rear leaf lowering shackles floor clearance?

[Ratpin]

Has anyone with a gmc suburban or panel installed 2" lowering shackles in the rear? I want to use these but have heard some people have clearance issues on the trucks with the shackles hitting the bed floor. I wanted to find out if they will hit the floor of my 64 suburban before going through the trouble of ordering/installing them.

[Ratpin]

I talked to ece and they said it's not uncommon to have it hit. They said on the trucks you can trim a cross sill for clearance. I guess I will poke my head under my burb tomorrow because I'm not exactly sure if it has the same type of cross sills as the truck. I was told ece's drop shackle is 6.5" from bushing to bushing, so measuring should give me a better idea of if there will be a problem.

[chevy_mike]

Remember, a drop shackle only gives half the amount of drop when you measure the distance between the bolt holes. Example, if your stock one is 4" between the holes and a new one is 6" between the holes, you will only net 1" drop even though there is 2" in difference between them.

[Ratpin]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

Remember, a drop shackle only gives half the amount of drop when you measure the distance between the bolt holes. Example, if your stock one is 4" between the holes and a new one is 6" between the holes, you will only net 1" drop even though there is 2" in difference between them.

I crawled under the burb today to take a look. At appears that at some point the drivers side factory rear shackle had already been contacting the floor as there is a big divot gouged into it on that side. I only have about 3" clearance from factory shackle end to floor as it sits now. I plan on removing 3 leaf springs soon but that should not change the relationship of shackle clearance right?

[chevy_mike]

Nope, it won't. As long as you are using the original main leaf, the swing in it will be the same, regardless of how many springs you have attached to it.

[NEWFISHER]

If its in the budget, buy some dropped leaves or a mono leaf. Removing leafs from your pack is the first step to hating to drive your burb. They will continue to sag and flatten out creating a bounce wagon and eventually just bottom out on everything. Shortening your perches, flipping the axle on top and using blocks, longer shackle, sliding perches etc. But think twice before removing leaves.

[Ratpin]

I agree, but this is the third current project going right now and money is kind of tight, plus I suffer from the disease that is "once you start, when do you stop" and I'm afraid if I invest in drop leafs then it would be front disc kit, then boosted dual master cylinder and all new lines, then what the hell let's bag, it then 4 years later it's still in pieces. It's happened before.

[Southcity]

Hey Ratpin - I have a 66 GMC and the previous owner installed lowering shackles and I do not have or see any previous issues with hitting the bed floor, drives and handles great too. I am out of town for a few days but once I return I will try to get some pics for you as well as try to determine the make of the lowering shackles.

[Ratpin]

Originally Posted by Southcity

Hey Ratpin - I have a 66 GMC and the previous owner installed lowering shackles and I do not have or see any previous issues with hitting the bed floor, drives and handles great too. I am out of town for a few days but once I return I will try to get some pics for you as well as try to determine the make of the lowering shackles.

Sounds good! I did end up just pulling the smallest 4 leaf springs out to lower it. That lowered it about 4-5". Hopefully I wont have any problems with axle wrap. I wont be racing this thing, just cruising.

I'm sure your pictures could still be helpful to others though. Thanks.