spring shackle question

[keakar]

ok I understand the concept that its cheaper and easier to just replace one spring shackle to lower the truck but IMO its not the best way because it changes the spring position to lean forward and change drive shaft angles plus the spring action will also tend to lift upward and forward when you bounce so the suspension wont work the same as it did stock.

 

admittedly I haven't crawled all up under there to really look it over good but why don't I see any shackle kits to lower both ends of the springs front end and back end evenly so you are keeping the stock drivetrain geometry level and inline without changing drive shaft angles requiring shims to correct it?

 

do they have kits like this that replace both front and rear spring shackles and if so where can I find them?

 

I have seen kits that replace the stock leaf springs with flattened ones but they don't look like they would give you a good ride and I wouldn't want to make it ride stiff as hell just to lower the truck?

 

also lets say I install 2" drop shackles one front and back of the springs to get a balanced lowering that doesn't change any angles, will this still be a 2" lower or will it be more then that? in other words is the shackle holes exactly 2" different or is it 2" after they take into account the pivoted angle and maybe the holes are 2.5" to end up with a 2" drop?

[8.1HD/ALLISON]

Front end of spring bolts directly to frame. No shackle.

[nate538]

ok I understand the concept that its cheaper and easier to just replace one spring shackle to lower the truck but IMO its not the best way because it changes the spring position to lean forward and change drive shaft angles plus the spring action will also tend to lift upward and forward when you bounce so the suspension wont work the same as it did stock.

 

admittedly I haven't crawled all up under there to really look it over good but why don't I see any shackle kits to lower both ends of the springs front end and back end evenly so you are keeping the stock drivetrain geometry level and inline without changing drive shaft angles requiring shims to correct it?

 

do they have kits like this that replace both front and rear spring shackles and if so where can I find them?

 

I have seen kits that replace the stock leaf springs with flattened ones but they don't look like they would give you a good ride and I wouldn't want to make it ride stiff as hell just to lower the truck?

 

also lets say I install 2" drop shackles one front and back of the springs to get a balanced lowering that doesn't change any angles, will this still be a 2" lower or will it be more then that? in other words is the shackle holes exactly 2" different or is it 2" after they take into account the pivoted angle and maybe the holes are 2.5" to end up with a 2" drop?

They used to do this all the time back in the day you would get lowering hangers for the front of the springs. That all ended when they started welding the factory hangers to the frame. The shackles are really the best option you have if you're looking for a 2 in drop. The driveline angle change is pretty minimal and easy enough to fix if you need to. I think you'll be much happier with the look of the truck once you get the back end down some, it's pretty ridiculous from the factory.

[keakar]

it's pretty ridiculous from the factory.

yes, yes it is

[SteveBBB]

I have changed just the rear shackle on at least 4 of my trucks and never had any issues with drive shaft, pinion angle, vibration or ride. Other than lowering the truck 2 inches I couldn't tell anything had been done.

[keakar]

looks like im going lemon law on this thing, or try to, they cant fix the vibration and stopped even trying to so its lemon law or a trade in for loss but im getting carsick on long rides from the constant vibration they claim is "normal" and "GM designed it that way, that just how trucks feel"

 

no sense doing anything to a truck im not keeping, one way or the other this thing is getting replaced.

 

what was the last year they still had the normal bed rail height on the silverados?

 

might go get a used one so it already sits like I want it to.