2004 - 2008 F-150

lowering the rear about 2"

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Old 05-14-2005, 09:27 PM
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Question lowering the rear about 2"

Is there a best kit or way of lowering the rear of the truck to level it?

 
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Old 05-14-2005, 09:29 PM
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oy. before everyone jumps on your for not searching (which you should have done), get the groundforce shackle kit, they sell it at truckperformance.com
 
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Old 05-14-2005, 09:32 PM
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I was wondering kinda the same thing...

I also want to add to the question...
From my observations... alot of the vibration problems come from people with SuperCabs reguarding the 2" drop and driveline vibe....not regular or SuperCrew....

Are there any people with a Regular Cab that dropped the read 2" and ACTUALLY had to use shims? Any vives from 2" drop on a regular cab?
 
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Old 05-14-2005, 11:29 PM
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I did use the shimsjust so I didn't find out that I needed them the hard way...Kevin
 
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Old 05-15-2005, 09:24 AM
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Originally Posted by kevhunt
I did use the shimsjust so I didn't find out that I needed them the hard way...Kevin
EXACTLY!!!! why does nobody understand this?
 
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Old 05-15-2005, 09:36 AM
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I don't think it's not understanding so much as it is wondering if they're gonna need the shims. I went through the same stage when I decided to buy mine.

I had a 50/50 chance of buying the less expensive ones and not having the vib. I finally decided I didn't trust my luck and went with the Groundforce. Glad I did........

Jeff
 
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Old 05-15-2005, 11:59 AM
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I used DJM lowering shackles and didn’t need pinion shims. No vibe before lowering and no vibe after. If you need shims, it’s a simple driveway job.
 
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Old 05-15-2005, 12:07 PM
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jp just did my 2 inch shackle drop with no shims, is this a good idea not to put them on, never had vibe before or after, actually i think it rides smoother now, but read something in the forums that problems can occur later on to your axle or something like that. thanx for you input
 
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Old 05-15-2005, 02:04 PM
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Originally Posted by jokergomez81
jp just did my 2 inch shackle drop with no shims, is this a good idea not to put them on, never had vibe before or after, actually i think it rides smoother now, but read something in the forums that problems can occur later on to your axle or something like that. thanx for you input
If you didn’t pick up a vibe, shimming the axle is unnecessary. The u-joint angles have leeway for variation. I’m smooth and vibe free from 0 mph on up…

As this illustration shows, 9° on both sides would be ideal, but 10° & 8° will still work. Therefore, it boils down to where you start out from the factory. A 2” drop could eliminate a vibe in some cases.


 
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Old 05-15-2005, 08:55 PM
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I can see the thinking in putting in the shims while you're already under the truck...

My thinking is... I dont have any vibe now... will dropping the rear give me some vibes?
Thats why I asked is any other regular cab owners got a vibe from dropping the rear...
If someone said they had... I would most certainly shim it up while I was under the truck.
 
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Old 05-15-2005, 09:25 PM
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if you have no problems before the shackle kit, then DO put the shims in, it will correct the angle. i wouldnt rationalize not using the shims unless you do get a vibe with them. the shims return the angle to the same as stock, why wouldnt that be the right way to go?
 
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Old 05-15-2005, 09:31 PM
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Why shim if you don’t need to?

I test drove my truck after changing the shackles and had no vibe.
 
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Old 05-15-2005, 09:35 PM
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Some trucks are more picky than others. The '04+ F150 isn't very tolerant of pinion angle changes to begin with, you really won't know whether you'll get a vibration until you try it. Mine had a low speed driveline vibration from 20-30 mph, felt like driving over rumble strips. I've since raised my DJM shackles up to the 1.5" hole, no more vibes, although I will shim it someday just because the truck looks that much better at 2".
 
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Old 05-15-2005, 09:41 PM
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Quintin, do you know what the specs are suppose to be on the angle?
 
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Old 05-15-2005, 09:57 PM
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i have a question on this subject. why lower the back? why not raise the front? or is the lower shackle only for 2 wheeldrive?
 


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