Lowering the rear

[Lifeson1]

Just bought an 84 SWB...looking right now to "level" it out...maybe lower the rear. Whats the deal with flipping the leafs below the axle? Difficult to do? Saturday morning, lowered by noon? Not sure I want to cut coils from the front springs right now...lowering the back may get the look I want. Any video links specifically for this truck i can look at? Been searching youtube...not finding and specifics. The drop shackles I can buy at Auto Zone dont do the trick. tried that on a 93...no real effect.

 

[J Knight]

1. Stock
2. 2/4in drop.
3. 4.5/5in drop.

You can install a drop kit in about 4 to 8 hours depending on your skill level and tools available.

It would be easier to know what you plan to use the truck for and how low you want to go to be able to give you the best answers to your questions.

 

[Lifeson1]

Mine has a bit of a rake to it, stock. Yours looks perfectly level as stock. I just drive it, not work out of it. I just want to get that raise out of the back...as if it were carrying 1000 pounds of tile. I had a 93 stepside once that the ass was up in the air..I went to Lowes and picked up a palet of tile, the truck looked so good under that load...

 

[Jarhead79]

2 inch shackles should bring the back down level unless you want to lower whole truck? But also can't you just remove the helper load spring and get the same thing J Knight?

 

[J Knight]

My 1st pic has a rake also, the driveway slopes so I guess its an optical illusion that its level.

These trucks all have a 2in rake from the factory so a 2in drop shackle will give you the level look you are wanting. Its an easy install but you will have to notch the bed brace above the shackle for it to fit.

Personally I think you would be happier with a 2/4in or a 2.5/4in drop. This takes the "sky jacked look" out of the front and the rear but still able to use the truck as a truck if the need comes up.

 

[Jarhead79]

Here's what two coils cut in front and removed helper spring in rear looks like. I have a little take but I'm also running 245 45 20 front and 275 45 20 rear

 

[bigge31566]

Here's what two coils cut in front and removed helper spring in rear looks like. I have a little take but I'm also running 245 45 20 front and 275 45 20 rear

How did it work with helper spring out, how do it ride, I'm thinking of doing the same thing

 

[Jarhead79]

It rides fine, I don't think you'll really notice much of a difference, might go with a decent new shock to make up for the helper spring.

 

[smoothandlow84]

X2 with what Jarhead said. Remove helper spring, and install upgraded nitrogen charged shocks. Shackles can be installed as well, but like jknight explained, you will have to notch the bedrail reinforcement pieces directly above the shackles for clearance
I have a rear drop shackle, and had to notch the bed rail. With the overload removed, the rear rides softer.