Thinking about lowering..... a little... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mckpaul · 09-14-2004, 11:47 AM

Been thinking about a mild suspension mod, still want it to be a truck when needed, but thinking of bringing it down a little from the stock height. Made a post with a pic of the truck under Suspension with some questions. If any of you guys that have done it before want to share your opinions, any input on that thread would be helpful.

bluex · 09-14-2004, 04:24 PM

Here is mine on a 2.5"/4" WC spindles and shackle/hanger kit. The rear is adjustable for 3" or 4". Mine is a heavy half/big 10 though.

I'm running a 15x8 with a 255/60 up front and a 15x10 with a 275/60 in rear also

Longbed:

Shortbed:

mckpaul · 09-14-2004, 04:36 PM

Well, here's the way mine sits right now. The leaf spring pack has 4 leafs and one shorter thicker leaf under the pack that really doesn't touch the leaf pack unless there is a load in the bed.

Yours being a heavy half/big 10, does it have a heavier suspension or anything? Are you set at 3 or 4 inches of drop in the back?

I saw an adjustable hanger/shackle kit on one site, looked like the shackles had two holes for different settings, and the hangers had two settings as well. That's kind of cool.

mckpaul · 09-14-2004, 04:55 PM

OK, so the way it sits now (in the above post) if I put only lowering shackles on the back end of the leaf springs, think it would just level it out? Or is it OK to do only shackles? Right now the front fender edge is about 31" and the rear fender edge is about 32-1/2".

cliffsta · 09-14-2004, 07:05 PM

yeah if you want mild drop, 2" drop springs up front and 4" worth of shackles / hangers or even 4" drop leafs out back. Thats what I'm headed for next year!

bluex · 09-15-2004, 07:36 AM

Ya a heavy half has hd springs. My rear spings have like 10 leaves and an overload. In the pic as a longbed it is set at 3", the shortbed pics are at 4" in the rear. Only my shackles are adjustable. The hangers give you 2" drop and the shackles can give a 1" to 2" drop.

If you going to just level it out I would go with shackles. You have to drill out the rivits to change the hangers and its a real PITA. A shackle kit would give you the ability to adjust it if you didnt like the full 2". I havent seen adjustable hangers, but I'm sure they make them. I got all my stuff from sport truck direct for like $350, but that was a few yrs. ago. Its all Western chassis stuff and I have had no problems with it. You can do either or, but I would do shackles they are the easiest. You wont need to change shocks either.

09-14-2004, 11:47 AM	#1
mckpaul Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Houston Posts: 300	Thinking about lowering..... a little... Been thinking about a mild suspension mod, still want it to be a truck when needed, but thinking of bringing it down a little from the stock height. Made a post with a pic of the truck under Suspension with some questions. If any of you guys that have done it before want to share your opinions, any input on that thread would be helpful. __________________ Paul 1984 Chevy C-10 LWB/305

09-14-2004, 04:24 PM	#2
bluex Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Spartanburg, SC Posts: 1,963	Here is mine on a 2.5"/4" WC spindles and shackle/hanger kit. The rear is adjustable for 3" or 4". Mine is a heavy half/big 10 though. I'm running a 15x8 with a 255/60 up front and a 15x10 with a 275/60 in rear also Longbed: Shortbed: Attached Images __________________ Paul '78 GMC Serria 15 Heavy Half. 361/NV3500/3.73. Former LWB NV3500 swap Trailing arm swap '98 ECSB Z71 daily driver -traded '03 burb. Family cruiser http://upstategmtrucks.com/ Last edited by bluex; 09-14-2004 at 04:26 PM. Reason: tire sizes

09-14-2004, 04:36 PM	#3
mckpaul Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Houston Posts: 300	Well, here's the way mine sits right now. The leaf spring pack has 4 leafs and one shorter thicker leaf under the pack that really doesn't touch the leaf pack unless there is a load in the bed. Yours being a heavy half/big 10, does it have a heavier suspension or anything? Are you set at 3 or 4 inches of drop in the back? I saw an adjustable hanger/shackle kit on one site, looked like the shackles had two holes for different settings, and the hangers had two settings as well. That's kind of cool. Attached Images __________________ Paul 1984 Chevy C-10 LWB/305 Last edited by mckpaul; 09-14-2004 at 04:47 PM.

09-14-2004, 04:55 PM	#4
mckpaul Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Houston Posts: 300	OK, so the way it sits now (in the above post) if I put only lowering shackles on the back end of the leaf springs, think it would just level it out? Or is it OK to do only shackles? Right now the front fender edge is about 31" and the rear fender edge is about 32-1/2". __________________ Paul 1984 Chevy C-10 LWB/305

09-14-2004, 07:05 PM	#5
cliffsta Stepsides RULE Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pineville, LA Posts: 1,921	yeah if you want mild drop, 2" drop springs up front and 4" worth of shackles / hangers or even 4" drop leafs out back. Thats what I'm headed for next year! __________________ 1981 Chevy C10 Custom Deluxe Stepside 350 V8, headers, side exhausts, 3-speed auto SOLD 1980 Chevy C10 Custum Deluxe Stepside 305 V8, Edelbrock Performer Intake, Edelbrock 1406 600CFM 4-barrel, TH350C. Bent rod. SOLD 1984 GMC Sierra Classic Longbed 6.2L Diesel SOLD 2009 Kawasaki KLX-250S too many mods for this signature 1999 Honda Accord EX 4-cylinder, 17" Motegi Wheels 215/45/17 Sumitomo tires, Tein S-Tech lowering springs, KYB GR2 shocks, Acura TL 20mm rear swaybar, debadged, blackhoused headlights, Short-Ram Intake Cardomain of the Accord

09-15-2004, 07:36 AM	#6
bluex Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Spartanburg, SC Posts: 1,963	Ya a heavy half has hd springs. My rear spings have like 10 leaves and an overload. In the pic as a longbed it is set at 3", the shortbed pics are at 4" in the rear. Only my shackles are adjustable. The hangers give you 2" drop and the shackles can give a 1" to 2" drop. If you going to just level it out I would go with shackles. You have to drill out the rivits to change the hangers and its a real PITA. A shackle kit would give you the ability to adjust it if you didnt like the full 2". I havent seen adjustable hangers, but I'm sure they make them. I got all my stuff from sport truck direct for like $350, but that was a few yrs. ago. Its all Western chassis stuff and I have had no problems with it. You can do either or, but I would do shackles they are the easiest. You wont need to change shocks either. __________________ Paul '78 GMC Serria 15 Heavy Half. 361/NV3500/3.73. Former LWB NV3500 swap Trailing arm swap '98 ECSB Z71 daily driver -traded '03 burb. Family cruiser http://upstategmtrucks.com/



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