Lowering a Chevrolet Truck

Make sure you have all the proper equipment and safety gear.

You will need the following items:

(1) Cutting Torch or Angle Grinder

(2) 3 Foot Pry Bar

(3) 10 Millimeter Socket, 18 Millimeter Socket, 15 Millimeter Socket, 22 Millimeter Socket, and 9/16 Millimeter Socket

(4) 1/2-inch Ratchet

(5) 8-inch C-Clamp

(6) Coil Spring Compressors

(7) Ball Joint Seperator

(8) 8-inch Flat Head Screwdrivers

(9) 12-inch-Long Minimum Zip Ties

(10) 1/2-inch Impact

(11) Open-end 18 Millimeter Wrench

(12) Vice Grips

(13) Drill With 3/8 Drill Bit

(14) Desired Lowering Kit

(15) Sawhorses

(16) Jack and Jack Stand

Check the purchased drop kit to ensure all components are there. Go underneath the bed of the truck and remove the wiring harness. Unclip all wiring harness connectors for relights, license plates, and fuel neck ground; carefully unclipping them with flat head screwdriver.

Once all the lights are unclipped, use an 18-millimeter socket and 1/2-inch impact to remove the bolt at the front of the cab on both sides. Then remove the bolts holding the bed to the frame on the fender well. Then move to the end of the bed, closest to the taillights, and remove the last bolts. With help, carefully remove the bed of the truck from the frame and place it on the sawhorses.

With the vehicle turned off and in park, secure the front tires with wheel chocks. Jack up the rear end, and put jack stand on each side of the frame. Place a floor jack under the rear axle and use to relieve pressure on the rear leaf springs and shackles by jacking up the rear axle. Start on one side first. Remove the factory U-bolt (you will reuse these). Repeat the previous step

Remove the bolts holding the leaf spring in place on the rear shackle side and the front hanger side. Once the leaf spring is loose, place it underneath the axle and reinstall it at the front hanger and the rear shackle (use the factory hardware). Repeat step 3 for the opposite side of the truck.

Once the rear axle is on top of the leaf springs, install the flip kit saddle between the leaf spring and the rear axle. The wider ear of the saddle installs towards the front of the vehicle.

Use the factory U-bolts, the provided top retainer, and the provided bottom U-bolt plate to complete the flip kit installation on the rear axle. Repeat on the opposite side of the truck. Once the flip kit is installed on both sides, torque U-bolts to factory specs.

Cut off the factory bump stop assembly using a cut-off wheel or plasma cutter.

The rear axle housing has a flat saddle welded to the top on each side that the original bump stop would make contact with. At the rear of it, drill a 3/8-inch hole and install the new provided rear bump stops and hardware. Make sure no brake lines or wires are in the way when drilling.

Remove the factory hanger at the rear of the truck (where the shackle is located) by drilling or cutting off the rivets. Install the new lift hanger in the factory location, using the new provided hardware. Reinstall the factory shackle using the factory hardware. Torque to factory specs. Repeat on the opposite side of the truck.

Install the wheels and torque lugs to proper specs. Place the bed of the truck back onto the frame and attach all the wires and bolts removed in step 1. Be sure to get the truck aligned once all lowering components are installed. After 10 miles of driving, be sure to recheck and torque the lug nuts on all four wheels.