If you're seeking to slam your truck without making it ride like a brick, 99-06 silverado drop control arms are pretty much the gold standard for getting that perfect stance. Let's be real—the GMT800 platform (that's the 99-06 entire body style for those who aren't truck nerds) will be one of the best-looking trucks Chevy ever made. Nevertheless they're sitting in stock height, they will look a little bit like they're upon stilts. You want that street-truck appearance, but you furthermore don't want to lose your teeth every time a person hit a pothole.
Lowering a 52 pick up isn't just regarding which makes it look imply; it's about how it handles the particular road. A lot of guys try out to take the particular cheap way out by just slicing their factory spring suspensions or tossing in some cheap lowering coils. While that'll obtain the nose down, this usually ruins the particular ride quality plus wreaks havoc in your front-end geometry. That's where drop control arms come into play.
The particular Problem with Inexpensive Lowering Methods
When you simply swap in shorter springs, you're making the factory control arms to operate at an angle they weren't designed for. This forces your ball joints to their absolute limits and usually results in a camber situation that'll consume through your costly tires in a matter of a few months. Plus, the shock travel gets all messed up, leading to that "bouncy" feeling which makes everybody in the cab feel a small seasick.
Making use of 99-06 silverado drop control arms solves this simply by moving the installation point of the spring or maybe the ball joint itself. This allows you to drop the vehicle two or three inches while keeping the spring at its designed tension and the ball joint from a much more happy angle. It's the between a truck that looks lowered and a truck that will be reduced correctly.
Choosing Between Tubular and Cast Arms
When you start shopping with regard to 99-06 silverado drop control arms , you're going to discover two main sorts: tubular and solid.
Tube arms are generally the favourite for road builds. They're produced from heavy-duty steel tubing, making them incredibly strong but also lighter compared to bulky factory devices. They give the underside of your truck a much solution, custom look. Most of the high end brands like DJM or Belltech low fat heavily into tube designs because they will could be engineered with specific gussets and reinforcements that stock arms just don't have.
Cast arms are even more like the Factory-style. They're beefy, solid, and look a lot like exactly what came on the particular truck from the factory. They're often a bit less expensive than tubular ones, and for a daily driver that isn't hitting the present circuit, they work perfectly fine. The main thing is making sure whatever you buy comes with high-quality bushings and ball joints. There is nothing even worse than installing a brand new set of arms only to have the particular bushings squeak such as a haunted house two weeks later.
How the Geometry Actually Changes
Let's chat a little go shopping for a second. Whenever you install 99-06 silverado drop control arms , you aren't just moving the wheel up; you're maintaining the "swing" of the suspension. On these Silverados, the front finish uses an independent suspension setup. Because the wheel goes up and lower, it travels in an arc.
If a person drop the pickup truck without changing the arms, you move the starting point of that arch. This usually indicates your tires may tilt inward with the top (negative camber). By using drop arms, the manufacturer has basically re-engineered that arc. They "correct" the particular ball joint place so that actually at a decrease ride height, your tires sit toned for the pavement. This particular keeps your steering feeling crisp plus ensures you aren't buying new top tires every season.
Installation: What You're Getting Straight into
If you're a driveway auto technician, installing 99-06 silverado drop control arms is really a solid Saturday project. It's not "easy, " but it's definitely doable which includes basic tools and a little bit of patience. You're going to require a floor jack port, some sturdy jack stands (don't actually trust just the jack), and a good set of electrical sockets.
The toughest part of the particular job is usually getting the old, crusty factory arms off. If a person reside in the corrosion belt, may the force be with you. You'll possibly want to bathe everything in PB Blaster or some sort of penetrating oil a few days before you begin. Separating the basketball joints can be a discomfort, too. Some guys use a pickle fork, which functions, but it usually destroys the grease boot. Since you're replacing the whole arm anyway, it doesn't matter much, but a ball joint separator tool is always the particular "correct" way in order to get it done.
Once the old arms are out, the new ones generally bolt right directly into the factory wallets. One pro tip: don't tighten the particular pivot bolts (where the arm satisfies the frame) until the truck is usually back on the particular ground using its complete weight within the suspension system. If you tighten them while the truck is up in the atmosphere, the rubber bushing will "bind" when you let it down, which leads to a harsh ride plus premature bushing failing.
Don't Forget the Alignment
I am unable to stress this more than enough: as soon as you finish setting up your 99-06 silverado drop control arms , you need in order to take the truck straight to a good alignment shop. Actually though these arms are designed to correct geometry, each truck is somewhat different. Your toe and camber can definitely be away after you've ripped the front finish apart.
Driving around intended for even a 7 days without an alignment can ruin a brand-new group of tires. Many shops can obtain these trucks back again into spec fairly easily with the particular factory adjustment cams on the upper control arms, but it's a step you just can't skip.
Common Questions and Concerns
One particular thing people frequently ask is in the event that they could combine 99-06 silverado drop control arms with other lowering components. The answer is yes, but a person have to be careful. In case you combine 2-inch drop arms along with 2-inch drop springs, you're now four inches lower in the front. At that will point, you're going to run in to issues with the wheel striking the inner fender liner or the particular frame.
Another thing to consider is grease. Most aftermarket control arms come with Zerk accessories (grease nipples). Don't ignore these! Provide them with a pump or two of high-quality grease every period you change your own oil. It will keep the ride calm and prevents the particular bushings from wearing out. A "squeaky" lowered truck will be the fastest way to turn a cool ride into some thing that feels like a heap of junk.
Final Thoughts around the Update
Upgrading in order to 99-06 silverado drop control arms is honestly 1 of the greatest things you can do for the GMT800. It's the right way to obtain the look you would like without sacrificing the utility of the truck. You can nevertheless haul stuff, you can still go on long road excursions, and you won't feel every pebbled on the asphalt.
Whether you're heading for a subtle 2-inch drop in order to level things out there or you're targeting a full 4/6 drop to obtain that frame-laying appearance, the control arms are the base of the construct. Don't cut corners on your own suspension. Invest the extra bit associated with cash on a decent set of arms, take the time to install all of them right, and you'll be much happier every time you turn the key and go out with regard to a cruise.