Bob Mankin wrote:
>
> Well gang, finally got the Western kit installed on my '98 DAK. I opted
> for a 3/5 drop(more like 3.5" in front). There are some issues with
> dropping the truck this low. None are insurmountable. I had a shop due
> the tough work of cutting the rivets off the stock stuff and installing
> the hangers/shackles/A arms/coils. I'll take it from here and tweak some
> clearance issues. I like the look as it is, but the stock tires rub in
> the front, the sway bar links have yet to be shortened in the back and
> at 5" the tailpipe ends up resting right on the rear sway bar bracket on
> the rear end housing. Also, even with shortened snubbers, I have only
> about an inch of travel in the rear before it bottoms.
>
> You can see an image of the finished job at:
>
> http://www.dnai.com/~bobm/images/lowered.jpg
>
> Not everyone's cup of tea, I know, but I don't see many lowered late
> model DAKs even out here in drop crazy Calif. With some trick 17" billet
> wheels, steam roller tires and a few other cosmetics, I'll have
> something to enjoy.
>
> Already I've swapped the stock front tires for a couple of shorter used
> ones. This will hold me over until the 17" tire/wheel combo comes
> together. This has eliminated the tire rub in front. At 3.5" in the
> front I think the truck is technically illegal(and a little dangerous).
> I'll have to measure tonight, but it looks like the new A arms extend
> below the lower edge of the stock 15" rim. I'm sure the 17" pieces will
> bring this back in line.
>
> WARNING!! I learned the hard way with this one. At a 3.5" drop the
> passenger side upper A arm swings up and gets very close to the new JBAs
> that I installed a couple weeks ago. When they had the wheels off
> installing the used tires, I peered through the wheel wells and noticed
> damage to the header where something had hit it. I was immediately going
> to jump on the install shop, but after the truck was back on the ground,
> it appears the A arm could have done the damage during normal driving.
> I'm none too pleased to see my new headers with a big dimple and scrape
> on that side, so beware if anyone is attempting this extreme a drop job.
> The problem can be avoided by removing the upper A arm and grinding off
> some of the material where the stamping curls up.
>
> I think with an even shorter rear snubber and bringing the truck back up
> 1/2" in the rear, I'll be good to go there. The cat back system may
> become a necessity sooner rather than later due to the clearance there,
> but I can live with that.
>
> Obviously ride quality is hard to judge at this point due to the issues
> I'm still working on, but I think is going to be pretty good. Slightly
> stiffer all around, but not obnoxiously so.
>
> Bob
Bob, Sounds like you had some trouble. I'd like to lower my 98, but I
put about 3000 miles a month on it. Do you think I'd be better off
with the 2/4 drop?
Bob Nichols
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 12:09:46 EDT
