How to Create a Lowrider Truck

Once the weather gets warm, lowrider trucks seem to come out of hibernation and flock together in groups in parking lots and auto shows. Simple everyday trucks are turned into custom creations that glide down the road a hair above the pavement. Techniques formally held secret by custom shops are now available to the garage customizer.

Things You'll Need

• 2-, 3- or 4-inch lowering blocks
• U-bolts
• Nuts and lock washers for U-bolts
• ½-inch ratchet and sockets
• Jack
• Jack stands
• Reciprocating saw or grinder
• Impact wrench (optional)

Instructions

1. Look underneath your vehicle to see if you can install a lowering block by itself by seeing if your leaf springs are located underneath your axle. If they are, you can continue as planned. If not, you'll have to purchase an axle flip kit. This will give your vehicle a 4-inch drop.

2. Loosen the rear lug nuts. Jack up the rear end of the vehicle and secure it on the jack stands. Make sure the stands are under the frame in front of the leaf springs.

3. Jack up the axle housing so that the tension is relieved in the leaf springs. Set the axle on another set of stands and remove the wheels.

4. 

   Use your ½-inch ratchet to loosen the factory U-bolts that hold the leaf spring to the axle. An impact wrench would make this process go much faster. Make sure that all the tension is relieved from the leaf spring, or the spring could come out and cause injury when you remove the bolts.

5. Jack up the axle higher, so that there is a gap between the top of the leaf spring and the bottom of the axle. Don't shift things from side to side because this will make things more difficult later.

6. 

   Place the lowering block on top of your leaf spring. Pay attention to the centering hole on the bottom of the block. This is meant to be placed over the bolt that holds the whole leaf spring pack together.

7. Place the U-bolts over the axle and mount them to the pad below it like it was from the factory. Align the alignment tab on the top of the block with the hole in the bottom of the axle.

8. Tighten your U-bolts on both sides. Double up on the bolts if you have extra nuts because they will act as secondary lock nuts and keep everything secure.

9. Replace the wheel. Your new U-bolts will be hanging down pretty far from where they are secured to the spring. Make sure that your U-bolts do not hang down lower than your rim because if you get a flat tire your suspension would hit first and cause an accident. Cut off any excess with a reciprocating saw or a grinder. Even if they are not too long but they concern you, cut them off.

10. Place your other wheel back onto the vehicle and lower it back down to the ground.

11. Tighten the lug nuts on your wheels.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use caution when working with a vehicle on jacks. Wear protective eyewear when using the saw and grinder.