Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Buckman · 11-21-2005, 02:32 PM

ok, today I went and order 2.5" spindles for my 71 gmc and I was going to get shackles and hangers for the leaf springs to go 4", but I found out that no body makes shackles to go down 4". What is the best way to lower my truck down to 4" with leaf springs? Or should I say the most cheapest way.

mocwon · 11-21-2005, 02:39 PM

Went with 2" rear drop shackles and de-arched springs 2-1/4" and ended up with this stance.....

tomatocity · 11-21-2005, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mocwon

Went with 2" rear drop shackles and de-arched springs 2-1/4" and ended up with this stance.....

Remember that if you want this same look of mocwon's truck you will need to spend some serious cash on those beautiful wheels & tires to fill the wheel wells. Dropping it 4 and 6 seems to be the numbers for 15" wheels and tires.

llegos · 11-21-2005, 03:02 PM

how much did it cost you to have them de-arched? do you still have all of the springs, or were some taken out? and is the suspension softer now, or is it still pretty stiff?

Ackattack · 11-21-2005, 03:11 PM

I removed 2 leafs...cost me a set of u-bolts

tomatocity · 11-21-2005, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ackattack

I removed 2 leafs...cost me a set of u-bolts

Which two leafs did you remove? How many leafs did you have to start with?

Buckman · 11-21-2005, 04:23 PM

Mocwon, where did you have your springs de-arch at and what was the cost?

Longhorn Man · 11-21-2005, 04:27 PM

wouldn't a flip kit do that?

Buckman · 11-21-2005, 04:34 PM

Longhorn Man, I was told that a flip kit would lower it down to about 6". That is to much for me. I have 18" wheels.

mocwon · 11-21-2005, 04:37 PM

75 bucks to de-arch at a local sping and frame company. I didn't take any leafs out of the spring pack so as not to affect the "stiffness". Tomatocity is right with his observation about the size of the wheels. 20" wheels and tires do make a huge difference.

I looked into the flip kit but it appeared as though it would have been more like a 5"+ drop and I was afraid to go that far with 20's but it may work well with smaller tires and wheels.

Primered_69 · 11-21-2005, 04:38 PM

Dearches rear leafs cost me 120 with dearched and new bushings. Look in Yellowpages under Spring

Buckman · 11-21-2005, 04:42 PM

Mocwon, what did you do to the front and how much did you lower it?

llegos · 11-21-2005, 05:32 PM

sweet, i might just have my springs de-arched becuase im looking into some 20's, and dont want any rubbing. what size tires do you have mocwon? that is basically what i want my truck to look like

mocwon · 11-21-2005, 06:12 PM

Buckman: 2-1/2" lowering spindles in front

llegos: 275/45 X 20

72MARIO · 11-21-2005, 07:10 PM

I have a 2" shackle and about 3" spring along with the fatty overload spring removed. New bushings and the dearch costed me 115 with u-bolts and taxes.

A 73 up flip kit can be silghtly ground and made to fit.

Wheel hop may be a issue with to flat of springs. I had to fab up a slapper bar similar to what would be used on a Nova.

If you have a wood floor the 2" shackle will hit the floor. You will have to shave the plank down to 1/8" thick above the shackle if you really want to use a 2"

There are reason why companys like Early Classic ENT.make a 1.5" drop shackle.

llegos · 11-21-2005, 07:27 PM

you got any pics of the slapper bar setup?

72MARIO · 11-22-2005, 07:02 PM

I dont have any on the computer.

If you need a pitcure I can take a few. It's basically a rectangle tube with a rubber snubber 1/8" away from the front spring eye. It works just like any other slapper bar.

11-21-2005, 02:32 PM	#1
Buckman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: bedford Indiana Posts: 70	Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? ok, today I went and order 2.5" spindles for my 71 gmc and I was going to get shackles and hangers for the leaf springs to go 4", but I found out that no body makes shackles to go down 4". What is the best way to lower my truck down to 4" with leaf springs? Or should I say the most cheapest way.

11-21-2005, 02:39 PM	#2
mocwon Keep On Truckin' Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Buda, Texas Posts: 1,354	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? Went with 2" rear drop shackles and de-arched springs 2-1/4" and ended up with this stance..... Attached Images __________________ Just Passin' Thru Some projects are like herding cats; others are like putting out fires; this one was like herding cats on fire.....

