Can the front springs from ORD be ordered to fit 1.5" bushings at the shackle end so all three points are the same size when using the upgraded shackle mounts from ORD or DIY4X?
CK5
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Spring Help - Need to Lower '77 K5
- Thread starter ZombieK5
- Start date
I am guessing bottom of bumper and that is what I am going by. I just need a known point of reference to start.
I don't want to buy a $1600 ORD spring kit and come up 1" or 2" short.
I am also beginning to I am also beginning to believe that the Dana 60 spring perches are slightly taller than the original equipment 10 bolt spring perches. I am sure that it adding something to the Height.
D60 only adds 5/8" height over a 10 bolt or D44.
Well, that is 5/8" I need to compensate for with different springs.
I am believing it has to be measured by state from bottom of bumper. I'd love to find a member with a stock 70's or 80's K5
Take 2 or 3 minutes of your time and browse the build threads.
Emailed with ORD and they say to measure from the bottom of the frame to the top of the axle tube.
My measurement is 16"
ORD says the measurement should be about 8"
WOW! Guess I have about 8" of lift somehow on this vehicle. I am going to go with 3" springs and see where that gets me.
More to follow on what ORD says after I send them the actual measurements.
I think you have 6" springs and I see body lift blocks in a few pics. Get under there and measure those. Should be either 2" or 3" so that will net you either 8" or 9" of total lift.
Got some pics of your rig from the side? Showing the normal resting stance. We can usually guestimate the lift by seeing a pic.
Sorry, no blocks. Each set of springs are on steel perches. The passenger side front on the Dana 60 is a solid steel perch that is part of the axle.
Side view attached
You won't have to compensate for this, ORD does it when they do the spring specifications.
@thatK30guy was referring to the BODY lift pucks, or as he said , blocks. You have some short ones in a one of the pictures, but taller ones in the picture of the rear. What is the most dominant measurement of those? Are they mostly 1 inch, 2 inch or 3 inches?
They may not all be the same if someone has changed mounts around and mixed stuff up.
True, you don't have any lift blocks in the suspension.
I was told I have a 2" body lift. I do not know if they are all the same or mixed up.
Seller gave me a huge set of red polyurethane pucks that I believe are a complete body lift set. The body needs a bunch of welding. Significant rot from years of salt roads. Once I get it legal height and inspected I plan to start body panel repairs. I'll put the poly body lift in then. Still need to get it inspected and I still need to deal with figuring out my exhaust...that is a whole other thread.
I measured from the bottom of the spring to the line of the spring eyelets and I have -1".
Stock 1/2ton suburban. Front springs if that was not clear
Based on this and my stock measurements you have a slightly sagging 8" lift because the difference is 7" so it's not a 6" lift.
I think with the tire size you have you can run a 4" lift and remove the body lift or leave the body lift and use a 2-3" lift
I unfortunately have to keep the body lift. The truck has a roll cage that is welded to the frame through the body. If I lower the body I would have to significantly modify the floor body panels to clear the welded on roll cage support.
could you possibly get me the diameter of the front half ton axle on your suburban?
I will get it but it should be irrelevant.
The change in the amount of lift will be the same.
If you are looking for the difference between a d60 and a d44/10bolt it's 1"
True, BUT the spring perches are on a larger diameter Dana 60. That larger diameter would lead to the perches being higher from the ground than a 1/2 ton axle. Maybe 3/4" or more. That is part of my equation. Tire diameter would not be relevant necessarily.
Good News Maybe. I came across an 84 CUCV with stock suspension today. I followed the guy all the way home and he said I could measure the distance from the top of his axle to the frame. It was 7.5"
That would suggest my 77 K5 has 8.5" MORE lift than this guy. The 4" lift may be the exact thing I need with the shim plate removed. The CUCV was 27" from the ground at the point I measured the frame. Mine is ~35.5" which nicely equals 8.5" difference. The front spring perch as a shim that is about 1/2" thick so if I go with a 4" lift and remove the shim I could have a net reduction of almost 5" which puts me in the GREEN!!!!
That would suggest my 77 K5 has 8.5" MORE lift than this guy. The 4" lift may be the exact thing I need with the shim plate removed. The CUCV was 27" from the ground at the point I measured the frame. Mine is ~35.5" which nicely equals 8.5" difference. The front spring perch as a shim that is about 1/2" thick so if I go with a 4" lift and remove the shim I could have a net reduction of almost 5" which puts me in the GREEN!!!!
