Lowering t-case. Pros? Cons?

[Copasetic]

Hey guys. I'm trying to get my axle swap finished up and wanted to know everyones take on this. I've heard of people doing it for a better driveline angle and then i've heard poeple say not to do it for whatever reason. It's a 241 case in a 90 K5, 8 inch springs, DIY4X shackle flip with 4.5 inch shackles, and will have an ORD zero rate in tomorrow. If I were to do this, all that has to be done is remove the spacers that are below the crossmember and put them in b/t the frame and the crossmember, right? Thanks in advance y'all!

 

[YZEATER]

by lowering it, you'll increase the angle on your front shaft. it also puts more stress at the frame where the spacers are, because there is less surface area for the x-member to sit on.

 

[Xtremegmc80]

dont do it..

i did it yesterday, to see if it would make my driveline angle better, nope. it made it worse since dropping the t case might be better for the rear but it kinds of binds the cv for the front more.. and hes right about making the frame weaker. so i put the t case back up.. and im gonna grind my cv to make better angle on it..

 

[RootBreaker]

by lowering it, you'll increase the angle on your front shaft. it also puts more stress at the frame where the spacers are, because there is less surface area for the x-member to sit on.

More stress on the frame? I have mine lowered about 2" and seems fine...
I also dont have small spacers.. I have square tubing the length of the xmember....


the drawbacks I have with it is... motor is on an angle so distributor almost hits the firewall... rubs a bit ta boot...
front shaft is on more of an angle... but it is a cv shaft so it is ok...

i did it yesterday, to see if it would make my driveline angle better, nope. it made it worse since dropping the t case might be better for the rear but it kinds of binds the cv for the front more.. and hes right about making the frame weaker. so i put the t case back up.. and im gonna grind my cv to make better angle on it..

binding cv... just grind the tabs off of it.. that is what I did.....

 

[YZEATER]

i was talking about using the stock little round spacers. if you happen to catch the x-member while wheeling, you have a good chance of bending the frame rail or tearing it.

 

[gmc4cw]

i was talking about using the stock little round spacers. if you happen to catch the x-member while wheeling, you have a good chance of bending the frame rail or tearing it.

you are right. they are not spacers. GM put them there to achieve proper torque on the bolts holding the cross member in place. do NOT put those between the cross member and the frame.

With 12" of lift you are going to need drive shafts anyways. leave the cross member in its stock mounting location. have your rear and front drive shafts lengthened. you will probably need to grind out the stops on the front shafts CV if you plan on wheeling your truck. I did and I am only running 8" springs in the front. You may need to spend big money to get a shaft that is actually useable offroad.

 

[Copasetic]

you are right. they are not spacers. GM put them there to achieve proper torque on the bolts holding the cross member in place. do NOT put those between the cross member and the frame.

With 12" of lift you are going to need drive shafts anyways. leave the cross member in its stock mounting location. have your rear and front drive shafts lengthened. you will probably need to grind out the stops on the front shafts CV if you plan on wheeling your truck. I did and I am only running 8" springs in the front. You may need to spend big money to get a shaft that is actually useable offroad.

Yeah, I've got a new cv shaft made for the rear but I just put my 14 bolt in and a shackle flip, waiting on my zero rates to come in now so I can put my axle back in the center of my wheel well. Just was curious about easing up the driveline angles a little more and if there was a good reason to justify lowering the tcase or not. I think I'll just leave it alone. Since my wheels won'e be here for another 3 weeks or better, I'm seriously thinking about an SYE for my t-case. Thanks for all the input guys!