Removing leafs on a 4" dropped leaf set - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

SnS C10 · 01-30-2009, 12:32 PM

Hey guys i have an 84 swb. It currently has 4" dropped leaf springs in the back but i want it a few inches lower. Which leafs should i remove to get about a 2 inch drop or so. Will i run into any other problems clearance wise dropping the truck to the 5-6 inch range in back? Also i want the ride a little smoother and i dont carry a load ever in this truck so i figured this would be the best/cheapest way for now- Thanks guys

**N2TRUX** · 01-30-2009, 12:49 PM

Do you still have the stock springs? I suggest you consider a flip kit. I think the springs you have will be to soft if you start removing leaves.

SnS C10 · 01-30-2009, 01:00 PM

i do not have the stock springs i was thinking it may be too soft in the rear. will i hit the frame rails with another two inches?

dooce · 01-30-2009, 01:30 PM

Install some shackles. They should give you another 2" or so. If ya need more, go with some hangars, too.

87c10slammer · 01-30-2009, 01:40 PM

pretty sure youll hit frame with 6 inches of drop.. at one time i removed all but one spring to see what it would look like.. my axle was touching my frame and it only droped it 7 inches so unless you get a small bolt on notch your gonna have issues

SnS C10 · 01-30-2009, 07:33 PM

will i need a c-notch with the shackles only? so that would give a 3/6 drop. plans are for drop spindles to give me a 5/6

slugish · 01-30-2009, 11:29 PM

my 84 is down approx 6 in in rear >Ialso would use 2 in shackles to get down 2 more in,s instead of removing anymore springs . Shackles are pretty cheap also . I do not have a c notch , but Idid have to remove the bump stop bracket to give me approx 3 in of clearance. Go ahead & figure a c notch if you go any lower than 6.5 -7 in.

dooce · 01-31-2009, 06:40 AM

I have 4" drop leaves and shackles in the rear, just like i am suggesting you do. I do not have a c notch, and have not removed my bump stop or modified them in any way. My drop is 6" from factory height. Those who use flip kits or remove leafs are doing so with 20+ year old leaf sets, which are more than likely worn and resulting in more of a drop than expecting. A 5" flip kit is probably going to be more like 7-8", requiring c notch or bump stop removal. I plan to do hangars also, and probably will end up putting in a c notch.

SnS C10 · 01-31-2009, 12:39 PM

hey dooce can you post some pictures of your truck with the drop?

01-30-2009, 12:32 PM	#1
SnS C10 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lomita, Ca Posts: 1,225	Removing leafs on a 4" dropped leaf set Hey guys i have an 84 swb. It currently has 4" dropped leaf springs in the back but i want it a few inches lower. Which leafs should i remove to get about a 2 inch drop or so. Will i run into any other problems clearance wise dropping the truck to the 5-6 inch range in back? Also i want the ride a little smoother and i dont carry a load ever in this truck so i figured this would be the best/cheapest way for now- Thanks guys

01-30-2009, 12:49 PM	#2
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,023	Re: Removing leafs on a 4" dropped leaf set Do you still have the stock springs? I suggest you consider a flip kit. I think the springs you have will be to soft if you start removing leaves. __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

01-30-2009, 01:00 PM	#3
SnS C10 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lomita, Ca Posts: 1,225	Re: Removing leafs on a 4" dropped leaf set i do not have the stock springs i was thinking it may be too soft in the rear. will i hit the frame rails with another two inches?

01-30-2009, 01:30 PM	#4
dooce Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tinker, OK Posts: 369	Re: Removing leafs on a 4" dropped leaf set Install some shackles. They should give you another 2" or so. If ya need more, go with some hangars, too. __________________ 1976 Chevy 1/2T 2wd SWB 327/Saginaw 4spd 3.73:1 LQ4 6.0/T56 Build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=772071 LFSalleeII@gmail.com

01-30-2009, 01:40 PM	#5
87c10slammer truck addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: levittown pa Posts: 154	Re: Removing leafs on a 4" dropped leaf set pretty sure youll hit frame with 6 inches of drop.. at one time i removed all but one spring to see what it would look like.. my axle was touching my frame and it only droped it 7 inches so unless you get a small bolt on notch your gonna have issues __________________ trucks

01-30-2009, 07:33 PM	#6
SnS C10 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lomita, Ca Posts: 1,225	Re: Removing leafs on a 4" dropped leaf set will i need a c-notch with the shackles only? so that would give a 3/6 drop. plans are for drop spindles to give me a 5/6

01-30-2009, 11:29 PM	#7
slugish Slugish Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Earlysville, Va. Posts: 1,024	Re: Removing leafs on a 4" dropped leaf set my 84 is down approx 6 in in rear >Ialso would use 2 in shackles to get down 2 more in,s instead of removing anymore springs . Shackles are pretty cheap also . I do not have a c notch , but Idid have to remove the bump stop bracket to give me approx 3 in of clearance. Go ahead & figure a c notch if you go any lower than 6.5 -7 in.

01-31-2009, 06:40 AM	#8
dooce Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tinker, OK Posts: 369	Re: Removing leafs on a 4" dropped leaf set I have 4" drop leaves and shackles in the rear, just like i am suggesting you do. I do not have a c notch, and have not removed my bump stop or modified them in any way. My drop is 6" from factory height. Those who use flip kits or remove leafs are doing so with 20+ year old leaf sets, which are more than likely worn and resulting in more of a drop than expecting. A 5" flip kit is probably going to be more like 7-8", requiring c notch or bump stop removal. I plan to do hangars also, and probably will end up putting in a c notch. __________________ 1976 Chevy 1/2T 2wd SWB 327/Saginaw 4spd 3.73:1 LQ4 6.0/T56 Build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=772071 LFSalleeII@gmail.com

01-31-2009, 12:39 PM	#9
SnS C10 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lomita, Ca Posts: 1,225	Re: Removing leafs on a 4" dropped leaf set hey dooce can you post some pictures of your truck with the drop?



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