I wanna level my truck, but I don't know where to start!

[81chevylongbed]

Where do you find these heavier duty front springs to raise the front up to match the rear?

[Telecasterjoey]

Hey j knight, I just picked up a ground force shackle and hanger kit my question is can I use the shackle alone or do I have to put the hanger on too?
I'd like to just level it to start but I may go lower.
Thanks!
Posted via Mobile Device

[muthstryker]

You can just use the shackle itself, you probably could of saved some money just buying the shackle.

[J Knight]

Originally Posted by Telecasterjoey

Hey j knight, I just picked up a ground force shackle and hanger kit my question is can I use the shackle alone or do I have to put the hanger on too?
I'd like to just level it to start but I may go lower.
Thanks!
Posted via Mobile Device

Yes you can use just the shackle and you may have to notch a bed brace directly above it for it to fit.

[WarBeard]

Just Leave the Drywall in the bed!!!!!

[Telecasterjoey]

Awesome thanks guys! Any tips for getting the old shackles off?
Posted via Mobile Device

[J Knight]

Lots of WD40 and big 1/2 drive ratchet/breaker bar. Where you are Im sure the bolts are very rusty.

[Telecasterjoey]

Hey guys so I got one side of the rear end apart lol Its a pain in the a$$! had to cut just about everything!

While its apart I'm thinking bout leaving out a leaf or two I found the ride super rough (its a truck i know) but the rear end just bounces down the road. Think I could leave one or two out?

Also where would I find new U bolts to hold the leafs to the axle I had to cut em. The friggen old bushings did not want to come out of the leaf springs lots of cursing and beer breaks lol. Got em though, I think the other side will go a lot faster now that I know how to do it but still hard work.

First pic is what I'm thinking bout running, 3 leafs and the overload leaf. the second pic is how they were on the truck and the third is the 2 extra leafs.

[J Knight]

3 leafs and the 1 overload will be fine, that is standard on many 1/2 ton squares, just pick the two for the middle that even out the lengths, kind of like stair stepping down if you know what I mean.

[Telecasterjoey]

Yup thats exactly what I did, Now the clamp on the one leaf has holes for a bolt to go through should I drill new holes in it so the bolt will be lower to hold the leafs? As it sits now there would be half an inch of play in that clamp. Probably a stupid question lol but I have no idea when it comes to this stuff

Thanks for the help!

[J Knight]

No thats not needed, mine doesnt touch the spring there either. You should be able to get new u-bolts from your local parts store or spring shop.

[Telecasterjoey]

Oh ok that clamp just centers the leafs? Not clamp them down?
Thanks for the help!
Posted via Mobile Device

[J Knight]

Originally Posted by telecasterjoey

oh ok that clamp just centers the leafs? Not clamp them down?
Thanks for the help!
posted via mobile device

10-4

[jitteryguy]

once you lower it a little bit you'll wanna go lower,,,,,,,,,,, Oh, it sounds your already go'n lower than the original plan.
it will look good though, keep up the progress picture's.

[mcboomport]

Oh no! It's beginning! Soon you will be z-ing the frame, bagging it. Haha. You've got a beautiful looking truck. Good luck!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Telecasterjoey]

Everyone says i'll wanna go lower! you're prolly right lol Thanks for the compliments guys!

Mcboomport your builds are nuts! I love that gold truck!

[Telecasterjoey]

Alright guys finally got it all bolted back up, Shackles easy my a$$ lol Not much slows me down but the leaf spring bushings were a son of a B! I

love the way the rear end is sitting, now I've gotta lower the front lol. I'm thinking bout cutting one coil off to lower me 2'' and give me 1/2" rake. Here are some pics!

If the shackles are "easy" I'm wondering how hard the front coils will be to get out lol

[Telecasterjoey]

gonna tear into the front today, when i take off a coil do I remove it from the top of the spring or the bottom? or will it be obvious when I get them out?
wish me luck lol

[custom97]

Originally Posted by Telecasterjoey

gonna tear into the front today, when i take off a coil do I remove it from the top of the spring or the bottom? or will it be obvious when I get them out?
wish me luck lol

This is the same question I have. Hopefully someone can chime in here. . . .

[J Knight]

Cut on round off of the bottom of the spring. Btw your drop in the back looks real good.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Telecasterjoey]

Thanks man! you've been a real help.

[Telecasterjoey]

Got them cut I got about 1.75" of drop from it. I think I may cut a little bit more off of each spring so I get the full 2" drop. I'll upload some pics of the truck soon its dark now and freezing rain.

Man cutting the front springs took me about and hour and a half doing the shackles on the rear and all new bushings took me 3 nights of cursing! glad its done we'll see if i end up going lower lol

The only thing I am concerned about is my passenger side sits at 37 3/4" (to the body line from the ground) and the front drivers side sits at 37 1/4" (Its out half an inch from the centre cap to the wheel well also) half an inch isn't really a noticeable amount but it will bug me lol maybe once I take a drive and the coil seat back into their spots it will even out... Dunno though I may take a little bit more off the passenger spring to make up the difference.

[Telecasterjoey]

Here it is with the front lowered about 2" dunno if I should lower the front some more or raise the back back up an inch I wish it had a little more rake!
But its sitting perfectly level with the body line to the ground all round.

[Telecasterjoey]

Here's how it sits now I trimmed another half a coil off the springs and got the full 2" drop in the front.

[J Knight]

Looks real good, if you put a slightly smaller tire in the front it will drop another 1/2-1in.