Lowering 4x4
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 632
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From: State College, Tunkhannoc
Lowering 4x4
the back would be easy to lower 2 inches by taking out the rear factory blocks. as far as the front goes, it all depends on what kind of truck you are talking about. coils or leafs up front? and what model and year etc....
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 178
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From: Denver
Lowering 4x4
a 150 most likely has coils....if its leafs, it'll look like the rear susp. coils look like....a coil....like a spring in a mattress. have you checked out godfather customs and belltech? you could flip the shackles on the rear....look for 2wd lowering kits and see if they'd work. don't forget your front diff. will be riding close to the ground.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 209
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From: Lorain, Ohio
Lowering 4x4
I lowered a 1986 ranger which had coil springs up front. I used a shackle flip kit for the rear that I got from Summit Racing and up front I got a used pair of coils springs from a wrecked lowered 2-wheel drive. Lowered the truck about 4" but I could never get the camber adjusted right, (ttb) and the front differential would bottom out on any big bumps.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 632
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From: State College, Tunkhannoc
Lowering 4x4
im taking a stab in the dark here, but 2wd lift kits are pretty much identical to 4x4 lift kits. with saying that, a 2wd lowering kit might work on a 4x4. i dont know how you would go about adjusting your caster/camber after putting shorter spring in there though.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
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From: Topsfield, MA
Lowering 4x4
You can lower the truck about 1-2" and still be able to adjust the camber with different coil springs and camber adjustment nuts. Any more then that, and you will have to move the axle pivot points and make them go up, which isn't easily possible. Asjusting the axle pivot point would correct the alignment problems, but since you can only move it down (for lift kits) not up for lowering kits, it's almost impossible to do. It could be done but with a lot of fab work, the crossmember is right there. A lot of the 2wd lowering kits actually replace the I-beam, which you can't do on a 4wd vehicle. Using the special I-beam, its bent differently, which will eliminate the need to move the axle pivot points. I think you're at a lost cause, you completely loose the point of having 4wd.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
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Lowering 4x4
its alot easier to raise the rear than the front. go with 2 inch blocks and stack them on the factory ones for the back and you will get the prerunner style I think your looking for. I would just forget the idea of trying to lower the front on your 4wd. i wouldnt think you would beable to get the alignment straight ever again. the ttb is tricky and by the design would throw fits if it was lowered. your shocks would probably bottom out also. blocks are your best bet, cheap and will do that job. also, no alignment and 4wd components to mess with. 2wds can be lifted, but 4wd would be a pain in the butt to lower. just my opinion.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 82
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From: Louisiana
Lowering 4x4
I agree with rbrendel a 4WD was not meant to be lowered, if you do go with the 2" lift blocks on the rear do not buy those cheap cast aluminum blocks off the shelf at your local auto part store, the nipple that holds the blocks it place under the leaf spring can and will break sliding your axel back possibly enough to pull the drive shaft out of the slip-yoke. At 50 MPH that would make a mess.
It happened to me, luckily I was only rolling at a slow idle.
It happened to me, luckily I was only rolling at a slow idle.
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 28
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From: warren usa
Lowering 4x4
Well theres no way in hell im gonna lift it so if i cant lower it oh well i guess im **** out of luck i just wanted it lowered because im puttin 50 series street tires on it and that would leave a pretty good sized gap in the fender well from the tire
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
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From: Topsfield, MA
Lowering 4x4
I suggest if anything that you don't stack the blocks. Just go out and get the correct size block. Stacked blocks will roll easier, although not dangeriously risky, it's still safer to just go and buy the right size block. They arn't that expensive and I'm sure a 4" block isn't much more than a 2" block stacked on the original 2" block.
People lift these trucks 2" w/o moving the axle pivot points. All they do to correct the alignment is put in the appropriate camber nut (usually 2 degree). These nuts can be adjusted to provide either 2 degree positive, or negative. So unless someone can elaborate a reason, i dont see why you can't lower the truck 1-2" using drop coil springs, and use the camber adjustment nuts to correct the alignment...
People lift these trucks 2" w/o moving the axle pivot points. All they do to correct the alignment is put in the appropriate camber nut (usually 2 degree). These nuts can be adjusted to provide either 2 degree positive, or negative. So unless someone can elaborate a reason, i dont see why you can't lower the truck 1-2" using drop coil springs, and use the camber adjustment nuts to correct the alignment...
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 28
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From: warren usa
Lowering 4x4
Thanks for all of your replies in the spring i will have to get her on the lift and check things out. I will probably see if a 2wd kit might work or something. I will let you guys know how it turns out for future reference