71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

PaPaStewySnipes · 08-24-2017, 05:50 PM

Ok I'm intresting in doing my drop 2/4 or 4/6 but I'm stuck at which will work best for me or if may even work at all with out c notch. My rear is leaf only. I'm running 18" TTII which do have some back spacing 18×7 4.24bs and rear is 18x9 4.5bs, I want to order my parts by Monday and am in the need of some experienced advice. For the 2/4 drop I can do 2" spindles and new hanger and shackle for rear end, correct me of I'm wrong and I do not think I will have a prob hitting my frame and will get 3-4" rear drop and this will level out my ride from my measurements. I have a picture below with my spacing to work with. If I want to go lower and do a flip I think I will be very close to frame or even hitting it. Seems as if the truck is lowered some already, not sure. My rear leafs only have 3 bands and an overload, is this normal or were some removed already to have a bit of a drop. If I do flip kit I can remove or trim bump stop as suggested and do spindle and springs in front to match. Any insight to my predicament will be extreamly helpful.

PaPaStewySnipes · 08-24-2017, 07:09 PM

Ive been reading more and I think the previous owner may have removed some leafs, which in turn lowered rear and may make my flip hit the frame. Any thoughts? Best I have came up with and I think my best bet would be lowering shackle and hanger. What is factory shackle length eye to eye. One on the truck seems long as it is.

berch 69GMC · 08-24-2017, 08:45 PM

Have you found replacement hangars? I have been searching without luck, lowering leaf springs are too expensive. After removing stock hangars they may not be salvageable.

PaPaStewySnipes · 08-24-2017, 08:49 PM

I'm looking right now. Summit has some shackles, Western Chassis 2002 shackles, they seem as if you can get 2" I will get those, and I'm looking for hanger now. I should know something shortly. I got in contact with previous owner, those leafs are original. I'm thinking 4" is perfect for a rear leaf only suspension and I will level it out front. I think cpp has hangers I'm looking into it now. I have a catalog.

71sierragrande · 08-24-2017, 10:48 PM

Those leafs are the same as mine.

PaPaStewySnipes · 08-25-2017, 12:00 AM

Seems like it could be a problem with a flip. After days of searching I found another person that did a flip with same rear. Here is a great thread.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...43#post8024543

PaPaStewySnipes · 08-25-2017, 12:13 AM

Had no luck finding hangers, anyone in same boat as me check out the thread I linked above.

PaPaStewySnipes · 08-25-2017, 01:49 AM

Hangers, only place I can find them here. http://www.x2industries.com/chevrole...l#.WZ-5rN8pDqB

Mike C · 08-25-2017, 08:14 AM

67-72 2x4 trucks have 2 1/4" leaf springs. Most spring mount and shackle setups are for 2 1/2" springs. The exception is Longhorn trucks which are 2 1/2" but still two wheel drive and have the same 40.5" spring center as the 4 wheel drive trucks.

On my '69 short step with leaf springs I did a 4 1/2" by 7" drop. Front was ECE disc conversion spindles and 2" springs and the rear is a DJM flip. My truck has the HD 4 leaf springs so that could effect how much drop I got versus what someone else might get.

Zero offset rims work bes IME, on a 7" rim that is 4" backspace and on a 9" rim that is 5" backspace. (Outside to outside width of a 7" rim about 8" so that puts the center literally on the centerline or no offset.)

Stepside versus fleetside matters as well. I swapped to a 71-72 width 5 lug housing in order to get the wheel/tire combo to fit. My fronts are 235 55 17 on the 17x8 4.5" bs rim and rears are 17x9 with 5" bs and 275 55 17.

berch 69GMC · 08-25-2017, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaPaStewySnipes

Hangers, only place I can find them here. http://www.x2industries.com/chevrole...l#.WZ-5rN8pDqB

Thanks for the link, seems like these should be $50 or less. I think if I can't salvage the original ones, I'll buy the lowering springs. I have already swapped for lowering shackles that work well.

PaPaStewySnipes · 08-25-2017, 12:48 PM

Use a grinder and remove the head and punch the rivets out with hammer and a set. Moving the hanger up some and drilling new holes in frame with grade 8 bolts can net some of a drop, more than what only longer shackles will do. I have seen plenty of shackles for sell (2.25" leafs) hangers are the issue.

PaPaStewySnipes · 08-25-2017, 12:51 PM

Mike an HD4 leaf is 3 leaf pluss the overload right?

Mike C · 08-25-2017, 08:39 PM

No. My truck has 4 leaves plus the overload. HD Rear leaf on the SPID.

roboticjunky · 08-25-2017, 09:11 PM

When I lowered my 72 C10 last fall, it originally had 4 leaves and the over load spring (HD spring option). I dropped the rear first then I did the front.

