McGaughys 2" shackle - bed seam or leaf removal required on '1

[06032]

Interested in reducing rake and avoiding cranks on my '15 2500HD Z71. Seems like this shackle is the right solution. No serious towing or hauling but if I did, I know to consider bags.

Will I need to cut/fold the bed seam above the shackle and or remove the overload spring?

Or is it plug an play?

 

Thanks in advance!

[CAtaylor]

You don't have to pull the overload to install the shackle. Pulling the overload in addition to the shackle will net an additional ~1.25" of drop. If the shackle is set at 2" you will need to cut / fold the bed seam to install; at 1" you just put the shackle in.

[06032]

Thank you! Got it. Very clear.

I hate to cut/snip/fold but a 1"drop doesn't seem like enough and 2.25" is maybe too much (plus greater effort to remove the overload). Just need to protect for rust that tiny spot.

 

Hard to believe GM/Chevy thinks people like this 'attack cat' stance when everyone seems to want them to be level...one way or the other.

[Rjfetz1]

I would be interested in the McGaughys 2" shackle myself, but looking at the rear bolts I do not see how to remove the upper bolt without removing the entire leaf spring assembly. They put the bolt in inside out, vs outside in.

[Cowpie]

Wow. The McGaughy's 2" shackles I put in my 2015 2500 were just plug and play. Simple replacement of stock shackles. I didn't do the job, I had it done when I was getting a Magnaflo muffler put on the pickup at a local shop. They told me it was just plug and play exchange.

[06032]

Wow. The McGaughy's 2" shackles I put in my 2015 2500 were just plug and play. Simple replacement of stock shackles. I didn't do the job, I had it done when I was getting a Magnaflo muffler put on the pickup at a local shop. They told me it was just plug and play exchange.

Cowpie - I presume you've heard no metal-metal contact. Would you mind looking underneath to report on closeness of fitment? I wonder if you got lucky or the gap is wide enough to gamble.

[Cowpie]

I go under it, throughout, when I do a grease job on the pickup, which is about midway between oil changes and during the oil change itself. I have never noticed anything amiss. Must just be lucky.

[ShotgunZ71]

I put the McGaughy's 2" shackles on my 2500HD yesterday. Had to make one cut on bed seam and then just folded it over. Also, lowering the spare tire helps a great deal. Per usual, the 1st side took a while, but the other side was much quicker because all the trial and error had already been done. So far I like the look and it still has about 1.5" of rake. Haven't been on the highway yet at higher speeds to see how the ride/handling may have changed. I do need to spray a bit of paint underneath in case of rust forming where the seam was cut.

[ibleedgreen]

Watching this...

Got them, just haven't had the time to install yet.

[SMiller]

Just to cut to the chase a little, there is no way to install/use the lowering shackle without cutting the bed seem.

 

I first thought maybe the bed could be slightly raised for install but install isn't the issue it is using them that causes the issue.

 

Having said all that I would be comfortable with cutting the seem as long as it was properly primmed/painted/wax coated afterwards.

[Cowpie]

Looks like a way to finally get my way with the wife. The bed will deteriorate faster so that I can them put on the flat/stake bed I want!