99-03 Silverado 1500 2WD lowering kit

[Mad Mac]

Six years ago, my dad bought a new 1999 Silverado 1500 2WD that had a lowering kit. I do not know if it was a factory option or if the dealer had an aftermarket kit installed. Pictures of it may be viewed here:

 

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-si...do/P1010001.jpg

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-si...do/P1010002.jpg

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-si...do/P1010003.jpg

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-si...do/P1010004.jpg

 

The truck is sporty and fun to drive on the street, but now we are pressing it into service as a ranch truck and want more ground clearance. It seems to me that the cheapest way to achieve my objective would be to trade with a person who wants to lower their truck, a truck with the stock, solid smooth ride Z83 suspension.

 

I think the 99-03 Silverado suspensions are all the same. If you want to trade, let me know. I do not know if it involves coils, spindles, control arms, leaf springs, shackles or all of the above. Any ideas or information would be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Mac

[04singlecab]

your pics don't work. get some that do and I'll be happy to help you identify the components.

 

-Andy

[Hotwire]

I'm interested, I do have the Z83 option on my 00, has 70k on it, wondering what components you do have can you see any part numbers on the spindles / springs? also wondering what shipping would be...

 

Please get some pic links that work, and if you wouldn't mind measure from the ground to the lip of the fenderwell on all four corners and let me know what they are. I'll do the same if interested.

 

I usually hang out around the www.camaroz28.com and www.s-seriesforum.com sites, screen name is the same on all the sites I'm a member of in case you want to check out my validity.

 

http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups...29Pc300002r.jpg

[ril850]

Dude, I put a 7inch Fabtech lift kit on my old 2wd 00'Silverado I still have the oem shocks,Spindles and front coils. They are taking up space in my garage.

[Mad Mac]

Upon further review...

 

Pardon the delay, but the truck is 150 miles from where I live so I had to wait until I got back up there yesterday. With the help of this forum, I have learned a lot. The glove compartment door yielded a trove of information. It turns out that the truck came equipped with the Z85 handling/trailering suspension.

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-silverado/rpo.jpg

 

A second small sticker states:

"Notice, Max. Payload 677 lbs Due to 2" Lowering Shackles TQ0010"

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-silverado/notice.jpg

 

So, I think the only change is the lowering shackles which you can see here.

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-si...ado/shackle.jpg

The shackles measure 7-1/2" from bolt center to center. Note the second hole that would make them into 1" lowering shackles.

 

Other photographs of the front suspension are below, but I think it is original equipment.

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-si...ado/spindle.jpg

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-silverado/coil.jpg

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-si...do/15037616.jpg

 

Using a yardstick and measuring from the ground to the fender well lip even with the wheel center produced the following: front, 32-3/4"; rear, 32-1/4. Be advised that the bed of the truck contained a 300 lb load and the tires are P235/75R16 inflated to 29 lbs, not the OE P255/70R16 inflated to 35 lbs. The rear would be a little higher unladen and the whole truck would be slightly higher with the correct tires properly aired up.

 

In my opinion, these 2" lowering shackles make a truck level when unladen and allow for an inch of adjustment with the second hole.

 

I would like to replace them with the OE Z85 shackle. If anyone could check part numbers in a parts catalog and see if Z83 and Z85 shackles are the same, I would appreciate it and be more than willing to trade shackles with someone. Or if someone with a 99-03 or 04 GM Z85 equipped half-ton would measure the distance between the bolt hole centers I would be interested in that dimension.

 

Thank you and a Happy Thanksgiving to one and all,

Mad Mac

[04singlecab]

If you only need some shackles I've got some.. send me a PM with an offer.

 

 

Upon further review...

 

Pardon the delay, but the truck is 150 miles from where I live so I had to wait until I got back up there yesterday.  With the help of this forum, I have learned a lot.  The glove compartment door yielded a trove of information.  It turns out that the truck came equipped with the Z85 handling/trailering suspension. 

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-silverado/rpo.jpg

 

A second small sticker states:

"Notice, Max. Payload 677 lbs Due to 2" Lowering Shackles TQ0010"

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-silverado/notice.jpg

 

So, I think the only change is the lowering shackles which you can see here.

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-si...ado/shackle.jpg

The shackles measure 7-1/2" from bolt center to center.  Note the second hole that would make them into 1" lowering shackles.

 

Other photographs of the front suspension are below, but I think it is original equipment.

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-si...ado/spindle.jpg

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-silverado/coil.jpg

http://www.best-motorcycle.com/other/99-si...do/15037616.jpg

 

Using a yardstick and measuring from the ground to the fender well lip even with the wheel center produced the following: front, 32-3/4"; rear, 32-1/4.  Be advised that the bed of the truck contained a 300 lb load and the tires are P235/75R16 inflated to 29 lbs, not the OE P255/70R16 inflated to 35 lbs.  The rear would be a little higher unladen and the whole truck would be slightly higher with the correct tires properly aired up.

 

In my opinion, these 2" lowering shackles make a truck level when unladen and allow for an inch of adjustment with the second hole.

 

I would like to replace them with the OE Z85 shackle.  If anyone could check part numbers in a parts catalog and see if Z83 and Z85 shackles are the same, I would appreciate it and be more than willing to trade shackles with someone.  Or if someone with a 99-03 or 04 GM Z85 equipped half-ton would measure the distance between the bolt hole centers I would be interested in that dimension.

 

Thank you and a Happy Thanksgiving to one and all,

Mad Mac

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

[Mad Mac]

Thanks everyone. It turned out that my friendly neighborhood Chevrolet dealer had two shackles in their parts department at $29 each, so that seemed the simplest and fastest route to take.

 

This weekend, I will use them to replace my lowering shackles. Now that I have OE shackles to compare, I have determined that my lowering kit is for a 3" or 2" drop depending on which hole you select. I may put them on eBay next week, but if anyone in this group is interested before then, you can have them for $29 for the pair and I will pay the shipping.

 

These came off a 99 Silverado 1500 but should fit any 99-03 1500 GMC or Chevy truck. They may fit 04 also, but I am not sure.

 

Gobble gobble,

Mad Mac