Is anyone running lowered trucks out there?

 

How much lower are you looking for?

I lowered my '07 FX4 approximately 2" in 2011, and then did my own wheel alignment job. No issues with front CV joints, axles not at sharp angles. She rides well. She is very easy to get in & out of. Easier to reach over into bed too. And I like the looks. Two inches maybe doesn't sound like much, but it sure changed the truck for the better for us.




I think some have gone lower, but I did not want frame mods nor did I want the truck sitting on bump stops. I just wanted a more centered tire in the wheel well look with stock size tires. I even kept the rake. Love how she drives. I did this in November 2011 at 37,xxx miles, and today (August 31, 2019) it has almost 68,xxx miles of NO ISSUES.



If you do it, you will need a front end alignment. As a follow up ... I did an alignment on the front end.
Camber was way off after the lowering, way too much tilt in at top (about 1/2" measured from bottom to top of 20" wheel's lip).
Toe was out a lot as well ... (a good 5/8" total).
Caster was "OK" but I added a hair when correcting the camber.

Up front, likely the easiest way is just use OEM 2WD shocks and your springs (I modified my OEM FX4 front shocks), and in rear you just use 2WD length U-bolts and remove the 2" blocks (mine were 2"). You can, if you're gonna buy shocks anyway, get a full set of 4 for a 2WD as they'll work well once the rear blocks are gone.



I know what the picture shows, but I cut 1-5/16" total out. I was very meticulous about that, but I must have been a hair off about the ratio of travel at the shock versus ball joint? Must be more like 0.665" at shock is 2.00" at the lower ball joint … because I actually got a hair over 2" drop in front with the mod I made. When I welded them back together, I did it with a jig setup and I did short welds with dunks in water between welds. Like I said, using 2WD shocks up front is easier.

 

Wow, nice write-up tbear853!

 

Thank You. I have a longer / detailed write up saved, but I'm not sure the OP will return, so I just covered the high spots..

 

Very good, and cost effective , some guys are good like that , modifying and thinking outside the box,
again thanks for sharing.
I think the street truck guys have left the building.