I Don't Want Mine Any Higher, I Want It Lower?

Eagle-1 · May 16, 2010

Hey guys,

I searched, but all I can find are threads about leveling y'all's trucks by raising them. It seems that most want them higher.

I would like to find out what anyone has done in the way of lowering the rear just a tad and make the truck appear more level. Nothing raddical or anything like that, just down a little in the rear.

Have any of y'all done something like that? If this is done, does it change anything I would need to be aware of?

Matt_ · May 16, 2010

You can remove the stock block or put on lowering shackles.

I plan on getting a set of lowering shackles for mine... but i'm not sure if anyone has 1.5" lowering shackles, most are 2". My truck is exactly 2" higher in the rear and i'd like to retain about 1/2" of rake for when im carrying light loads.

When i do this, i'll also be getting a set of airbags to make sure the truck is level when towing the boat or trailer.

slamed350 · May 16, 2010

Get drop shackles and take out the block to go completely level. Pep boys sells the shackles for 39.99

Eagle-1 · May 16, 2010

WOW you boys are quick!

Thank you too!

Allright, one of y'all wouldn't have a picture or something of the block you're speaking of? Does removing this block require anything special? Will I need an alignment or anything once I do it?

If it ain't a major project, I'll do this tomorrow!

jimmyboy8301 · May 17, 2010

look at your rear axle (thats in the back of the truck under the bed). there are 2 sets of leaf springs (1 on each side of the truck). under each leaf spring pack between the helper spring (the bottom flat leaf spring) and the axle there is a block (a solid squared small brick like piece of metal. put a jack under the rear axle and jack up the back of the truck from the trailer hitch to get the weight off the axle. take off the ubolts and slide out the block, then tighten everything back up. no alignment is needed because this is in the back of the truck and has nothing to do with the front end steering parts. the whole job should take you 30 mintues, if you stop to drink a beer, eat a cheeseburger, and take pictures.

Zembonez · May 17, 2010

I went with the lowering shackles on mine.

Eagle-1 · May 17, 2010

Ok, hold up a squirt. I'm fairly sure I know where the rear axle is (that's what looks like a stainless pipe sticking out behind the rear passenger wheel right?), but I did not opt for the bed in my truck. I thought about it, but I never figured on sleeping in it except in an emergency, so I decided not to get that. Maybe I shoulda????

Just kidding, of course, THANK YOU jimmyboy because that description certainly does point me in the direction and I WILL check heavily into doing this first thing tomorrow.

I apologise, also, if I may ask what seems like a silly question. Please, forgive me, but I really am just starting out wondering about doing some of these things you all have BEEN doing. I got the bug once I started reading through these threads and realising some of these things aren't "off-limits" to a regular guy, like I've been programmed to think with these new vehicles. I know that's what the auto makers WANT us to think these days and I've kinda fallen into that over the past few years and all I can do is apologise for the occasional 'obvious' query.

Like part of my question about needing an alignment and such once I remove those blocks. See, I woulda thought that once I changed the rear height, I would also change the front ends angle, but if y'all have done it and it didn't affect anything, I'm certainly willing to learn!

Thanks in advance for any and all advice you guys are willing to grace me with. I'm a sponge at this point and getting just a little braver every day.

Dale_K · May 17, 2010

Are the lowering shackles hard to install? Seems to me I read a couple posts where access to the bolts was hard. One guy had to unbolt the bed and the other guy had to bend some metal. I'd like to lower the rear a little if it's easy enough to do it myself. I was scared off by the other posts.

Matt_ · May 17, 2010

thor,

lowering the rear 1-2" wont affect the front end alignment. you will want to re-center the headlights though.

installing the shackles arent hard. you wont need to take the bed off... i believe you can just loosen the bolts and lift it up an inch or so to get the needed clearance. Jim or someone will verify that though...

Zembonez · May 17, 2010

thor,
lowering the rear 1-2" wont affect the front end alignment. you will want to re-center the headlights though.

installing the shackles arent hard. you wont need to take the bed off... i believe you can just loosen the bolts and lift it up an inch or so to get the needed clearance. Jim or someone will verify that though...

The shackles sound a lot worse than they are actually. All I did was drop the bed bolts (leaving the front two tight) and put a 2x4 block under the rear of the bed. It gives you plenty of access to the shackle bolts and leaving the front two bolts tight keeps the bed in original alignment. The bolts are easy to get to.

With a pair of stands under the frame and a floor jack under the pumpkin, the shackles are a breeze.

Eagle-1 · May 17, 2010

Thanks much once again fellas! Jimmyboy, I actually went to the rear of the truck this morning with a flashlight (I work shiftwork and didn't get home till 6:00AM and just HAD to see it) and squatted my big ass down to take a look....and whatcha know! Just like you said, there is a block looking type deal between the rear axle and all that other crap the axle is attached to!

I'm still VERY new to any of this, but whatever that hunk o' metall is, is DOOMED to come out of there in just a couple hours from now, but I have one thing to go do first.

Has anybody ever posted pictures of this being done? Y'all want some?

Mr Matt, headlight adjustment noted, but DON'T GO NOWHERE. As you've already seen, I'll undoubtedly have to ask about THAT too.

Thank you guys.

Matt_ · May 18, 2010

Thanks much once again fellas! Jimmyboy, I actually went to the rear of the truck this morning with a flashlight (I work shiftwork and didn't get home till 6:00AM and just HAD to see it) and squatted my big ass down to take a look....and whatcha know! Just like you said, there is a block looking type deal between the rear axle and all that other crap the axle is attached to!

I'm still VERY new to any of this, but whatever that hunk o' metall is, is DOOMED to come out of there in just a couple hours from now, but I have one thing to go do first.

Has anybody ever posted pictures of this being done? Y'all want some?

Mr Matt, headlight adjustment noted, but DON'T GO NOWHERE. As you've already seen, I'll undoubtedly have to ask about THAT too.

Thank you guys.

Hopefully you didn't take your rear blocks out yet... adjusting the headlights is really easy as long as you determine your baseline before modifying your truck. Basically park your truck facing a wall and mark the center of each lights projection point on the wall. Then remove the block... without moving your truck... and turn your lights back on. Then simply adjust the headlights so that the center of the projection point is as it was before you removed the block.

Eagle-1 · May 18, 2010

Too late Mr. Matt. Blocks out! It did take me more than 30 minutes though Jimmyboy, but I ain't as young as I once was. 'Bout a hour 45 minutes with one break for a bottle of water between switching sides. I really appreciate the advice earlier and just like you mentioned....weren't a thing to it. It might have taken 30 minutes had I not had to tighten all the nuts back about 2 extra inches of bolt once the blocks were out and all I have is a ratchet and deep well socket! This was one of the ONLY times I wish I had an impact wrench.

Mr. Matt, I may be new to some of this lately, but I ain't new to working on things.....thank goodness. I figured I would need to know where the light beams were, so I marked all that before I took the blocks out on the garage wall. I did move the truck, but I can put 'er back in the same spot when I adjust. Don't feel like you didn't tell me in time either! You mentioned it earlier OR I wouldn't have thought about taking notes on where they needed to be adjusted to once the blocks were out, so Thank you sir!

Ok, like I said, they be's out and I really think it makes a WORLD of difference. It's just subtle enough to know that it's lower than it was and juuuuuuuuuuuuust about makes it level now. It's still up just a tad in the rear but there ain't a thing else can be done without mods now, I suppose, so I'm much more content with it's looks.

Again, thanks for the encouragement and advice guys.

WELL worth the effort on this one.....to me anyway!