2/3 Drop with 1" Rear Spacers = 2/2 Drop

[Clean07Burb]

I just lowered my Suburban yesterday using a McGaughey's 2/3 kit. Spindles up front and new springs in the rear. The truck sits nice right now with NOTHING in the back, without the third row seats in it, and with only a quarter tank of fuel. I'm pretty damn sure that once I put the third row seats back in, throw my other 100lbs. worth of crap in the back, fill the tank with fuel, and add a couple people back there, its gonna have that nasty Cali lean (rear end sag) like a mofo. I'm seriously considering adding the Bell Tech 1" rear spacers under the coils as suggested by Tony, or a set of 3/4" rear spring spacers I found elsewhere online. I'm thinking this will get the truck sitting exactly where I want it once its properly being used as a Suburban again. If anyone has any input, better suggestions/ideas, or has done the same thing and can post some pics up I'd really appreciate it!

 

[ezdaar]

Helper air bags and a small portable 12volt air compressor. Tire fill type..
Air them up as needed.

 

[Goodinblack]

Been there done that

Get airlift 60742

That's what I have.

 

[rroadkilll]

I'm interested in this also as I will hopefully be lowering soon and I do carry a ton of camping equiptment and people often... And I tow a boat.

 

[Clean07Burb]

Helper air bags and a small portable 12volt air compressor. Tire fill type..
Air them up as needed.

Been there done that

Get airlift 60742

That's what I have.

Thanks, guys. I figured everyone would say helper bags. How's the ride with air bags and rear drop springs combined? I understand it'll vary based on pressure added, but with them set just high enough to keep the ass end up where I want it for normal, everyday driving, what's the consensus on ride quality? Also, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm assuming I could also account for the small difference in height between the driver and passenger side of the truck by setting the pressure a tad higher on the driver's side bag.

 

[Goodinblack]

I'm interested in this also as I will hopefully be lowering soon and I do carry a ton of camping equiptment and people often... And I tow a boat.

I do not recommend going too low in the back. Beltech springs are soft overall. Even with bags they are not as strong as stock springs.

Others may disagree with me.

YMMV

Jmho

---------- Post added at 07:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:43 AM ----------

Thanks, guys. I figured everyone would say helper bags. How's the ride with air bags and rear drop springs combined? I understand it'll vary based on pressure added, but with them set just high enough to keep the ass end up where I want it for normal, everyday driving, what's the consensus on ride quality? Also, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm assuming I could also account for the small difference in height between the driver and passenger side of the truck by setting the pressure a tad higher on the driver's side bag.

At 5 psi you can't even tell you have them.

At 25 you have a really stiff ride unloaded.

30 is harsh and you feel lines in the road.

Don't do 35. Bags will blow fully loaded. At least one of mine did.

This is on 20s. 22 may feel slightly harsher.

---------- Post added at 08:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:46 AM ----------

Also. On a side note.

Even though a lowered truck with bags can and will tow fine. Haul loads well. It is not the same "feeling" as being loaded to the maximum at stock height.

The truck will "feel" heavy almost slight stressed vs. Stock.

Again. This is MY OPINION.

You have 1/2 the travel in the rear springs. On Beltech springs the top 3 coils touch with the normal weight unloaded. You have like 4 windings worth left for travel. You load that up to the hilt and you have even less travel. Ride quality does suffer from a loss in coil travel.

Also. Airlift bags are inside a coil. When they are pumped up to like 25 psi........ what are you doing essentially?

You are "freezing" the spring and changing the rate, so it does not compress as easily. Does ride quality suffer?

Yes. IMO it does.

Its all what you are willing to give up to look cool.

 

[Clean07Burb]

I do not recommend going too low in the back. Beltech springs are soft overall. Even with bags they are not as strong as stock springs.

Others may disagree with me.

YMMV

Jmho

---------- Post added at 07:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:43 AM ----------



At 5 psi you can't even tell you have them.

At 25 you have a really stiff ride unloaded.

30 is harsh and you feel lines in the road.

Don't do 35. Bags will blow fully loaded. At least one of mine did.

This is on 20s. 22 may feel slightly harsher.

---------- Post added at 08:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:46 AM ----------

Also. On a side note.

Even though a lowered truck with bags can and will tow fine. Haul loads well. It is not the same "feeling" as being loaded to the maximum at stock height.

