2014+ Lowering / Drop Kits

y0ureviltwin · May 25, 2015

Has anyone noticed their leaf springs spreading apart after installing shackles and removing the factory lift block? Got underneath today and noticed all my noise is coming from the forward part of the leaf springs on both sides. Also if I shake the truck side to side hard enough you can hear them moving. I had the dealer retorque the ubolts last week.

Edited May 25, 2015 by y0ureviltwin

DirtyMarcus · May 25, 2015

FYI, here is the carrier bearing kit for the CCLB trucks. http://www.belltech.com/catalog/product/view/id/14085/category/4/

Has anyone noticed their leaf springs spreading apart after installing shackles and removing the factory lift block? Got underneath today and noticed all my noise is coming from the forward part of the leaf springs on both sides. Also if I shake the truck side to side hard enough you can hear them moving. I had the dealer retorque the ubolts last week.

Once the u bolts are tightened the leaf springs shouldnt be able to move. Now if the installer didnt clamp the leaf springs prior to loosening everything, he may have created an issue. I know the front of the leaf springs should not get removed or even touched during a shackle install. Also if your u bolts are coming loose you should replace them with new ones. New ones will prevent the nuts from coming loose. Theres also a video in this thread that shows the reason new u bolts should be used each time you have to u bolt them. Also check to make sure the bolt going through the center of the leaf springs is installed. If they removed it and forgot to replace it, that may cause some issues.

Edited May 25, 2015 by DirtyMarcus

IMPALADAKID · May 25, 2015

Has anyone noticed their leaf springs spreading apart after installing shackles and removing the factory lift block? Got underneath today and noticed all my noise is coming from the forward part of the leaf springs on both sides. Also if I shake the truck side to side hard enough you can hear them moving. I had the dealer retorque the ubolts last week.

I put leaf spring clamps about 6 inches ahead of the forward u-bolt, and clamped it down solid. I torqued the clamp bolts, and the u-bolts to 60 ft lbs. That seemed to not only fix the issue, it also made the truck feel more solid during takeoff, and braking.

y0ureviltwin · May 26, 2015

I've come to the conclusion that the shop who did the install is just shoddy, it's going back in on Wednesday so they can install 2" shims, but they still say they did not cause this.

Edited May 26, 2015 by y0ureviltwin

2015chevy · May 26, 2015

your picture of your leaf sping is how all of them will look when you install shackles it raises the rear up 2 inches- nothing to worry about. But like the other guy said if they did not install center pin in leaf spings that is a different story-look at the center of the leaf sping in between u bolts if you have a bolt going through the center your good.

y0ureviltwin · May 26, 2015

your picture of your leaf sping is how all of them will look when you install shackles it raises the rear up 2 inches- nothing to worry about. But like the other guy said if they did not install center pin in leaf spings that is a different story-look at the center of the leaf sping in between u bolts if you have a bolt going through the center your good.

Well i do see a bolt and nut on the top but on the bottom it looks like a hole.

Edited May 26, 2015 by y0ureviltwin

07Softail · May 26, 2015

Your fine...no bolt on the bottom.

RT

IMPALADAKID · May 26, 2015

I've come to the conclusion that the shop who did the install is just shoddy, it's going back in on Wednesday so they can install 2" shims, but they still say they did not cause this.

Looks normal to me even before the drop. It is supposed to be that way. Under normal driving condition, your using the first two leafs. Under payload, the first two leafs flatten out, and hit the third leaf to give more support for the added load. If all three were pulled together at the same time all the time, the ride would be stiffer, and potentially higher with no load. I only added a spring strap on each side to help control axle wrap. I have 2 degree shims, but I checked, and rechecked my driveshaft angle out of the transmission, and it is almost dead parallel with the truck sitting on the ground. I may not use the shims.

Edited May 26, 2015 by IMPALADAKID

y0ureviltwin · May 26, 2015

If you look at one of those pictures you will see it's not lined up correctly either, i did some measurements and it's about 1/2 inch off. The clunking sound is getting worse especially hitting a speed bump, i sprayed the leaf springs with water and no more clunking.

07Softail · May 27, 2015

I never had to use pinion shims when I did the shackle drop and block removal.

RT

Edited May 27, 2015 by 07Softail

DirtyMarcus · May 27, 2015

If you look at one of those pictures you will see it's not lined up correctly either, i did some measurements and it's about 1/2 inch off. The clunking sound is getting worse especially hitting a speed bump, i sprayed the leaf springs with water and no more clunking.

What are you saying is a 1/2" off? The leaf springs? That bolt going through the leaf spring sits inside the perch that is welded to the axle. This is what helps prevent the leaf springs from shifting around, in addition to the u bolts. When you take the truck back to the shop, make sure they tightened the shackles with the truck under load. You can do this two ways, either with the truck back on the ground or jack up the axle enough to simulate a full load. Im starting to suspect the noise is the shackles binding up from not being properly tightened.

POS VETT · May 27, 2015

The center pin is not supposed to go through the axle tube; if it went through, there would a whole lot of bigger problems.

y0ureviltwin · May 27, 2015

What are you saying is a 1/2" off? The leaf springs? That bolt going through the leaf spring sits inside the perch that is welded to the axle. This is what helps prevent the leaf springs from shifting around, in addition to the u bolts. When you take the truck back to the shop, make sure they tightened the shackles with the truck under load. You can do this two ways, either with the truck back on the ground or jack up the axle enough to simulate a full load. Im starting to suspect the noise is the shackles binding up from not being properly tightened.

Well if you look at the pictures the frame doesn't align with leaf springs, the noise is definitely not coming from the shackles, when i spray water on the leaf springs it doesn't crunch as loudly

y0ureviltwin · May 27, 2015

Well that's not good, shop asked me which way i wanted the shims facing, I wouldn't even know, reading through the forums is of no help as some say fat end faces front while others say fat end facing the rear.

DirtyMarcus · May 27, 2015

Well that's not good, shop asked me which way i wanted the shims facing, I wouldn't even know, reading through the forums is of no help as some say fat end faces front while others say fat end facing the rear.

Take it elsewhere. They should be measuring the angle of the driveline to determine if you even need shims. Like I said its not something you can eyeball. If I were you I'd take it to a 4wheel parts store. The deal with driveline issues from lifting trucks all the time. Plus since they are a corporation, they will get it right or you can take it back. The only down side it they are probably more expensive than most places. For them to add shims, carrier bearing kits, and get all the driveline measured correctly on my truck its running me about $300, $100 of which is parts.