Rocket Man's 2008 Bagged CC Silverado Build AKA "THE MACHINE"

[Rocket Man]

I did set up a transfer into my checking account but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. It’s a big decision at 4 grand lol. Anyway I woke up to this stuff on the ground today. It’s supposed to be 60 and sunny in a couple days so I’m working indoors today. I got the hex nuts from TRS so I am doing the initial install of the mini H1’s. I wanted to see what the high beam LED’s would look like but I bought low beams by mistake so I’m returning those and ordered 9005 highs instead. At least I get to see what the H1’s with shrouds look like in the housings. I’ll have to get the truck on it’s wheels again in order to set the horizontal lines before epoxying the projectors and installing the lenses.

 

[Fless]

Neither rain, nor snow.... can stop @Rocket Man from making progress!

 

[Rocket Man]

Neither rain, nor snow.... can stop @Rocket Man from making progress!

Lmao. Well not MUCH progress lately but some. Got the new bags on, painted the shocks and installed them, tried to install the x brace but the welder didn’t measure things so when I had the 4 link installed on the truck, the end that he welded up was 3/4” too wide. In the process of using my mini sledge to bend that leg into position the weld broke. So I ground it down and welded it myself. Should have done it to start with. Now the paint needs to dry. I reinstalled most of the wiring and sensors. Here’s today’s glamour shots.

 

[yates ™]

How does this x brace bolt on? I am struggling trying to figure out what the purpose of this is.

 

[Rocket Man]

How does this x brace bolt on? I am struggling trying to figure out what the purpose of this is.

It’s bolted to the lower set of the 4-link and I believe it’s meant to resist lateral movement like a panhard bar would but it doesn’t pull the suspension sideways as it goes up and down like that would. It keeps the 4-link from moving side to side , keeps it parallel if that makes sense. A panhard wouldn’t work due to the amount of up and down travel.

 

[07Burb]

Man it’s looking so good and I’m itching for some Wilwoods to finish it off. It’s just money, and you know what they say- you only live once right? WTF. I have planned on these since I bought the truck and did the rear drum to disc conversion. 16's on the front and 14's on the rear. I am so close to doing this.

Your truck came stock with drums in the back??? I didn't know that was a thing for the NNBS trucks Weird.

 

[Rocket Man]

Your truck came stock with drums in the back??? I didn't know that was a thing for the NNBS trucks Weird.

Yes, for the pickups. SUV’s all had disc. I heard it’s because drum brakes are considered better for towing heavy loads.

 

[Rocket Man]

Here’s pictures of the x brace installed @yates ™ .

 

[yates ™]

It’s bolted to the lower set of the 4-link and I believe it’s meant to resist lateral movement like a panhard bar would but it doesn’t pull the suspension sideways as it goes up and down like that would. It keeps the 4-link from moving side to side , keeps it parallel if that makes sense. A panhard wouldn’t work due to the amount of up and down travel.

Hmm, interesting idea. Essentially making this a 3 link. A pan hard would work regardless of travel but I am guessing they came up with this contraption to eliminate side to side movement. My issue would be the limit to movent when driving which is typically one of the reasons for a 4-link. I guess I have not ever seen this used and makes me think it was a solution to try and correct a problem. I still think trying to control this on the bottom end of the suspension is interesting. I am trying to picture this operating in my head. You really wouldn't have a lot of travel (assumption) so I doubt that a PHB would be an issue.

Just thinking out loud, I could be wrong in my thoughts.

 

[Rocket Man]

Hmm, interesting idea. Essentially making this a 3 link. A pan hard would work regardless of travel but I am guessing they came up with this contraption to eliminate side to side movement. My issue would be the limit to movent when driving which is typically one of the reasons for a 4-link. I guess I have not ever seen this used and makes me think it was a solution to try and correct a problem. I still think trying to control this on the bottom end of the suspension is interesting. I am trying to picture this operating in my head. You really wouldn't have a lot of travel (assumption) so I doubt that a PHB would be an issue.

Just thinking out loud, I could be wrong in my thoughts.

It’s a parallel 4-link. My travel from fully aired up to aired out is over 10” so a panhard is out of the question. This frame was built by one of the biggest shops in Texas, All Star Customs, that has been doing these forever so I doubt it was something to correct a problem. Shops like this come up with their own designs all the time. IDK, it works good. The only problem I had was due to the fact I only had 4 valves so the air would transfer from side to side and it would lean a bit but I’m looking forward to having control of all 4 corners now.