lowering ??? I'm new

[prauk]

Hey,
I'm running my 86 chevy shortbed stepside 2wd. the truck is stock height. I have 17" torque thrusts on it and want to lower the rear to level. The truck looks good in the front. I don't want to lower the front, because I still use it as a truck sometimes and drag race it. I was wondering the best way to lower the rear a few inches to make it level. Shackle kit?. there doesn't look like much room for a longer shackle. it will hit the bed bottom. What kit is out there and what is involved? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Paul

[ocbaud]

shackles are exactly what you want. they should even out the truck perfect, if you're springs in the front are sagging, it may still be a tiny bit lower than the rear, but it will look fine.

for shackles you will need to notch the bed support in that area, not really that hard to do, but it is easier if you have the bed removed.

[Slonaker]

Hello prauk...

I got your PM, and responded in the thread as you suggested. My truck is lowered 2.5" in the front with drop spindles and 4" in the back with drop springs.

Most folks use shackles to lower the back to make it sit level. I think they drop it about 2" which should level it out. I know the bed support has to be trimmed a little to use drop shackles on a fleetside, but I don't know about stepside beds. Hopefully someone here with a stepside can address that question.

Let me know if you need to know anything else about the drop on mine. My webhost is down right now, so I don't have any pics available.

Slonaker

[prauk]

How do you like the drop springs? Do they still work decent for haulin light loads? I haul engines around w/ my truck, that could be 500lbs. w/ transmission. Where is a good place to get these kits?

[prauk]

Originally Posted by ocbaud

shackles are exactly what you want. they should even out the truck perfect, if you're springs in the front are sagging, it may still be a tiny bit lower than the rear, but it will look fine.

for shackles you will need to notch the bed support in that area, not really that hard to do, but it is easier if you have the bed removed.

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Hey OCBAUD
What is the drop on your truck? Where did you get the parts?

[ocbaud]

Originally Posted by prauk

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Hey OCBAUD
What is the drop on your truck? Where did you get the parts?

i've got a 4.5/5" drop

i'm using western chassis 1.5" springs and djm 3" spindles in the front along with a western chassis flip kit in the rear.

i forgot where i got it all from

[Slonaker]

Originally Posted by prauk

How do you like the drop springs? Do they still work decent for haulin light loads? I haul engines around w/ my truck, that could be 500lbs. w/ transmission. Where is a good place to get these kits?

The drop springs are quite a bit lighter than the originals. They ride better than the old springs. I have not had anything in the back that weighed more than about 200 pounds since I installed them. I suspect they would be fine, though, especially if the load was pushed toward the front of the bed to transfer more of the weight to the front suspension. I doubt they would work well with a big load of lumber or towing much of a trailer, though.

My suspension parts are all Western Chassis. I bought them from http://www.performancesuspension.com. I first checked with http://www.sporttruckdirect.com, but they would not reply to several emails sent over a period of months. Performance Suspension had a toll free number, and answered all of my questions on the spot. I ordered from them because of that.

Slonaker

[bwright]

I used 3" drop coils in the front and a flip kit in the rear on my '77. The truck sits perfectly level now. I added air shocks to the rear and can carry as much load as before (I just have to air up the rear shocks to balance the load).

[killthewabbit]

The shackles answer makes me curious.

I always see drops (4") with both shackles and hangers. I don't know that I've ever seen a drop with just shackles and no hangers. Are there any weird complications with using just shackles? Do you have to use one of those pinion shims if you do just shackles?

[bwright]

Originally Posted by killthewabbit

The shackles answer makes me curious.

I always see drops (4") with both shackles and hangers. I don't know that I've ever seen a drop with just shackles and no hangers. Are there any weird complications with using just shackles? Do you have to use one of those pinion shims if you do just shackles?

No, there will be no weird complications from just using shackles. You shouldn't have to use any shims with no more than a 2" shackle drop.

[prauk]

thanks for the info.... I'm going to order a kit from that performance suspension. they look like a quality outfit. next onto the motor and paint.

[boxrodz]

Performance Suspension is a reputable shop. You also may want to consider Truckshop.com (http://truckshop.com/catalog/DJM-1973-1987-Chevy-C10-4-Hanger--Shackle-Kit-p-17802.html) for your suspension parts.