my lowering experience 2/4 on 26's

As some of you may know me on here (modded, etc..)

I have an 2009 tahoe non autoride..... Lets start off by listing equipment:

I purchased a 2/4 belltech kit( drop struts and rear belltech springs With belltech shocks and shock extenders)
26" KMC Slides 26x10 with a 28 offset and 305/30/26's

I have had 26's and 24's before on stock suspension and done some minor trimming and heating, but with a 2/4 it's a WHOLE different ballgame......

Problem #1
The ride is incredibly smooth UNTIL you bottom out.... I cut out the new bumpstops since the axle was literally sitting on them at a 4" drop but it still doesn't help that much. Anyone running a 4" drop in the rear had to have the free travel mod IMO... Also, I even took out my 3rd row and with 3 people in my car that axle slams more than Hulk Hogan on even highway drives, so I will see if the free travel mod and a TINY bumpstop fixes it.

Problem #2
ANYONE with a 305/30/26 and is lowered in the rear needs to look at the rear lower trailing arms as it rubs on the inner tire and CAN cause a blowout. (Modded please explain that you have had this problem also)
(Noone in this forum except us has discovered this problem even some installers......)

Problem#3
The beltech shocks with shock extenders press against the rear brake line and are very literally resting on it.... (Hm..... I will leave it as is until further notice.. or if i lose a brakeline LOL)

Problem#4
It is probably one of the best looking Tahoes in Texas, but currently the wheels are off right now trying to get balanced properly


All in all this is a great learning process and their is ALOT of misinformation IMO about dropping 07-10 Tahoes.

Modded and I will do a sticky or DIY on certain things coming up.

Well I should reply since I just got this same drop kit put on my 07 yesterday. 2" drop Belltech shocks, 4" rear belltech springs with Belltech shocks.

A few things I would say is that your tires are 33.2" tall and your going to have more rubbing than me since i am running a 305/40/22 tire. That your first issue.

I was also told by the shop that installed my kit is that the shock extenders are not needed for the shorter belltech ones....the extenders were intended for the factory shocks. I took there advice and left them off and it drives great IMO.

I think you have to much tire/wheel your trying to get under your truck and fitment is all about wheel offsets and width. Your gonna have rubbing without some pretty major trimming or molding. Just my 2 cents.

AZSCTACO said:

Well I should reply since I just got this same drop kit put on my 07 yesterday. 2" drop Belltech shocks, 4" rear belltech springs with Belltech shocks.

A few things I would say is that your tires are 33.2" tall and your going to have more rubbing than me since i am running a 305/40/22 tire. That your first issue.

I was also told by the shop that installed my kit is that the shock extenders are not needed for the shorter belltech ones....the extenders were intended for the factory shocks. I took there advice and left them off and it drives great IMO.

I think you have to much tire/wheel your trying to get under your truck and fitment is all about wheel offsets and width. Your gonna have rubbing without some pretty major trimming or molding. Just my 2 cents.

Click to expand...

22's are for babies, i kid i kid....

How does it look? Any pics? That is true I am stuffing a huge tire/wheel combo, but I have seen my friends with a ground force 2/3 drop and it NEVER bottoms out in the rear even with the third row and people in it.

Could it be the rear spring? The kit itself rides great, except for the rear

So would you guys attribute the ride issues to the wheel size as opposed to the lowering kits? As there are many positive reviews for this set-up. BTW how do you guys like the lowering struts?

ducpanda11 said:

22's are for babies, i kid i kid....

How does it look? Any pics? That is true I am stuffing a huge tire/wheel combo, but I have seen my friends with a ground force 2/3 drop and it NEVER bottoms out in the rear even with the third row and people in it.

Could it be the rear spring? The kit itself rides great, except for the rear

Click to expand...

I'll take some pics soon. I'm sure Tony will chime in and give you his advice since he knows/installs these kits all day long. I would say the maybe the shock extenders may have something to do with it. Tony recommended cutting off the bumpstop bracket and then install the bumpstops that come with the kit to the frame.

---------- Post added at 09:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:48 AM ----------

k9lovr said:

So would you guys attribute the ride issues to the wheel size as opposed to the lowering kits? As there are many positive reviews for this set-up. BTW how do you guys like the lowering struts?

Click to expand...

I love the front lowering struts so far......drives tighter and doesnt have that floaty feeling anymore.

I will come in here and add to this. I and Dupcanda are pretty frustrated with Tony. This is because he sells drop kits on here w/o mentioning what one has to do to run them. Me and Dupcandas Tahoes were rubbing on the frame of the car that holds the rear lower traling arms. So we starte to wonder how the hell Tony sells nd isntalls so many kits and is completely oblivious to this??
Its eiither he does not install as much as he says, or is aware that it rubs on that fame area with 26" wheel/tire setups and keep its to himself. He may also just not know it rubs there.
Anyhue, if a 305/30/26 is installed and that area of metal frame is not grinded it will slice throuh your tire asap. I have the DJM trailing arm relocators so mine rubbed that area a lot less, but Dupcandas rubbed so ******* that area it will easily **** something up.

Even the guy I sold my old 26s to with a 305/30/26 tire and +35 offset rubbed that area so much he had to use a grinder to grind that very area, while I only had to use a dremel cutoff wheel.

The point here is if you have 26s or 28s with a drop kit you better watch out regardless of what the seller told you, because you will, eventually screw something up.

This is only for the newer body styles? Or does this also pertain to my denali?

I am almost positive it pertains to all model years because they all have the same rear suspension.

As you go lower the axle moves forward and toward the passenger's side therefore closer to the TA's. The adjustable pan hard can help with this since you can center the axle but the forward part is still an issue. My 04' is bagged in the rear and when aired out my wheels are slammed against the upper trailing arm. Spohn is making adjustable uppera and lowers available soon..... I dug a HUGE groove on the inside of my tire driving too low....

duc -- What is the "free travel mod?" I'm going to be installing the 3"/4" for autoride rear set up soon, and only plan on going down 2-1/2" in the rear -- but I don't know what the "free travel mod" is. Thanks.