The front was dropped 3 inches with new coil springs (CPP Coil Springs FCS6102-3) and relocation brackets (CPP Shock Support Brackets 6072FUSB) for the shocks to keep the stock front ones.

For the rear, I used 4" lowering leaf springs (POL RLS6672D4), stock shackles (SD Trucksprings M1740), and u-bolts with plates (Barnes 4WD B4WUR3000 and B4W37508BP). I had to cut the u-bolts down and cut a little bit of the plates to make them work. I also used 1" bump stops and front shocks with overload springs on the rear.

PaPaStewySnipes · 08-25-2017, 09:17 PM

Pol has a labor day sale going on, those leafs you got are 2.25"? I might be interested.

PaPaStewySnipes · 08-25-2017, 09:18 PM

I have a 3/1 leaf set up and didnt remove any, wondering if a set of 4" drop leaf springs will truly give me 4" drop.

roboticjunky · 08-26-2017, 10:57 AM

Ya, those are 2.25". Those springs gave me maybe 4.5" drop, but it also depends on how wore out your old springs are and how many leaves you had to begin with. That's one reason why I did the rear first. Then I ordered parts for the front and did it.

PaPaStewySnipes · 08-26-2017, 03:38 PM

I have my Belltech 3" drop spindle 264.00, drop street performance BT shocks (4) 195.00 and the BT front 1" drop springs picked out for front 135.00. Price I got shipped to my door, $591.00 seems like a great deal to me. Rear I can get pol 4" drop springs and a 2" adjustable shackle. This setup should give me 4/6 drop. I get all new components this way, my rear leafs are 45 years old and bushings are bad, wouldnt be a bad idea to replace along with new bushings. I haven't read any bad reviews Belltech street performance shocks, drop springs and drop spindle, any experience with them? And I couldnt find a better deal online for the Belltech front set up.

08-24-2017, 05:50 PM	#1
PaPaStewySnipes Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Columbia, South Carolina Posts: 197	71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. Ok I'm intresting in doing my drop 2/4 or 4/6 but I'm stuck at which will work best for me or if may even work at all with out c notch. My rear is leaf only. I'm running 18" TTII which do have some back spacing 18×7 4.24bs and rear is 18x9 4.5bs, I want to order my parts by Monday and am in the need of some experienced advice. For the 2/4 drop I can do 2" spindles and new hanger and shackle for rear end, correct me of I'm wrong and I do not think I will have a prob hitting my frame and will get 3-4" rear drop and this will level out my ride from my measurements. I have a picture below with my spacing to work with. If I want to go lower and do a flip I think I will be very close to frame or even hitting it. Seems as if the truck is lowered some already, not sure. My rear leafs only have 3 bands and an overload, is this normal or were some removed already to have a bit of a drop. If I do flip kit I can remove or trim bump stop as suggested and do spindle and springs in front to match. Any insight to my predicament will be extreamly helpful. Attached Images

08-24-2017, 07:09 PM	#2
PaPaStewySnipes Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Columbia, South Carolina Posts: 197	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. Ive been reading more and I think the previous owner may have removed some leafs, which in turn lowered rear and may make my flip hit the frame. Any thoughts? Best I have came up with and I think my best bet would be lowering shackle and hanger. What is factory shackle length eye to eye. One on the truck seems long as it is.

08-24-2017, 08:45 PM	#3
berch 69GMC Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Boynton bch, FL Posts: 187	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. Have you found replacement hangars? I have been searching without luck, lowering leaf springs are too expensive. After removing stock hangars they may not be salvageable.

08-24-2017, 08:49 PM	#4
PaPaStewySnipes Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Columbia, South Carolina Posts: 197	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. I'm looking right now. Summit has some shackles, Western Chassis 2002 shackles, they seem as if you can get 2" I will get those, and I'm looking for hanger now. I should know something shortly. I got in contact with previous owner, those leafs are original. I'm thinking 4" is perfect for a rear leaf only suspension and I will level it out front. I think cpp has hangers I'm looking into it now. I have a catalog.

08-24-2017, 10:48 PM	#5
71sierragrande Petroleum User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 928	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. Those leafs are the same as mine. __________________ 1971 GMC Sierra Grande 2WD 1/2 ton, 350/400 auto 2008 Chevy Silverado 2WD 1/2 ton LT1 5.3L auto

08-25-2017, 12:00 AM	#6
PaPaStewySnipes Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Columbia, South Carolina Posts: 197	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. Seems like it could be a problem with a flip. After days of searching I found another person that did a flip with same rear. Here is a great thread. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...43#post8024543

08-25-2017, 12:13 AM	#7
PaPaStewySnipes Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Columbia, South Carolina Posts: 197	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. Had no luck finding hangers, anyone in same boat as me check out the thread I linked above.

