Djm 5" f/r drop install (with pics)

[mooseknuckles]

I don't think mine got any lower by removing leafs, but it sure did ride a lot better. which was my point.

[benoit454]

ohh yea them huge/thick packs ride stiff, they are more for hauling capacity then easy ride. if you remove leafs they get softer and I hear more bouncy?

Like cutting coils, they get stiffer.

remove leafs easier, softer, or bouncy

[3r!c84]

yea in the kit it says if 2 ps drive shaft you need to change over to a single

[GMC Guy]

my vote is to swap in some regular 1/2 ton leaf springs.

[mooseknuckles]

mine originally had 5 leaves per side rode way too rough. I took out 3 of them it rides ten times better. If it's bouncy you need new shocks!

[benoit454]

so you only have the top and bottom leaf? that seems kinda scary to me, wouldn't be able to haul anything really.

[mooseknuckles]

lol. no I have the main leaf and the next longest one, got rid of the overload spring and the two other short ones. I don't haul much anyway, and it rides like a car. I guess if you like to haul stuff you could leave in the overload leaf.

[benoit454]

yea that's what is bad for us we haul junk, not everyday but when we need to just throw it in there and haul it. We've hauled half ton or more of stuff in it many times. We also have air shocks though, that could help with load hauling.

[brown78]

With the front end aligned, the truck now drives like its old self. Dropped it off at the driveshaft place today, can't wait for what they have to say. I'll keep everyone posted.

I've driven trucks all my live, and to me the rear doesn't ride ruff at all. I would be removing the extra springs to get a couple inches of hight back. I know they sell add a leafs and they are suppose to give you a inch or two, that's why I asked of removing the leafs would lower it. Of I do decide to raise it,i'm going to look for a good set of half ton springs.
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[lolife99]

Removing leaf springs won't raise it.
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[benoit454]

add a leafs also make it stiffer they increase spring rate.

[SeanPaintsFlames]

Regardless of how it rides or whatever, that thing looks great! I did the same drop to my truck as I'm restoring it, but I have no bed on or motor in it yet to see how it really looks. You've given me inspiration to get it back together! Very nice indeed. I would think that a well-balanced one-piece drive shaft would make it seem much smoother, especially at higher speeds, than the old two-piece carrier bearing drive shaft.

[primrrd]

Ive got the same drop.
definately remove the rear bumps.
I removed the front bumps completely off of the front a arms but you have to be careful when turning lock to lock!

[66redw/white]

i believe you can buy different shackles to lift the back. look into that.

[boatpuller]

look's good..nice ride...here's what i did.i had the exact same looking driveshaft angle.i cut the bracket off on the carrier.and welded in a flat piece then rebolted the bearing to it.as a temporary fix.that was about 5 years and a couple of thousand freeway and burnouts later,i still run it.no vibe issue.it makes the angle as straight as a one piece.

[Doug_J]

Actually he did a flip kit so if you take some leafs out it probably would raise it some but I wouldnt think much..???

[babyJay]

Removing leafs is only going to cause more of the U-bolt to stick out through the nut.

[Orange77]

i thought the rule of thumb was to measure your leaf spring pack and add 1.5 to it and that would be your total drop...and removing a few from that 8 or 9 pack would raise it since hes got almost double what everyone has. pics usually show 3 or 4 with the thick helper...probably has a 7in drop out back the way it is now

[joe231]

Removing leafs will NOT raise it.
It will take away from the stiffness of the springs and allow them to sag more and lower the truck.
The leafs that can be removed are on the bottom of the leaf pack.
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