The truck will "feel" heavy almost slight stressed vs. Stock.

Again. This is MY OPINION.

You have 1/2 the travel in the rear springs. On Beltech springs the top 3 coils touch with the normal weight unloaded. You have like 4 windings worth left for travel. You load that up to the hilt and you have even less travel. Ride quality does suffer from a loss in coil travel.

Also. Airlift bags are inside a coil. When they are pumped up to like 25 psi........ what are you doing essentially?

You are "freezing" the spring and changing the rate, so it does not compress as easily. Does ride quality suffer?

Yes. IMO it does.

Its all what you are willing to give up to look cool.

Sounds good, man. I appreciate all the information. I think I'm gonna go with the helper bags you suggested. One more question, though, if you don't mind. You mentioned at 5 psi you don't even notice they are there, but is that enough pressure for daily use? Say with 50-100lbs. of crap in the back of the truck, a full tank of fuel, and maybe a kid or two back there? Keep in mind that I'd like the truck to sit about 3/4" to 1" higher in the rear than it was before the helper bags with just the 2/3 drop. Thanks, again, goodinblack.

 

[Goodinblack]

Honestly cannot say because my springs are different....

I have only a 2 inch drop spring. Even at 25# my truck raises .25 inch at most

It just makes the spring harder.

With a 3 inch drop spring I guess you will get a .5-1 inch of raise with like 15-20# psi

Just depends. Also make sure that the Inside Diameter on the spring is large enough and will accommodate that bag.

---------- Post added at 11:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:02 AM ----------

In the end I would say you could do a .75 inch rear spacer.

I bought mine from Amazon.

Then you would have a 2/2.25 drop on paper.

---------- Post added at 11:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 AM ----------

Sounds good, man. I appreciate all the information. I think I'm gonna go with the helper bags you suggested. One more question, though, if you don't mind. You mentioned at 5 psi you don't even notice they are there, but is that enough pressure for daily use? Say with 50-100lbs. of crap in the back of the truck, a full tank of fuel, and maybe a kid or two back there? Keep in mind that I'd like the truck to sit about 3/4" to 1" higher in the rear than it was before the helper bags with just the 2/3 drop. Thanks, again, goodinblack.

What's your truck sit now?

Ground to lip?

15 psi should handle that load well and still ride great

 

[Clean07Burb]

Honestly cannot say because my springs are different....

I have only a 2 inch drop spring. Even at 25# my truck raises .25 inch at most

It just makes the spring harder.

With a 3 inch drop spring I guess you will get a .5-1 inch of raise with like 15-20# psi

Just depends. Also make sure that the Inside Diameter on the spring is large enough and will accommodate that bag.

---------- Post added at 11:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:02 AM ----------

In the end I would say you could do a .75 inch rear spacer.

I bought mine from Amazon.

Then you would have a 2/2.25 drop on paper.

---------- Post added at 11:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 AM ----------



What's your truck sit now?

Ground to lip?

15 psi should handle that load well and still ride great

Oh, damn. I realized you were running a different brand spring, but didn't realize it was a 2" drop spring and not a 3". Right now my truck is sitting dead on 35 1/4" on both the driver and passenger sides, with nothing in the back, no third row seats in, and just shy of 1/2 a tank of fuel. Maybe I will just go ahead and try the 3/4" spacer. I also found them on Amazon for like $40. Can't hurt to try and what's $40 nowadays, anyway.

ETA: On second thought, my best option now that I know a 2" rear drop spring is available instead of the 3" I'm currently using, would be to just swap out my 3" springs for whatever 2" springs you're running. I know it'd be more expensive than just adding a spacer, but in the long run it'll give me the look I'm after and also provide me with a little better ride quality since the spring won't be offering quite as much drop. I'm glad I started this thread because I've gained some valuable information about the helper bags and the availability of more than just what I thought was out there for rear drop springs. I contacted Tony about this and I'm surprised he didn't suggest swapping out my 3" rear springs for a set of 2" replacements. I'd venture to say that using a 2" drop spring to achieve 2" of drop would be better than using a 3" spring along with a 3/4-1" spacer to bring it back up any day.

 

[Goodinblack]

Bam. You got it

I love my 2 inch springs by the way.

---------- Post added at 02:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:09 PM ----------

This is a 2 inch rear only. Stock front.