Lowering shackles

[68Stepbed]

I ordered some 2" front springs and 2" rear shackles for my 86 from Summit racing. The company that makes them is Ground Force. The front springs shouldn't be a problem, but the instructions with the rear shackles say that I need to cut a section out of the cross sill support of the bed just above the shackles.

Has anyone else had to do this with shackles? Has anyone used this brand? Is there a better way to lower the rear just a couple inches?

[mercman1951]

My understanding was with the shackle kits: they were the easiest to install to get the back end lower...I'll be watching this thread since I plan to go this route too, and do not plan to have to make any modifications other than swapping these in...

[f.monroe]

I am pretty sure the leaf springs and shackles will interfere with the bed cross support . If you dont want to cut the bed , you might check on lowering springs for the rear . I believe Slonakers blue truck is dropped in the rear with springs . I dont know if they offer 2 inch drop springs but you might check with him to see where he bought his . Frank

[texassquarebodies]

You are going to have to trim the cross bracing........ya I know.... I put bell tech 2" hangers on my 1982 chevy 10 years ago. It is one of those things you gotta do when ya wanna go lower....

Tony Kee
Texas Square Bodies
Truck Junkie

[77-383 Step]

Yeh, you have to trim them. I've done this with the drop springs and it's still not very low. I'm kinda lazy/impatient and I love tools,,,,, so I bought a Plasma cutter to do it. worked out nice, but you could get it done with a sawz-all, no problem.

[bigblock73]

Before you cut the cross sill, look and see what springs you have in back. If you have the longer heavier duty 56" springs, you should not have to, if you have the standard light duty 52" springs, you will have to. Take a peek and let us know.

[slugish]

Dont Need To Cut Cross Sill With 2 In. Hangers , Add The 2 In Shackle For Another 2 Ins & You Have To .

Have Light Duty 4 Spring Set Up On My 84

[Slonaker]

Originally Posted by f.monroe

I am pretty sure the leaf springs and shackles will interfere with the bed cross support . If you dont want to cut the bed , you might check on lowering springs for the rear . I believe Slonakers blue truck is dropped in the rear with springs . I dont know if they offer 2 inch drop springs but you might check with him to see where he bought his . Frank

I have 4" Western Chassis drop leaves from performancesuspension.com. AFAIK, they don't make any for a 2" drop. You could use them and 2" blocks, but that would be a lot off trouble to go to in order to avoid cutting the bed support.

Originally Posted by slugish

Dont Need To Cut Cross Sill With 2 In. Hangers

You may have the longer springs. I have the shorter length springs, and the bed support is directly above the shackle. It would have to be cut. That is one of the reasons I went with drop springs.

Slonaker

[Captkaos]

As Jeff indicated, if you have the standard suspension which is the 3-4 leaf setup, you have to cut the cross sill and if you have the HD setup, you don't.

[68Stepbed]

I'm pretty sure I have the light duty springs. The spring eye and shackle is about an inch right below the support. I can't afford new springs and I don't want to cut up my bed, so I guess my truck will keep it's nose bleed stance for a while longer. The springs and shackles only cost about $125.00 from Summit. I guess you get what you pay for, huh.

[xtreme80]

It's really not much of a cut. It's just one little spot above the shackle. Good chance nobody would even notice

[tyjoja]

just cut my 73 bed rails in the back with a sawzall no problem, had to cut a small section wich does not affect strength would be hard to see. had to pull the bed off, 8 bolts and four people, disconnect the lights and the gas filler hose. flip it over and paint an undercoat the bottom of the bed and the frame while you have it off. Mine turned out nice. go for it. bob

[tyjoja]

on second thought, and correct me if i'm wrong I think the lowering shackle are on the front part of the springs and require no cutting of the bed at all. you just pop the old four rivets to the frame off and bolt the new ones on. still easier to pull the bed as above, and I used a cold chisel and a 3 pound heavy hammer, and that will lower your back 2" I used shackles with spring hangers to add up to 4 1/2" total. lol

[Captkaos]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

I'm pretty sure I have the light duty springs. The spring eye and shackle is about an inch right below the support. I can't afford new springs and I don't want to cut up my bed, so I guess my truck will keep it's nose bleed stance for a while longer. The springs and shackles only cost about $125.00 from Summit. I guess you get what you pay for, huh.

Price is reasonable for shackles. They are longer (significantly) that the stock ones hence the need to clearance the cross sill. You could do it with a sawzall or a cutoff wheel or a grinder if you had to.

Originally Posted by tyjoja

on second thought, and correct me if i'm wrong I think the lowering shackle are on the front part of the springs

Incorret, that is a Hanger.

[benoit454]

exactly spring hangers are the front and there's 6 rivets I'm pretty sure, and the shackles are in the back.

[piecesparts]

If you are hanging new (longer) shackles, then the rib, just above and behind the spring shackles will need to be trimmed. I cut mine and then put a filler piece into it for more strength. I have done more than one truck and had to do everyone of them, that way.

[68Stepbed]

What about just running new hangers in the front for a 2" drop?

[454HO]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

What about just running new hangers in the front for a 2" drop?

This is the way my truck was set up before I tore it down for the rebuild a few years ago. The only negative affect I noticed is that it had a little bit more of a tendancy to wheel hop when accelerating hard. I suspect it was because of the pinion angle change. Lowering hangers on the front rotates the pinion yoke upward. There are leaf spring wedges available that you can use to correct this though if it's a problem.

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by 68Stepbed

What about just running new hangers in the front for a 2" drop?

This puts the rear axle at a bad angle to the driveline. Use the rear shackles first, then do the front hangers.