Lowering my rear end

BrokenBoots · August 12, 2003

What are my options for lowering the rear end of the bed a few inches?

BTW, I am not worried about affecting load/towing rating.

I use a ramp to load a M/C sometimes and would like the rate of accent/decent to be a little less drastic.

Thanks

Hecktorx · August 12, 2003

Does the rear end have blocks? If it does have blocks, just pull them out. You my have to get new u-bolts though.

Ag Teacher · August 14, 2003

If your not worried about hauling capacity, you can take out a leaf or two on the springs. Will lower the rear and make the ride smoother.

greyghost03 · August 14, 2003

I am also thinking of lowering the rear of my truck to give it a level stock look and posted a topic about it in this thread. After the responses I got and doing some reasearch, I think my best choice is the Velvet-Ride shackles. They are more expensive than other companies (DJM, Belltech, etc) but I can see a diff in the quality of the product.

You didn't mention what year your truck is but I checked their website and they should have an application for your truck.

Lord Velvet-Ride shackles

Hope this helps!

Elvis · August 14, 2003

I used two c clamps to hold the leaf springs together, jacked up the truck by the frame, unbolted the shocks and shackles and pulled out the lower overload leaf. Rebolted the leaf springs with a shorter grade 8 bolt. Dropped the truck a bit more than an inch and still carries my 5th wheel with no issue.

BrokenBoots · August 15, 2003

I checked the website for Lords. The velvet shackels for the 2003 3500 is due out any time now.

I am going to try a set of those when available.

greyghost03 · August 16, 2003

I checked the website for Lords. The velvet shackels for the 2003 3500 is due out any time now.

I am going to try a set of those when available.

Be sure to give us an update when you get them in and installed!

BDBWTE · August 16, 2003

I used two c clamps to hold the leaf springs together, jacked up the truck by the frame, unbolted the shocks and shackles and pulled out the lower overload leaf. Rebolted the leaf springs with a shorter grade 8 bolt. Dropped the truck a bit more than an inch and still carries my 5th wheel with no issue.

So you took off your very bottom spring on both sides. The factory load hog spring that all the other sprigns is based off of.

Hope that works for you talked to a few mechs here and they suggest that it would be better to take out a actual leaf above your main spring. But that's just us.

BDBWTE · August 16, 2003

We usually don't have a problem with lowering our rear's time you get a couple thousand pounds of tongue sitting on your king pin. But I would just go and get lowering shackles and call it a day. Actually "I" would build my own lowering shackles out of chromoly then have it hardened but if you don't have access to this kind of stuff then you must rely on the kits.