Doesn't look like you did anything wrong. And, I can't see the clearance between the bottom of the control arm and the ground changing just by swapping out the front springs. The control arm would basically remain in the same location while the rest of the suspension would come down due to the 3" drop springs....make sense? I'm running 3" drop springs with drop shocks on the front of my truck and have never had a problem with it bottoming out in the front. I've got stock springs in the back with 4" blocks.........it'll bottom out occassionally in the winter when I hit a spot in the road where it's sunk heavily (where drainage pipes run underneath)....but that's the only time it's bottomed out. I take it you have 3" springs in the back with 1" blocks? Still don't see it bottoming out over every little bump with that set up. Maybe someone else can chime in here.

 

ggret,

How long were the shocks you used? I would assume that if they came with the kit they were the proper length, at least 2" shorter than stock. In your first picture, it looks like you have very little travel left. You do sound like you're bottoming out. Is there any visible evidence on the bump stop? Also take a look at the rear. You could be bottoming out there too.

Jake

 

sorry - double post

 

I concur with both the comments above. If you didn't cut the bumpstops off the rear, you need to. Those make a hell of a racket when they hit on a lowered truck.

What did you use to lower the front? Coils, or coils and spindles? Where they new or used?

 

it looks like you don't have any bump stops in the front. you need to get some ASAP.

 

those springs have to be more than 3".
Send them back and get 2" spindles with 1" springs.

 

Sorry i misworded this. I'm not bottoming out and hitting the ground. The sound is metal against metal. I have confirmed that it's coming from the front. I don't have the bumpstops on in the front but i know it's not the lca thats hitting. I had a friend push down on the front while i watched. It sounds like it may be the upper control arm hitting the fender well area. Has anyone heard of this happening?

 

i measured. They are 3" springs. Also i plan on putting the bump stops back on once i shave them down a bit.

 

I've never heard of it. What kinda drop springs did you use?

 

there is no way your lower would hit the ground anyway. I would think its the lower hitting the spring pocket.

I doubt your friend could create the same amount of downward force by ppushing on the frontend as the truck creates going down the road. Is it only on large bumps, or small bumps as well?

Make sure everything is good and tight as well. make sure the ball joints are fully seated in the spindle. Make sure the wheel bearings are good and tight as well.

 

I would think its the lower hitting the spring pocket.

It would almost have to be, there's guys running 4 inches of drop up front with no probs. Of course they de-humped the lowers. but still.

I don't see how it could be anything else, unless maybe your control arm bushings are non existent.

How does your sway bar look?

when you say bottoming out, does the truck jolt hard? or does it just make noise...

 

Yea i was watching for the lower to hit the spring pocket and it didn't but we could still hear and feel the suspension stopping. When i was driving it was making the noise over the slightest bumps. Even creeping at 1 mph off the lip of my driveway

 

were the shocks a pain in the ass to install?

I am wondering if they sent you too short of a shock and the shock is bottoming out.

If you loosen the top mount up a bit on the shock see if you get more travel/less noise

 

And yes the ball joints and bearings are fully and correctly seated. lol. i aint that bad of a mechanic.

 

And yes the ball joints and bearings are fully and correctly seated. lol. i aint that bad of a mechanic.

never said you were.

 

with a 3" drop spring up front the control is very close to bottoming out on the frame if you still had the factory front bumpstop it would be damn near sitting on it for the front issue u could de hump the lower arms which there are plenty of threads on here that can help you with that. now for the rear pretty much the same thing best be it to cut the factory bumpstop bracket off that gives you roughly 4" more or clearance. on my blazer i dropped it 4/4" and i got tired of the front bottoming out and put a set of de humped lowers arms on it i had sitting around in the garage and havent had it happen anymore and i also cut the big a$$ rear bump stop and bracket off the frame and havent bottomed out since. i think all this will solve your problem good luck and welcome to the form!!!

 

the shocks were kinda tight going through the lower but other than that they where easy to put in. But im gonna check the length. thanks for the suggestion. I take it for granted that they would send the kit with parts that are compatible.
I replaced the bushings on the lower but the uppers looked fine. my truck doesnt have sway bars tho. When it bottoms or does whatever it is that its doing it has a decent little jolt to it.

 

doesn't sound like bottoming out, when my truck "bottomed out" you better not have had your tongue out.

 

this will sound stupid, but make sure as well your tierods arent hitting the frame. They should be nowhere close to the frame, but a second look never hurts

 

Im gonna look into those de humped lower control arms. nd ive already cut the rear bumpstops off. Im almost positive the tierods aren't hitting but like you said it wont hurt to check again. thanks for all the suggestions. ill let yall know what i figure out.

 

my guess is that the lower control arm is bottoming on the spring pocket...you can tell there's not much travel, which can be expected with 3" springs up front...like someone else mentioned, you'd likely be sitting on the bump stops if they were there...i'd definitely throw in some shorter bump stops (i cut down stock ones)....i know on my truck, it was riding on the bump stops when i first bought it...after i cut them down, it was okay except for a busted shock....it has a 4" front drop with spindles/springs and shaved bumps stops...i don't have de-humped control arms, and i don't bottom out....however, i did recently have all new bushings/ball joints/etc. installed along with Belltech Street Performance shocks

on the rear, i have a 5" drop with springs/blocks...i shaved down the bump stops, but it will bottom on big dips or bumps...i plan to cut off the whole bump stop bracket to allow for more travel

 

maybe wrong 3" spings? i know the v6 vs the 2.2 is heavier. if you have 2.2 3" springs instead of the v6 spings that could cause it.

I'm running 2" spindles, and 1" springs on my 92 and I sometimes bottom out on speedbumps only.

best of luck.

 

i ran 2" spindles with DJM 3" springs (4cyl) under my SBC with no issues

 

Good to know, I bought 3" Ground Force springs and 2" Bell Tech spindles for mine.

 

I run 2 inch springs with 2 inch spindles, stock bump stop up front. Hardly bottom out on the front. Need to shave the bump stops.

Keep us posted.

 

It turns out that it was the control arm hitting the spring pocket. I'm switching to 1" springs and 2" spindles. Looking from a different angle i could see that when the truck was on the ground the lca was already resting against the spring pocket. No wonder it handled like it was on rails

 

before you start to correct this, take lots of pics and send them to the manufacturer of those springs with a copy of your reciept. Have them explain to you why their 3" coil puts the control arm iinto the pocket. That is BS

 

I want to but i dont want to have to return the entire kit because i'm very pleased with the shocks and the rear end drop.