How to Lower a Leaf Spring Truck?

Lowering a leaf spring truck typically involves altering the connection points or introducing components that change the suspension's ride height.

There are a couple of common methods for lowering a leaf spring truck, as referenced. It's important to understand that performing these modifications will affect the vehicle's handling and suspension travel.

Common Methods for Lowering Leaf Spring Trucks

Based on common practices and the provided reference, here are the primary ways to lower a truck equipped with leaf springs:

1. Relocating the Spring Mounts:

   • On most leaf spring trucks, you can achieve a lower stance by moving the spring mount to the frame. This method changes the geometry of how the spring attaches, effectively lowering the truck's body relative to the axle. This is often done by installing lowering kits that provide new mounting points or brackets.

2. Using Lowering Blocks:

   • Alternatively, you can utilize lowering blocks. These are typically metal blocks placed between the leaf spring pack and the axle. Longer U-bolts are then used to secure the assembly. The thickness of the block directly determines the amount of drop. This is generally considered a simpler method compared to relocating mounts.

Important Considerations When Lowering

When lowering a leaf spring truck, several factors must be taken into account:

• Decreased Suspension Travel: Regardless of the method used, lowering a leaf spring truck will decrease the amount of travel available for that axle. This means the suspension has less room to compress and extend, which can affect ride quality and load-carrying capacity.
• Modifications for Significant Drops: Be aware that dropping the truck by more than 2 inches usually requires additional modifications to prevent the axle from hitting the frame. Specifically:
  • Shorter Bump Stops: The original bump stops will likely interfere sooner with reduced travel. Shorter bump stops provide more clearance.
  • Modifying Frame Rails (C-Notch): For drops exceeding a certain limit (often around 4 inches or more, though the reference specifies over 2 inches as requiring either shorter stops or a C-notch), modifying the frame rails with a C-Notch becomes necessary. A C-notch involves cutting a section out of the frame rail above the axle to allow the axle housing more upward clearance when the suspension compresses, preventing the axle from impacting the frame.

Summary of Lowering Methods & Considerations

Lowering a truck is a popular modification for aesthetic or performance reasons, but it's crucial to understand the mechanical changes involved and address potential clearance issues, especially for significant drops.