08-25-2017, 01:49 AM	#8
PaPaStewySnipes Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Columbia, South Carolina Posts: 197	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. Hangers, only place I can find them here. http://www.x2industries.com/chevrole...l#.WZ-5rN8pDqB

08-25-2017, 08:14 AM	#9
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,727	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. 67-72 2x4 trucks have 2 1/4" leaf springs. Most spring mount and shackle setups are for 2 1/2" springs. The exception is Longhorn trucks which are 2 1/2" but still two wheel drive and have the same 40.5" spring center as the 4 wheel drive trucks. On my '69 short step with leaf springs I did a 4 1/2" by 7" drop. Front was ECE disc conversion spindles and 2" springs and the rear is a DJM flip. My truck has the HD 4 leaf springs so that could effect how much drop I got versus what someone else might get. Zero offset rims work bes IME, on a 7" rim that is 4" backspace and on a 9" rim that is 5" backspace. (Outside to outside width of a 7" rim about 8" so that puts the center literally on the centerline or no offset.) Stepside versus fleetside matters as well. I swapped to a 71-72 width 5 lug housing in order to get the wheel/tire combo to fit. My fronts are 235 55 17 on the 17x8 4.5" bs rim and rears are 17x9 with 5" bs and 275 55 17. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

08-25-2017, 12:48 PM	#11
PaPaStewySnipes Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Columbia, South Carolina Posts: 197	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. Use a grinder and remove the head and punch the rivets out with hammer and a set. Moving the hanger up some and drilling new holes in frame with grade 8 bolts can net some of a drop, more than what only longer shackles will do. I have seen plenty of shackles for sell (2.25" leafs) hangers are the issue.

08-25-2017, 12:51 PM	#12
PaPaStewySnipes Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Columbia, South Carolina Posts: 197	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. Mike an HD4 leaf is 3 leaf pluss the overload right?

08-25-2017, 08:39 PM	#13
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,727	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. No. My truck has 4 leaves plus the overload. HD Rear leaf on the SPID. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

08-25-2017, 09:11 PM	#14
roboticjunky Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: IN Posts: 209	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. When I lowered my 72 C10 last fall, it originally had 4 leaves and the over load spring (HD spring option). I dropped the rear first then I did the front. The front was dropped 3 inches with new coil springs (CPP Coil Springs FCS6102-3) and relocation brackets (CPP Shock Support Brackets 6072FUSB) for the shocks to keep the stock front ones. For the rear, I used 4" lowering leaf springs (POL RLS6672D4), stock shackles (SD Trucksprings M1740), and u-bolts with plates (Barnes 4WD B4WUR3000 and B4W37508BP). I had to cut the u-bolts down and cut a little bit of the plates to make them work. I also used 1" bump stops and front shocks with overload springs on the rear.

08-25-2017, 09:17 PM	#15
PaPaStewySnipes Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Columbia, South Carolina Posts: 197	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. Pol has a labor day sale going on, those leafs you got are 2.25"? I might be interested.

08-25-2017, 09:18 PM	#16
PaPaStewySnipes Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Columbia, South Carolina Posts: 197	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. I have a 3/1 leaf set up and didnt remove any, wondering if a set of 4" drop leaf springs will truly give me 4" drop.



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08-26-2017, 10:57 AM	#17
roboticjunky Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: IN Posts: 209	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. Ya, those are 2.25". Those springs gave me maybe 4.5" drop, but it also depends on how wore out your old springs are and how many leaves you had to begin with. That's one reason why I did the rear first. Then I ordered parts for the front and did it.

08-26-2017, 03:38 PM	#18
PaPaStewySnipes Registered User Join Date: May 2017 Location: Columbia, South Carolina Posts: 197	Re: 71 gmc rear leaf only drop. A few qustions for the experienced folks. I have my Belltech 3" drop spindle 264.00, drop street performance BT shocks (4) 195.00 and the BT front 1" drop springs picked out for front 135.00. Price I got shipped to my door, $591.00 seems like a great deal to me. Rear I can get pol 4" drop springs and a 2" adjustable shackle. This setup should give me 4/6 drop. I get all new components this way, my rear leafs are 45 years old and bushings are bad, wouldnt be a bad idea to replace along with new bushings. I haven't read any bad reviews Belltech street performance shocks, drop springs and drop spindle, any experience with them? And I couldnt find a better deal online for the Belltech front set up.

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