Lowering a 09 Silverado WT Crew Cab (Page 1/1)
Archie APR 11, 04:43 PM
As you've figured by now, I have a 2009 Silverado WT crew cab.

I'm not looking to slam it to the ground or anything like that.

I'd like to lower it about 4" in the rear & 2 or 3 in the front.

I still want to be able to pull my 24' enclosed trailer. So I'd like to lower it without adversely effecting handling or driveability.

I'm mostly interested in lowering it to make it easier for my wife to get into it.

Alternately, if I can afford it & if it doesn't screw up the handling or trailering capability, I'd consider an Air type system where I can lower it for her then raise it back up for driving.

Has anyone done this or have any proven products they can recommend?

Thanks

Archie

[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 04-11-2014).]

jb1 APR 11, 05:16 PM
Bell tech , probably front spring and rear use hangers and shackles. There also a company called DJM that' use to be cheaper than bell tech

[This message has been edited by jb1 (edited 04-11-2014).]

Khw APR 12, 01:29 AM
Are the rear leafs on top of the axle or below it? If they are on top of the axle, moving the axle to the position where it is above the leaf will lower the rear about 4" (My father had a Chevy Luv pickup with the leafs on top of the axle. We moved the axle to the top of the leafs and it worked pretty good.). Otherwise, as suggested above shackles would be good but I don't know if you could get 4" that way. You might need to add a 1-1.5" lowering block with shackles if they don't lower it enough. The best way to do the front would of course be drop spindles, possibly in conjunction with lowering springs depending on how much of a drop you can get with spindles.

[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 04-12-2014).]

jb1 APR 12, 02:51 AM
here is links to both , I have used both and was satisfied with both, seems to go to 4" drop in rear you will have to do a flip kit and shackles and hangers.
belltech uses lowered uprights on front and djm uses lower control arms.. from the links below on your truck just flipping the springs drops rear 6" then the shackles and hangers raise it back up 2"
http://www.belltech.com/pro...e-lowering-kits.html
http://djmsuspension.com/ap...-silverado-2wd-kits/

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87GTseries 1 3800sc (7.597 @88.53 1.579 60ft)
(series II swap in progress)
85GT Northstar/ 4t80e
86GT 3800 n/a
Northstar Rebuild

[This message has been edited by jb1 (edited 04-12-2014).]

Raydar APR 12, 09:31 PM
I have a 2005 Crew.
Was looking at lowering it, but I still need it to be a truck, too.
I don't care anything about notching the frame, so I may not be able to lower it any more than ~2".
Probably will use drop spindles in the front and shackles in the back.

Your '09 may use different pieces than my '05. There was a major redesign halfway through 2007.
Archie APR 13, 11:28 AM
Thanks, for the help so far.

I tend to trust BellTech a little more than some others. After all, at one time they used to sell lowering spindles for Fieros.

BUT after looking at their website, I'm kinda doubting my initial supplier assessment.

As I said before, I'm looking to go like 2" front & 4" rear.

I entered my info into their vehicle info thing & the results were that their part number #641 & #641SP

Kit #641 specifies individual items:
Drop Spindle Set #2509
Shackle Kit #6700

Both of those items, individually, would fall into my specifications for what I want to do.

However, they also specify that Flip Kit #6521 is also part of the Kit #641.

So with my vehicle specs still effect & go to look at #6521. On that page is a warning that "This product does not fit the selected vehicle!" AND sure enough, it doesn't. It specifies a 5" to 6" rear drop.

It make you wonder, if they are as precise in engineering their products as they say, why can't they double check for the correct info on their web site?

I'll be giving them a call on Monday to find out why.

I'm also going to be calling the DJM people Monday.

Thanks

And keep the info coming.

Archie
Raydar APR 20, 09:29 AM
I've generally heard good things about DJM, but pay attention to what you buy and how it goes together.
The DJM upper control arms for my Trailblazer had to be "clearanced" so that they would not interfere with the tops of the knuckles, under full compression. If the clearancing was not done, it would allow the top of the knuckle to jam against the bottom of the arm, and snap the stud off of the upper balljoint.
At least one person on the forums had that happen. There were quite a few posts about it, and at least one forum member reselling the modified arms.
The Silverado suspension is different from the Trailblazer, so I don't expect you'll have the same problem.
Just warning you to beware of "gotchas".