I've done some searching and come up with a little, but not really what I'm looking for.

Does anyone have advice for installing the Ground Force drop shackles?

I was installing my new wheels today and was going to do the shackles at the same time, but I couldn't figure it out.

I jacked up my truck, rested the frame on jack stands, and took the wheels off.
Maybe my stands aren't tall enough, but I don't think I could release the axle down enought to remove the pressure from the leaf springs.

The instructions also said to remove the lower shock bolts, but I didn't see the reason in that.

Anyone's advice is much appreciated!!! Thanks in advance.

 

If the axel was hanging free then there was no tention on the springs and you can install the shackles.

I didn't remove the shocks when I did mine.

 

if you have a hitch put it in so that it is as low as possible and jack your truck up from that

 

That's the thing... the axle wasn't hanging free...

I jacked up using the trailer hitch and put my jack stands on the hitch. Then I set my truck down on the stands.

I took off wheels and tires, then lowered the axle down using my jack to keep it slow. The axle came all the way to the floor with the jack and no room left to go any lower.

I bet my problem is that my jack stands are too short. Maybe I'll just put them on top of cinder blocks... or go buy new ones.

So, once I remove the u-bolts and get the axle hanging free, I install the shims. Then reattach that part and start on the shackles, right?
While the axle is down, I take off the old shackles then put the new ones in and raise the axle so the springs come up to the new shackles?

Thanks!!

BTW, I love both of y'all's black trucks. I thought about going black, but my black focus made me decide against it. But now I went and bought my wife a black Camry... they're just so damn sexy.

 

Use a floor jack and a wood block or something to jack the axle up high enough for the top bolt to clear the frame so you can remove it. Do one side at a time.

And if you've got a 2WD Supercab, you're probably gonna need pinion shims. Drive it first afterwards before installing the shims and see how it does.

 

When I did my drop shackles, I jacked the truck up from the side and placed the stands just forward of where the frame goes up for the rear axle. That allowed the rear tires to be about 5 inches off the ground. Then I put the floor jack under the differential and raised it to take the weight off the springs. By using the floor jack to position the rear axle it was easy to get the shackles to line up for replacement. Only do one side at a time, especially if you are installing the shims. If you have both sides loose at the same time you will play heck getting everything lined up again. (Don't ask me how I know this.) I think the instructions tell you to remove the lower shock bolt to allow the axle to drop down further but I didn't do it on mine or my friend's truck that I installed shackles on.

 

Thanks for everyone's advice. I was finally able to get it complete.

I ended up jacking up the truck using the axle and putting my jack stand under the center of the trailer hitch, being the lowest point. I tried with a jack stand on each side and couldn't get quite high enough.

The only other issue I ran into along the way is the guys that did my aftermarket exhaust hung the exhaust line right in the way of the leaf springs.
I'm taking it back up there this week to have them re-bend it and to level the pipes now that the truck is at a new level.

I took pics along the way and plan to write a more detailed how to for future rookies..

Thanks!

New pics in the gallery!

 

Did you install the wedges?

 

Yeah, I put them in as I was doing the install because I didn't want to take a chance on having to rip it all back apart.

It wasn't that bad in the end.

 

Here's the installation guide that I wrote in case anyone is interested:

http://members.***.net/thedarsts/shackleinstall.htm

 

Look's much better with the shackle drop!

 

Nice job.

That's an axle tube, not a drive shaft.....just for clarification.

 

See, I said I didn't know what I was doing... ;-)