some time to play.
Eric @ Belltech has been just awesome in working with me on this one. It's been difficult finding the right springs for the rear, but I think we're there. Quick recap: for whatever reason, I got more than 1" up front - in fact, it's a full 2" on the passenger side, and 1-7/8" on the driver's side. No harm/no foul - the look is awesome, it aligned without issue, and I don't have any axle bind, vibration, or rubbing issues. But...with this setup I did have a bit too much rake. So...off to experiment with the rear springs.
First, we went from the #5321 springs to a set of #5323. And...no difference in ride height. The ride quality did improve, though - seemed to be just like stock. Odd, but on to the next step... swapping out the 5323's with a set of #5305's. Definitely a shorter spring. Sorry for the crappy pic - this was off a lousy cell phone cam. 5323 on left, 5305 on right:
After installing these, the stance seemed perfect. Until firing up the truck and hearing the compressor kick in...and the ride height increasing. And the ride quality sucking. With each ignition cycle - ugly compressor noise on fire-up, and then the "whoosh" of released air after turning it off. So, after consulting some more with Eric, we decided to shorten the autoride sensor rods. This involved some denial-and-error (thanks,
) on my behalf to get this just right. I didn't want the compressor kicking in all the time, but I also didn't want a California Lean. The third try seems to have been the charm, with a total of 3/8" removed from the Belltech sensor rods.
Pics from this morning:
And one last shot from last night:
My fingers are crossed that the autoride system is happy. The ride quality is undoubtedly more firm, but nowhere near unbearable. It's certainly much better than with the shocks loaded with air. I'm still sitting a bit taller on the passenger side - front and rear - but that hasn't changed since day one. If everything stays as-is I'll be more than happy to call this one done.
Eric @ Belltech has been just awesome in working with me on this one. It's been difficult finding the right springs for the rear, but I think we're there. Quick recap: for whatever reason, I got more than 1" up front - in fact, it's a full 2" on the passenger side, and 1-7/8" on the driver's side. No harm/no foul - the look is awesome, it aligned without issue, and I don't have any axle bind, vibration, or rubbing issues. But...with this setup I did have a bit too much rake. So...off to experiment with the rear springs.
First, we went from the #5321 springs to a set of #5323. And...no difference in ride height. The ride quality did improve, though - seemed to be just like stock. Odd, but on to the next step... swapping out the 5323's with a set of #5305's. Definitely a shorter spring. Sorry for the crappy pic - this was off a lousy cell phone cam. 5323 on left, 5305 on right:
After installing these, the stance seemed perfect. Until firing up the truck and hearing the compressor kick in...and the ride height increasing. And the ride quality sucking. With each ignition cycle - ugly compressor noise on fire-up, and then the "whoosh" of released air after turning it off. So, after consulting some more with Eric, we decided to shorten the autoride sensor rods. This involved some denial-and-error (thanks,
Pics from this morning:
And one last shot from last night:
My fingers are crossed that the autoride system is happy. The ride quality is undoubtedly more firm, but nowhere near unbearable. It's certainly much better than with the shocks loaded with air. I'm still sitting a bit taller on the passenger side - front and rear - but that hasn't changed since day one. If everything stays as-is I'll be more than happy to call this one done.
#15
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It looks killer ive allready purchased my 2'' drop springs for the front and am gonna drop my rear another 3'' with belltech leaf springs it will probably be a winter project though I hope it looks as good as yours when its done.
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