What are the NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE's with a LOWERED ST? What about towing?

[DiveDeep 07]

Does towing get hurt when an ST is lowered say.....2" on the rear w/blocks and 2" on the front using the Torsion Twist? Who makes some good quality lowering blocks with the U-Bolts, etc? What if the Torsion Bar bolts have to be removed, what will this hurt? To lower the rear, do the leaf-springs have to be put on the other side of the axle? I am sorry for all the questions, but I don't want to destroy or harm the ride of my truck! Thanks, DDST

 

[Blake Clark]

I haven't hauled anything too heavy but i've never noticed a problem when towing with my ST lowered. Most lowering blocks will work, i used some made by belltech but you can get cheaper ones as well. Lowering it only 2" you shouldn't have to remove your torsion bolts, if you do take them out i think it would affect your alignment pretty bad. All you do on the rear is insert the blocks you don't have to move anything else around. Here's mine lowered 2" front and rear, hope i helped.

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[Jeff C]

I brought back about 900lbs of sand/dirt from Home Depot over the summer. Bottomed out over every bump, but nothing too bad. Just took it easy and did the speed limit. Oh, and I'm lowered 3/2, and I completely removed the torsion bolts up front. No harm yet and it's been well over a year now.

 

[Larry Phillips]

So THAT'S why your ST looks lower than mine in the front Jeff...

I lowered mine 2 in the front, but the wheelwell gap makes the front look higher than the back. The snuglid sloping downward at the rear doesn't help either.



DiveDeepST, I haven't towed with mine (yet) since I lowered it, but I can tell you that handling has GREATLY improved. I'm really happy with Explorer Express's blocks, and the U-bolts actually fit around the rear axle. Most generic kits have to be bent to fit. And their kit comes with the camber adjusters for the front.

 

[DiveDeep 07]

Blake Clark, What size tires do you have? I was planning on also lowering mine 2" all around. Yours looks pretty darn good!

Thanks a bunch guys for your help!!!!! Hope to do something within the next week with the lowering. I plan on adding an underglow, drop kit, new wheels(not really wanting to add new tires).....I want to find some wheels if anyone has any or knows someone who does that fits the Michelin 235/70/R16's. I am also going to sell my subwoofer's and box to put one Polk 12" MOMO in its place, but under the big section of the back seat. DDST

 

[DiveDeep 07]

I am also going to be getting a MagnaFlow muffler installed in place of the stock muffler. The pipes only will effect sound, not performance. Pipes going in the muffler could increase restriction, but not much. I don't think it's worth the money to buy an entire system and not get any more gain than just adding a muffler. DDST

 

[Joe Magliocca]

I'm lowered 2" front, 3" rear, going on 4 years now. EE rear sway and Edelbrock IAS shocks also. Simply put, an ENORMOUS improvement in on road performance.



Secondly, the exhaust. Spend the money on the full Magnaflow exhaust. It will be the most significant seat of the pants(*as well as sound sensational) improvement you will make to the ST this side of a supercharger!



I always use the analogy from my muscle car days. The improveents gained by adding a 4 barrel intake and a smal 4 bbl carb to a small block, are similar to the throttle response gained by the Magnaflow exhaust. Really great bang for the buck IMHO

 

[Blake Clark]

those tires are 285/60-18's performance rated that along with the drop, it handles so much better than stock. I came from driving a firebird and missed my little drives on winding roads, but not anymore handles great. Their is still good ground clearance with it being lowered and it handles great, couldn't ask for more in an SUV. Thanks for the compliments,

P.S. if your going to get an underglow kit, don't skip on it, buy one of the good kits from like street glow, i had one of the cheaper brands and it just didn't stand up to the weather. I second the magnaflow idea, I wish i had done that i just have a flowmaster with dumps and wish i had gone the magnaflow idea, mine is entirely too loud on the highway.

 

[Johnny O]

If you're going to tow or load up a lowered Trac, I'd suggest putting airbags in the rear.

 

[Michelle Widell]

A friend of ours has a lowered F-150, and he uses it for towing. IMO, the ST (and his F-150) ride better on the highway.



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