Anyone lowered a 19 yet?

[Billet Bowtie]

Belltech has lowering struts and spindles available now. I was wondering if anyone has lowered a T1 yet. I would like to purchase the lowering struts and lower the front about 1.5" for a performance street kind of look. I was curious how the lowered struts ride vs stock.

 

 

[shawn400]

I reached out to a company who resells Belltech and other lowering/lifting equipment. They suggested going with the spindles front and shackles rear, for a 2" overall drop. I asked about the struts and they suggested doing a spindle drop first because it retains all the stock driving characteristics - and because you're limited to the rear 2" drop. Basically to drop it 2", wait to see if they come out with a further rear drop and THEN get the front struts if it comes to it, and have a 3-4" overall drop. They also seemed to think a 2" drop was ideal for most people unless you want to be slammed. 

[Bobv07662]

The Belltech spindles are ferrous and the original spindles are aluminum. Wonder if there is a difference in the ride due the greater unsprung weight? Also the Belltech part says it needs to use an 18 wheel, I'm fine with that but they say the lowering is achieved by moving the axle higher up in relation to the lower ball joint...here's where I have a question, there is only 1 inch of clearance between the lower ball joint stud and the inner surface of my 18" wheel. How do you get 2" of lowering when there is only 1" of clearance with my wheels? Do you have to cut the excess stud off? Has anyone installed a set of these Belltech spindles?

[Billet Bowtie]

I have considered the spindles. I have installed spindles several times on a few different trucks. The biggest reason I was considering the struts are because they are adjustable and could be reversed fairly easy when I sell the truck down the road and someone might want it lifted vs lowered. I have o experience with the struts though. I wasnt sure if they would ride about the same, worse or better. I am currently running a 2" shackle for the back. The hangers are not riveted in like the old trucks so I guess the only option for more drop in the back would be a flip kit which is way more than I would want.