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Old 02-18-2010, 10:43 PM   #1
qu1cks1lver56
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Lowering shackles?

I want to lower my truck some. And flipping the rear end would be way too much for me. So I think shackles is the way to go for me. Anyone want to point me in the direction of some good ones that won't break the bank?

For the front I'm probably going to either cut a coil or 2 off the springs or get some drop spindles. Or both.
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Old 02-18-2010, 10:48 PM   #2
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Re: Lowering shackles?

Bell tech is the way I went, no problems.

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Old 02-18-2010, 11:03 PM   #3
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Re: Lowering shackles?

i just put some in my truck recently, i ordered them through summit. They are the summit brand ones, but there just repackaged ground force drop shackles, they were 50 bucks if i remember correctly. The shackles are good for the price and if you didn't know you have to notch out the under side of the bed so they clear it comes with all the measurements on where to make you cuts not hard at all.And cutting the coils i believe for every coil you cut its a 2 inch drop and dont cut half a coil either.
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Old 02-19-2010, 09:19 PM   #4
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Re: Lowering shackles?

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Originally Posted by 54Caddy View Post
and dont cut half a coil either.
I haven't heard that before. Why can't you cut half a coil?

Just curious, I'd planned on doing half a coil at a time (on my daughter's truck) until it looks right.
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Old 02-19-2010, 10:22 PM   #5
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Re: Lowering shackles?

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Originally Posted by BRUISER View Post
I haven't heard that before. Why can't you cut half a coil?

Just curious, I'd planned on doing half a coil at a time (on my daughter's truck) until it looks right.
you can cut 1/4 ,1/2 or 3/4 a coil it dont matter
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Old 02-19-2010, 10:33 PM   #6
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Re: Lowering shackles?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 54Caddy View Post
i just put some in my truck recently, i ordered them through summit. They are the summit brand ones, but there just repackaged ground force drop shackles, they were 50 bucks if i remember correctly. The shackles are good for the price and if you didn't know you have to notch out the under side of the bed so they clear it comes with all the measurements on where to make you cuts not hard at all.And cutting the coils i believe for every coil you cut its a 2 inch drop and dont cut half a coil either.
if you have 52" springs you will have to notch, but if you have 56" springs you won't....


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you can cut 1/4 ,1/2 or 3/4 a coil it dont matter
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Old 02-19-2010, 10:47 PM   #7
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Re: Lowering shackles?

Cool. I thought I'd stumbled on some voodoo I hadn't met before. And the belltech/oreilley's tip is excellent - my daughter is ready to tear into her truck.
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Old 02-20-2010, 10:44 AM   #8
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Re: Lowering shackles?

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Originally Posted by joe231 View Post
if you have 52" springs you will have to notch, but if you have 56" springs you won't....
Glad someone cleared that up, because I was about to vent...LoL.

Misinformation gets under my skin. I too listened to advice on a message board AND the instructions when I put on my drop shackles back in the 90's...notched my bed supports to clear the drop shackles, turned out I didn't have to because I have the longer 56" springs.

That still bugs me...now I have a notched supports for no reason at all.

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Old 02-18-2010, 11:05 PM   #9
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Re: Lowering shackles?

Thanks for the info guys.
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Old 02-18-2010, 11:14 PM   #10
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Re: Lowering shackles?

also if your not wanting to order the shackles,i just picked some up at an o'reillys
there belltech shackles for our trucks and they were only 40 bucks
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Old 02-19-2010, 01:57 AM   #11
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Re: Lowering shackles?

Wow, definitely gonna ride by there and check 'em out.
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Old 02-19-2010, 02:07 AM   #12
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Re: Lowering shackles?

be carefull though i kno autozone sells some cheap brand ones, id order the summit ones
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Old 02-19-2010, 02:24 AM   #13
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Re: Lowering shackles?

If someone local has belltech's then I'll buy them since I've heard good things about them. But I won't buy any cheapos.
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Old 02-19-2010, 08:13 PM   #14
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Re: Lowering shackles?

oreilly auto parts sells beltec shackles, also you cold remove a leaf or two lower it more
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Old 02-19-2010, 09:25 PM   #15
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Re: Lowering shackles?

My grandpa and dad have always said that ill tell him to fill in on this question, if i remember right it sags or something like that will tell him to answer this question for you..
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Old 02-19-2010, 11:09 PM   #16
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Re: Lowering shackles?

i heard that if you cut 1/2 it doesnt sit in the arm bucket right idk just what ive heard
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Old 02-19-2010, 11:10 PM   #17
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Re: Lowering shackles?

you can spin the coil to fit in the grove
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Old 02-19-2010, 11:20 PM   #18
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Re: Lowering shackles?

yea true just saying what ive heard
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Old 02-19-2010, 11:22 PM   #19
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Re: Lowering shackles?

You can cut a 1/2 coil on the springs with no problem. Just make sure the coil is seated properly in the spring pocket. The most important thing about cuttings coils is to avoid excessive heat. This will lead to sagging springs.
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Old 02-20-2010, 12:34 AM   #20
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Re: Lowering shackles?

I'd planned to use my angle grinder, no torch. I think we'll be good, I just wanted to be sure since I'm somewhat new to lowering and this is my daughters truck. Thanks.
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Old 02-20-2010, 01:31 AM   #21
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Re: Lowering shackles?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 54Caddy View Post
My grandpa and dad have always said that ill tell him to fill in on this question, if i remember right it sags or something like that will tell him to answer this question for you..
I thought about it, but I want my payload since I'm still gonna pull the boat to the river.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BRUISER View Post
I'd planned to use my angle grinder, no torch. I think we'll be good, I just wanted to be sure since I'm somewhat new to lowering and this is my daughters truck. Thanks.
Same here, I don't have a torch so angle grinder or possibly my chop saw.
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Old 02-20-2010, 01:33 AM   #22
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Re: Lowering shackles?

use a 3in cut off wheel
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Old 02-20-2010, 10:17 AM   #23
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Re: Lowering shackles?

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Originally Posted by 3r!c84 View Post
use a 3in cut off wheel
That's what I was thinking.
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Old 02-20-2010, 12:09 PM   #24
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Re: Lowering shackles?

The forum seems to be over-run lately with mis-information and "I have heard" posts....it is to a point where I'm plain tired of correcting all the bad info.
I dunno what can be done about it though.......
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Last edited by joe231; 02-20-2010 at 12:10 PM.
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Old 02-20-2010, 08:03 PM   #25
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Re: Lowering shackles?

my bad **** was just putting what i thought. Not saying i know everything just saying from experience. Thought the whole idea of this website was to help others out, but i guess you have to be a ****in expert to post anything now huh.....
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