I have started the drop on my 2011 Silverado. I ordered a McGaughy 4/7 drop kit, consisting of Rear Flip Kit, 2 Drop spindles and coil spring relocators. Bolt in C-Notch and helper bags.
Started with this, stock height.
Drop kit from McGaughy.
So to begin with there were absolutely no instructions with the kit. Nothing on McGaughy's website either, for a manufacturer that was given a SEMA award by GM I am not impressed with their ability to provide the customer with information. But if this stuff was easy everybody would do it.
Jack up and support your truck, place your jackstands on the frame forward of the front spring perches on the flat portion of the frame. Make sure to chock your front wheels. Remove your rear wheels and put them out of the way.
So to start with I removed the driveshaft and tied it up out of the way. I then loosened the U bolts holding the rear end and springs together. Unplug the wheel speed sensors and emergency brake cables, make sure to remove all these wires from the brackets since you will be pulling the rear diff out from under the truck.
Disconnect and cap off or cover the ends of the brake lines. Get a jack under the differential and take the weight. Unbolt and fully remove the passenger side leaf spring and set it aside. ** If your truck has a hitch you will need to remove it to get the shackle bolts out**
Remove the U bolts on the driver side springs and lower the diff down out of the way. Now with a grinder or cutoff wheels remove the factory bump stops brackets.
With both bump stops removed, slide the diff out to the passenger side of the truck a couple of feet. Loosen the front driver side spring bolt, remove the rear driver side shackle bolt and swing the spring over and down to the floor. ** The only way to get the front spring bolt out is to drop the tank. I decided rather than wrestle a full tank of fuel out from under the truck I would just remove the rear diff**
Remove the bolt and crinkle plate in the spring pack and flip the pin over. Discard the crinkle plate, you will not need it with the flip kit. It should look something like this when done.
Raise the diff back up and move it back over towards the driver side. Raise the diff up high enough to get the spring mounted again. Remember you are trying to get the differential to sit on the springs now.
Pull the bolt out of the passenger side spring pack and flip the bolt and discard the crinkle plate.
Re install the passenger side spring pack. Locate the flip kit saddles, the hole in the bracket will go toward the front of the truck. It will sit over the pin in the spring pack and locate the rear diff correctly.
Here is a shot of the saddle in place, looking from the rear. The way these things are made I don't believe you could put them in backwards since the tang on the front is wider and wouldn't fit between the brake line brackets.
Now lower the diff down onto the saddles and locate the flat piece with the bolt in the center. This piece locates into the original spring perch and helps keep the U bolts in place.
Now get the lower retaining plate and U bolts, make sure the offset hole in the retaining plate goes forward. Place the forward hole over the end of the bolt sticking out of the spring pack.
Install your U bolts.
Now reconnect all lines and cables, snug up the spring bolts and tighten the U bolts. Re install your driveshaft and shocks, put the wheels on and lower the truck to the ground. Now tighten up all of your spring and shackle bolts. Bleed your brakes and have a beer.
This is not a full blown how to, I have probably forgotten to mention a few simple things. But if you don't have enough sense to figure out the little stuff you probably have no business trying this in the first place.
Started with this, stock height.
Drop kit from McGaughy.
So to begin with there were absolutely no instructions with the kit. Nothing on McGaughy's website either, for a manufacturer that was given a SEMA award by GM I am not impressed with their ability to provide the customer with information. But if this stuff was easy everybody would do it.
Jack up and support your truck, place your jackstands on the frame forward of the front spring perches on the flat portion of the frame. Make sure to chock your front wheels. Remove your rear wheels and put them out of the way.
So to start with I removed the driveshaft and tied it up out of the way. I then loosened the U bolts holding the rear end and springs together. Unplug the wheel speed sensors and emergency brake cables, make sure to remove all these wires from the brackets since you will be pulling the rear diff out from under the truck.
Disconnect and cap off or cover the ends of the brake lines. Get a jack under the differential and take the weight. Unbolt and fully remove the passenger side leaf spring and set it aside. ** If your truck has a hitch you will need to remove it to get the shackle bolts out**
Remove the U bolts on the driver side springs and lower the diff down out of the way. Now with a grinder or cutoff wheels remove the factory bump stops brackets.
With both bump stops removed, slide the diff out to the passenger side of the truck a couple of feet. Loosen the front driver side spring bolt, remove the rear driver side shackle bolt and swing the spring over and down to the floor. ** The only way to get the front spring bolt out is to drop the tank. I decided rather than wrestle a full tank of fuel out from under the truck I would just remove the rear diff**
Remove the bolt and crinkle plate in the spring pack and flip the pin over. Discard the crinkle plate, you will not need it with the flip kit. It should look something like this when done.
Raise the diff back up and move it back over towards the driver side. Raise the diff up high enough to get the spring mounted again. Remember you are trying to get the differential to sit on the springs now.
Pull the bolt out of the passenger side spring pack and flip the bolt and discard the crinkle plate.
Re install the passenger side spring pack. Locate the flip kit saddles, the hole in the bracket will go toward the front of the truck. It will sit over the pin in the spring pack and locate the rear diff correctly.
Here is a shot of the saddle in place, looking from the rear. The way these things are made I don't believe you could put them in backwards since the tang on the front is wider and wouldn't fit between the brake line brackets.
Now lower the diff down onto the saddles and locate the flat piece with the bolt in the center. This piece locates into the original spring perch and helps keep the U bolts in place.
Now get the lower retaining plate and U bolts, make sure the offset hole in the retaining plate goes forward. Place the forward hole over the end of the bolt sticking out of the spring pack.
Install your U bolts.
Now reconnect all lines and cables, snug up the spring bolts and tighten the U bolts. Re install your driveshaft and shocks, put the wheels on and lower the truck to the ground. Now tighten up all of your spring and shackle bolts. Bleed your brakes and have a beer.
This is not a full blown how to, I have probably forgotten to mention a few simple things. But if you don't have enough sense to figure out the little stuff you probably have no business trying this in the first place.
