Am I the only one who's rear is higher

Big Boy · June 10, 2002

Just out of curiosity I measured from the center of the wheel to the edge of the fender well. There is just a little less than 6 inches difference between the front and the back.

I also noticed that when I load it up it levels out in a hurry. This makes me think that if I "leveled" it (unloaded) by cranking the T-bars it would look silly loaded.

Also noticed that most every lifted truck looks level. Is this built into the lift kits or are people cranking T-bars in addition to adding the lift??

Just curious.

chane · June 10, 2002

Just out of curiosity I measured from the center of the wheel to the edge of the fender well. There is just a little less than 6 inches difference between the front and the back.

I also noticed that when I load it up it levels out in a hurry. This makes me think that if I "leveled" it (unloaded) by cranking the T-bars it would look silly loaded.

Also noticed that most every lifted truck looks level. Is this built into the lift kits or are people cranking T-bars in addition to adding the lift??

Just curious.

Your the only one..

Everyone else already cranked the front or dropped the back.

Stepside Z · June 11, 2002

I cranked my bars 5 turns each then installed 285 BFGs. Truck looks fine now.

Dihappy · June 11, 2002

6" is a big difference, mine was only off a couple when stock.

Now with my lift and SuperLift blocks, im 1" higher in back.

Kania2k1 · June 11, 2002

You also really can't go on fender height either. The rear wheelwells could be a little taller than the fronts, for load purposes I guess. Park it on a level surface where you can stand back and look at it. Check for level underneath the doors, near the rocker pannel, pinch weld area. That's how I've leveled out all the trucks I've had. Just an idea :yingyang:

HillHound · June 11, 2002

I also noticed that when I load it up it levels out in a hurry. This makes me think that if I "leveled" it (unloaded) by cranking the T-bars it would look silly loaded.

I think you're right about that & I believe GM did this on purpose so that the truck's handling won't suffer badly under heavy loads or if pulling a trailer with a heavy tongue weight. A pickup that rides level under load has more of it's total weight distributed to the front end which means more responsive steering and cornering and probably better braking.

I raised the front of mine about 1" and I'm happy with it. It looks a little better and it works fine for the loads I pull and haul and I like having the extra 1" of front end ground clearance . The sensible advice is not to take adjusting the bars too lightly-think about what you intend to use your truck for before you do it.

Big Boy · June 11, 2002

Thanks for all the advise. Just looking around the board at all the pics and thought I was the only one. I do plan to crank the T-bars a little as this truck may get a ways back in the woods in the Fall. That crank plus 285/75's

I do however load it up, more often than I thought I would, so I may lift the rear similarly with an add-a-leaf or does anyone have experience with the Roadmaster Active Suspension? I like the sounds of what the Sales lines say it will do. (little effect on daily drive but helps support heavy loads.)

SilveradoWV · June 11, 2002

The roadmaster suspensions sounds great until you hear the price!! BTW I am only 2 inches higher in the rear, stock!

Big Boy · June 12, 2002

The price of the Active Suspension is only $195 and add-a-leaf is $200-$225?

Might be only 2 inches higher in the rear cause you have a cap that weighs it down a bit.

GnatGoSplat · June 12, 2002

Wow, 6"??? Mine is only about 1-1/2" higher in the back, factory.

Maybe you need to get the Ford keys and raise the front.

Or if you'd prefer, remove the factory 2" lift blocks from the rear.

Since 6" is a huge difference, maybe you could do both and then it'd end up even.

Victory Red · June 12, 2002

...Or if you'd prefer, remove the factory 2" lift blocks from the rear.

What's the advantages, if any, to doing this as opposed to installing lowering shackles in the rear? I never thought about removing the stock shackles. Will the suspension work the same without ANY shackles? Do you know anyone who has done this? I would like to install this set of Belltech shackles I have here, but removing the stock ones sounds easier.

GnatGoSplat · June 13, 2002

...Or if you'd prefer, remove the factory 2" lift blocks from the rear.

What's the advantages, if any, to doing this as opposed to installing lowering shackles in the rear? I never thought about removing the stock shackles. Will the suspension work the same without ANY shackles? Do you know anyone who has done this? I would like to install this set of Belltech shackles I have here, but removing the stock ones sounds easier.

The lift blocks aren't shackles. If you look under your truck at the rear diff, you should see between the springs and the axle are these 2" black blocks. These are only installed on 4x4's to make the rear ride-height match the front because 4x4's and 2WD's use the same rear springs. 2WD trucks don't have these blocks so the rear rides 2" lower than a 4x4. All you'd need to do is remove those blocks and voila! Instant 2" lowering on the rear. I think you'll need to use the 2WD U-bolts though, because the 4x4 U-bolts are longer and I don't know if you'll have enough threads with the blocks removed.

If this sounds confusing, hopefully when you take a look at that setup it will make sense!

Victory Red · June 13, 2002

Interesting. I see what you're talking about. It's raining like H**L here now, so I only took a quick peek under my truck. If I remove these blocks, what do the springs rest on? Does the 2WD have a shorter "pad" that the springs rest on? Between the springs and the axle? I've never looked under one of the 2WD trucks. Seems like they wouldn't mount the springs directly to the axle without a pad under them of some kind.

GnatGoSplat · June 14, 2002

In my parts catalog, it looks like the spring rests directly on the axle. I'll check again to be sure, but I think that's how it works.

Victory Red · June 19, 2002

I finally got to look under a 2WD truck today. The leafs rest on a metal plate that is curved over on the bottom, to center it on the axle. It looks like a stamped metal plate and the leaf springs rest on top of it. The U-bolts are shorter than on my truck too. If I remove my 2" block under my leafs, and installed these shorter U-bolts and this plate I could lower the rear of the truck without using the lowering shackles. Does anyone think this will cause a problem on a 4WD truck? Or would I be better off installing the lower shackles instead?