Want to lower my AWD a little, any suggestions?

[SVO LOU]

Now that I have my 17" wheels on I want to lower my Mounty a little, maybe 1 1/2" up front at the most. The rear is slightly lower as it sits now anyway.
I did a search but it only resulted in serious drops.
Can I just back off on the torsion bar adjuster a little? Do you take measurements at the fender lip at the start then adjust, move the truck back and forth to settle it, and check the measurement until you're where you want it to be? If I have to lower the rear a little, maybe 1", what's the best way to go about it?
Thanks guys.
Hope this is in the right forum.

Lou.

 

[expo5.0]

yes, you can do this exactly. mine is an awd with a two inch drop (you already know what it looks like) if you want just the front you just turn them a little bit and measure. if your going to go through the trouble to do that, i would highly recommend doing a 1 inch drop in the rear as well. it won't adversely affect ride quality much, hardly anyone will be able to tell its done, the truck will look better, and it will handle about ten percent better than at just one inch higher


if you decide to do the rear (its optional) you can use blocks from napa or wherever.

 

[aldive]

Take a look at Dead Link Removed its about the lowering of my '99.

Good luck.....

 

[SVO LOU]

Awesome.
Thanks for the help, guys.

Lou.

 

[SVO LOU]

Well I went shopping for some rear lowering kits and could only find 2" and 3" kits, no 1" kits. Do they make a 1" kit or do I just buy a 2" one and cut it in half? Yes, I am a wussy.
Just to get a basline I brought the truck into the garage to measure fenderwell heights. My right side is almost 1" higher than the left-side, 33 1/2" compared to 32 9/16". Is this normal because the fuel-tank (which is full right now) is along the left frame rail? The front almost had an inch difference also.
Did any of you guys have to adjust the fronts torsion bars asymetrically to compensate for a similar situation?

Thanks.
Lou.

 

[Hartman]

Just get the 2 inch blocks!`

 

[expo5.0]

that is true of my truck as well to some degree. with a half tank or less of gas it is flat, but with a full tank there is a noticeable (but less than a full inch) difference. i didn't do anything with the torsion bars to attempt to adjust this. you could try to, but isn't the problem mainly caused by the rear? so it wouldn't really help anyways?

btw- 1 inch blocks exist, but you may have to order them online or something. the cookie cutter auto parts places usually only carry the 2 and 3 inch ones.

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by SVO LOU
Did any of you guys have to adjust the fronts torsion bars asymetrically to compensate for a similar situation?

Yes

 

[97ExplorerV8AWD]

Autozone has one inch lowering blocks...

 

[aldive]

I believe that the Explorer Express blocks are 1 1/2 inch.

 

[SVO LOU]

Originally posted by Hartman
Just get the 2 inch blocks!`

You guys are forgetting the fact that I'm a wussy.
I think I'll end up with a 1" drop in the back and adjust the front accordingly. I have to remind myself that this is the family truckster, my playing has to be done on the Mustang.
For now I lowered the front to have better rake. I was also able to straighten out most of the side to side uneven-ness by raising the left-front a little more, thus lowering the right-rear. I also aligned it at my friend's shop. The left camber was at -1.5*! Thankfully it already had camber adjusters installed but what a PITA to align. Now I remember why I got out of the business.
Drives much better now.

Lou.