Lowering 5" with 2-piece driveshaft

[8t5Silverado]

I am installing a 5" flip kit on my 85 lwb.

I have read that I need to put a spacer on top of the center bearing to lower it an inch to help align the 2-piece driveshaft.

Is this necessary?

[toytruck]

Where did you read that? The instructions from Western Chassis dosn't say anything about it. But I wondered about it too.

[lolife99]

I lowered a '91 suburban, (old body style) with a flip kit in the rear. It also had a 2 piece driveshaft. I had to put a shim in the carrier bearing after I started driving it. It had a bad vibration when you first took off from a stop sign. I think I used a piece of 1 inch square tube steel, with some holes drilled in it, with longer bolts. Vibration went away after that. You can try a stack of washers, on longer bolts, between the carrier bearing and the mount. Experiment, in half inch increments until you lose the vibration. Also,... don't forget shock extensions. Dropped shocks won't help with shock angle. You need the extensions to keep the angle correct. Keep us posted!

[8t5Silverado]

Actually, my Western Chassis instructions say to put a 1 inch spacer there...I will have to see how it goes.

I already have the shock extenders from WC. Thanks for the warning.

How do set the angle of the driveshaft in the first place? Or do you just tighten it all up and it takes care of itself?

[lolife99]

Spacers will "cheat" the angle, to get rid of most of the vibration. Bolt it in and go. You just might have to play with the amount to get it right. Make sure the tranny yoke doesn't bottom out in the transmission.