11-21-2005, 03:02 PM	#4
llegos Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: pleasanton, CA Posts: 570	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? how much did it cost you to have them de-arched? do you still have all of the springs, or were some taken out? and is the suspension softer now, or is it still pretty stiff? __________________ -Steve

11-21-2005, 03:11 PM	#5
Ackattack Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Valley Center KS Posts: 3,525	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? I removed 2 leafs...cost me a set of u-bolts __________________ Project Bruiser: 68 Pro-Touring C-10 5.3L / 4L60E Project Ironhide: 97 GMC Crew Cab 4x4 Cummins SOLD: '69 GMC 1/2T SWB TBI'd: Project No Buck Assembly Manual Index Sign up Thread!!! Factory Service Manual Index

11-21-2005, 04:23 PM	#7
Buckman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: bedford Indiana Posts: 70	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? Mocwon, where did you have your springs de-arch at and what was the cost?

11-21-2005, 04:27 PM	#8
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? wouldn't a flip kit do that?

11-21-2005, 04:34 PM	#9
Buckman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: bedford Indiana Posts: 70	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? Longhorn Man, I was told that a flip kit would lower it down to about 6". That is to much for me. I have 18" wheels.

11-21-2005, 04:37 PM	#10
mocwon Keep On Truckin' Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Buda, Texas Posts: 1,354	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? 75 bucks to de-arch at a local sping and frame company. I didn't take any leafs out of the spring pack so as not to affect the "stiffness". Tomatocity is right with his observation about the size of the wheels. 20" wheels and tires do make a huge difference. I looked into the flip kit but it appeared as though it would have been more like a 5"+ drop and I was afraid to go that far with 20's but it may work well with smaller tires and wheels. __________________ Just Passin' Thru Some projects are like herding cats; others are like putting out fires; this one was like herding cats on fire.....

11-21-2005, 04:38 PM	#11
Primered_69 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Fort Worth Posts: 1,409	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? Dearches rear leafs cost me 120 with dearched and new bushings. Look in Yellowpages under Spring __________________ 1969 Chevy LWB - with shaved handles; 3 1/2 front/ 5 1/2 rear drop; (waiting to be put back together)

11-21-2005, 04:42 PM	#12
Buckman Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: bedford Indiana Posts: 70	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? Mocwon, what did you do to the front and how much did you lower it?

11-21-2005, 05:32 PM	#13
llegos Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: pleasanton, CA Posts: 570	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? sweet, i might just have my springs de-arched becuase im looking into some 20's, and dont want any rubbing. what size tires do you have mocwon? that is basically what i want my truck to look like __________________ -Steve

11-21-2005, 06:12 PM	#14
mocwon Keep On Truckin' Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Buda, Texas Posts: 1,354	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? Buckman: 2-1/2" lowering spindles in front llegos: 275/45 X 20 __________________ Just Passin' Thru Some projects are like herding cats; others are like putting out fires; this one was like herding cats on fire.....

11-21-2005, 07:10 PM	#15
72MARIO Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Huntsville Ontario Canada Posts: 4,052	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? I have a 2" shackle and about 3" spring along with the fatty overload spring removed. New bushings and the dearch costed me 115 with u-bolts and taxes. A 73 up flip kit can be silghtly ground and made to fit. Wheel hop may be a issue with to flat of springs. I had to fab up a slapper bar similar to what would be used on a Nova. If you have a wood floor the 2" shackle will hit the floor. You will have to shave the plank down to 1/8" thick above the shackle if you really want to use a 2" There are reason why companys like Early Classic ENT.make a 1.5" drop shackle. Attached Images __________________ 1968 Suburban numbers matching all original truck now equipped with 6.0/4L80 on Accuair http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=625017 1967 C/20 6.0/4L80 Roofing Truck 1990 V2500 Suburban "Plow Truck" 2005 TAHOE DD

11-21-2005, 07:27 PM	#16
llegos Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: pleasanton, CA Posts: 570	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? you got any pics of the slapper bar setup? __________________ -Steve

11-22-2005, 07:02 PM	#17
72MARIO Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Huntsville Ontario Canada Posts: 4,052	Re: Best way to lower down to 4 inches with leaf springs ? I dont have any on the computer. If you need a pitcure I can take a few. It's basically a rectangle tube with a rubber snubber 1/8" away from the front spring eye. It works just like any other slapper bar. __________________ 1968 Suburban numbers matching all original truck now equipped with 6.0/4L80 on Accuair http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=625017 1967 C/20 6.0/4L80 Roofing Truck 1990 V2500 Suburban "Plow Truck" 2005 TAHOE DD



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