[GRMhick]

Pics are here

I just finished with my rears up front swap (well, it is sititing on all 4 wheels, still need some small stuff put back together), and the front is sitting about 2" higher than the rear now. Before the frontend was 1-1.5" lower. What happened that I got 3" taller than I was with (worn) 4" lift springs? I was antisipating this to lower the front end more so i can pul the blocks in the rear.

Heres my current setup:
Front: 84 pickup main leaf cut down as an anti wrap leaf, 83 long bed main leaf, 2nd leaf, and 3rd leaf, 84 short bed 2nd leaf cut down, 3rd leaf cut down, 7" shackle, no drop hanger.
Rear: 3 leaf chevy 63" springs, 3" blocks, 6.5" shackle.

Any ideas whats up? And will a stock higth (3.5") shackle work without binding the springs? my intention is to have the rear 1" higher than the front, and have the truck setup to clear 35", no bigger. As of now, I can clear 37" with no rubbing on the firewall.

 

[freds40]

Ah is your pinion in the dirt? Usually you use a 5.5" shackle so that it evens out the geometry when using a drop hanger. your castor will be crap I would think unless you have rotated the knuckles. My 2" drop hanger and 5 leaf "rears" pack with the 5.5" shackle gave me about 3-5" total lift (not positive as I did tires at the same time.

 

[Colorado_bound]

You might want to go with a shorter shackle, mine are 1 1/4 longer than stock. I think the ones you buy from Allpro and Sky are 1" and 1 1/2" longer than stock.

 

[OOP'S]

Pics to be put on my site soon.

7" shackle, no drop hanger.

Any ideas whats up?

And will a stock higth (3.5") shackle work without binding the springs?

1. Why so long???? I would go no longer then 4.5!!!

2. The shackles are UP to long!!!

3. I doubt it, they will lay flat againest the frame on compression!!!

 

[GRMhick]

Ya, I only put the shackles back on because I already had them. Yes the pinion is in the dirt, but the U joint never binded with the old setup.
Even so, the shackle gives me 1.75" of lift over stock (did I do my math right), and from what I have read on here, most people do a 2-2.5" drop hanger/shackles, so I should be lower than other people. I do know for a fact I am about 2" higher than an APOR 4" spring setup.

My plan was to add a 2" drop hanger and 5.5" shackles, but I guess not now.

Maybe I just need to break in the springs....

 

[Booger Weldz]

you caster is seriously wacked with no drop hanger, long shackle and the axle on the arched section of the front of the springs!!!!! have tried driving it? i have no clue why youre so tall? my truck sat about 2'' lower than allpros 3'' front when i did mine...

 

[Fueler]

your packs just look too thick. all those leaves you used are fairly thick are they not? your new front packs have more arch than my old all-pro 4" springs. that thing is going to drive like doodie with no drop hanger.

 

[ErikB]

Run leaves with less arch and a much shorter shackle. You can take some of the arch out of leaves by taking them out and beating them with a sledge hammer... Dont do too much though because they will probably settle a little after a while anyway.

 

[GRMhick]

Tried driving it. Drives fine other than the death wobble that isnt covered up anymore by the steering stablizer, that I havent yet re-installed. You have to remember too that I have driven this truck all over the state with some trailmaster springs and 7" shackles. May also have to do with the guestimate I did on the alignment.
If I am right, my setup should be nearly identical to roger brown's.
At least now the suspension feels equal front and rear, insted of the stiff front, and flexy rear. I think I am going to get a steering stablizer on it, give it a try, and prob go to a much shorter shackle. Honestly, when I was fititng the steering box, with only the main leaf flat, I liked that higth, which was prob right around the stock higth.
Maybe I will pull the bottom leaf and see what happen, or swap them for a few leafs out of a wrangler pack. heck, honestly, right now I just need some seat time with this setup to know how I want to tweak it.

anyone know what the shortest shackle is that I can run with rear springs? I am guessing it is in the 4.5" range.

Thanks again

 

[Wideopen]

You could always re-drill through the frame and put the bushing tube farther back, Then get a shorter shackle.... Should be able to use a stock shackle and still get a nice shackle angle...

 

[85TrailToy]

You have a 6-leaf pack and a 7" shackle and you are wondering why it's high?

 

[NoBrainR]

Remove the bottom two leafs for awhile and let the springs settle in. Then add them later when you need them. My springs are almost flat at rest, 5 leafs, 2nd and 3rd being mil wraps.

 

[jslamerman]

Dont worry,just wheel it once with that setup (no bump stops), and I GUARANTEE youll be sittin 3 inches lower than it is now. I know, built 2 sets of those. Go break them in, then adjust your setup. They are not used to the kind of wieght/articulation you are going to put them through.

 

[JamisonWorkshop]

I agree, They will sit flat before you know it. I would also shorten the shackle to 5". That will get youwhere you want to be. Wait before you do anything to the rear til you wheel it once or twice.

 

[Onevmaster]

There is a company that make a |_ shaped shackle for rears up front but Icant remember where Isaw them.That way you dont need to move the mounting location to run shorter shackles.

P.S. Budbuilt banana shackles....

 

[chad dillon]

Look into a set of Sky's boomerang shackles. They might be an answer also.
sky-manufacturing.com

 

[pitter]

with stock front hangers my friend went with 2" over shackles since his stockers sat against the frame. i have a 5 leaf pack he has a 6.

 

[Foxfab]

Budbuilt.com