5/8 static drop on a '96 Silverado: been there every day, here’s what sticks
Daily driver slammed 5/8 for eight months, so no fluff, just what worked.
Core setup
- 3" coils and 2" spindles up front, flip kit plus shackles out back; LCAs with coils had me chasing alignment and wheel-lip rub, so spindles are next.
- Bolt-in notch gets you a streetable 4/6, but 5/8 wants a monster notch; I cut the bed, welded in the Suicidedoors monster, and it lets me lay frame on 22s.
- If you plan on air later, trim the 8" notch to fit under the floor now, keep plenty of travel, and don’t forget the carrier bearing shim so the drivetrain quits vibrating at takeoff.
Clearance fight - In my truck, anything lower than 4" meant the tie rod ends or sleeves kissed the frame until I cut a notch, and I knew leaving it would bend the sleeves and leave me steering-less.
- The swaybar won’t line up after the drop, so run shorter endlinks instead of deleting it, and redrill+tap the mounts if DJM LCAs whack the bar at a goofy angle and chew the bushings.
- Inner fenders need trimming once you pack a 27" combo; I rolled every lip and went with a higher-profile 45/50 series tire because the roads suck and rubbing them sucks worse.
Rear travel - The rear needs the flip kit, long shackles, and a proper notch to get any travel; the bolt-in notch keeps a 4/6 streetable, but a 5/8 will sit on the bump stops without the deeper cut and bed trimming.
Other takes - Some guys run 6-8 years with no sway or tie rod drama, just a dinged Y-pipe and scratched gas tank shield, while another warns that a 14-bolt pumpkin can hit the bed on big bumps with 3" exhaust hanging over it.
- The 2" LCAs shove the tie rod mount up, so dropped spindles keep the stock tie rod mount and have been working for daily-driving 5.5-6.5" fronts with zero scraping.
- DJM coils slammed some rigs 4.5" and nearly tucked the rims, but others swear by them; still, Belltech or Hotchkis coils are built for the ext cab V8 weight, so that’s the safer bet if you are worried.
Chatter - A guy asked about a $399 4/6 kit with spindles, springs, and flip kit and wanted to know how the ride feels before he pulled the trigger.
- Most of us agree a 4/7 drop is as low as you want to go before cutting everything, and bag gear is already on order so the static torture ends.