Okay, so...I got a lowering kit for the truck (a 1/2 drop). First, the front bump stops have to be removed. That's fine (the rubber just pushes out from the top), but do the bump stop CUPS need to be cut off the frame? Second, the blocks for the rear leaf springs are....well, incorrect. Here's the leaf spring after the U-bolts are removed, and the bolt for the center spring alignment bolt is removed: Note that the alignment bolt is part of the axle housing. It does not come off. The holes in the center of the blocks are just that: holes. There's no way to re-attach the nut, which would leave the leaf springs relying on their plastic 'flex attachments' at the ends of the springs as the only thing keeping them in line. The U-bolts would help a little too, but....it would still be the loss of an important piece of the leaf spring setup. Aside from that, the bolts aren't long enough to extend through a 2" block. When in the OEM setup, there are barely enough threads for the nut to properly attach. I've checked other lowering kits and NONE address these issues. Am I missing something, or is this just piss-poor engineering?
hmmm Not sure why you have to remove the front bump stop? In my past experiences, we mearly needed to shave the bump stop down a little so the suspension still had some play/travel. In my past experience using lowering blocks for the leaf springs, the alignment stud was about an inch long. The lowering block should have an alignment stud seat on one side, and its own alignment stud on the other side. Thus keeping things right. You block does not have this? As for the U bolts, the kit should have come with longer U Bolts?
Here's a shot of the blocks with the logo that will be upside-down once installed (and the replacment front bump stops): You can see the alignment pin, but that will only seat on the upper-most spring. The remaining springs will have nothing to keep them aligned aside from the plastic flex tabs. PUHLEASE don't tell me that owners are relying on the plastic flex tabs to keep their leaf springs centered/aligned. These things are scary as hell to begin with.... On the side not seen in the pic, the blocks have a hole that the OEM alignment bolt would slip through. I'm not sure if it's deep enough (I'd need to pull the springs to check that; haven't gone that far yet). I've been working all night/morning on a solution to this. It sucksass, but I believe I'm going to have to completely re-engineer those blocks.
After making a few calls today, I've come to the realization that drop kits are done completely half-assed. There is almost no thought put into any of the kits available on the market. Incredibly disappointing.
Now I know why lowering kits cost so much to ship. It's because they pack so much FAIL into each box! Check this out..... I lowered the leaf springs (and they all mis-aligned...nice), and tried to install the lowering blocks: NOT GONNA HAPPEN. The stud that comes off the axle housing is longer than the center hole in the block: Even if the stud was short enough to fit in the block, the alignment pin (press fit into the block) isn't the right diameter to fit into the upper-most leaf spring: The hole in the spring is a smaller diameter than the pin in the block. This may work for some trucks, but it certainly doesn't work for mine. I tried contacting the manufacturer, but the tools (and Admin) over at the VTCOA have destroyed any possibility of contact with him. I happen to be one of the very few that didn't hammer the guy on that forum, but his staff won't put me through to him, thinking that I'm one of those doofs 'hunting' him. I was going to call the guy's cell, but after tonight there's really no point in bothering him. Lowering kit for sale.....cheap.
