Dopped I-beam installation
New User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 11
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Dopped I-beam installation
Anybody that has installed dropped I-beams and rear spring relocators, I could use any tips or information for installing these things. Also I have heard that you can install the 1973 and up disc brakes on 67-72 1/2 ton pickups but some people have told me that the steering geometry is different. Any ideas?
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Dopped I-beam installation
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 03-Feb-01 AT 06:19 PM (EST)[/font][p][font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 03-Feb-01 AT 06:18 PM (EST)[/font]
Dropped I beams arent that hard to put in. I did mine in a day. If you are planning on putting disk brakes on now is the time to doe it also. Find someone with a press to get your kingpins out (we used a 40 ton pnuematic and it took all of that to get them out!) You will also need to good drill bit for the tie rod end relocators, go slow and use alot of cutting oil you dont want to break a bit! As far a any hints or easy way to do it my kit was pretty straight forward. As long as you have to i beams out it would be a good time to replace the bushings on your radius arms.
The disk brakes will fit from a 72 or newer truck, but when I did mine I had to cut and lower the top part of the radius arm so the tie rod would fit, then I re-enforced the bottom half or the radius arm by boxing it in with some 3/8 steel. Thats all you should have to do mine already had a proportioning valve on it.
As far as rear spring relocators just flip your axle thats the cheapest way to go and it really lowers it. Also dont forget that you'll need new shocks the ones I have on my 70 are from a pinto.
What year truck do you have??
Dropped I beams arent that hard to put in. I did mine in a day. If you are planning on putting disk brakes on now is the time to doe it also. Find someone with a press to get your kingpins out (we used a 40 ton pnuematic and it took all of that to get them out!) You will also need to good drill bit for the tie rod end relocators, go slow and use alot of cutting oil you dont want to break a bit! As far a any hints or easy way to do it my kit was pretty straight forward. As long as you have to i beams out it would be a good time to replace the bushings on your radius arms.
The disk brakes will fit from a 72 or newer truck, but when I did mine I had to cut and lower the top part of the radius arm so the tie rod would fit, then I re-enforced the bottom half or the radius arm by boxing it in with some 3/8 steel. Thats all you should have to do mine already had a proportioning valve on it.
As far as rear spring relocators just flip your axle thats the cheapest way to go and it really lowers it. Also dont forget that you'll need new shocks the ones I have on my 70 are from a pinto.
What year truck do you have??
