I installed the 2 inch bell tech drop schackles on my 03. I have a vibration from 20-30 mph. I have searced around and have seen I may need to put in some shims. Is there any easier answer, and how would I go about installing and get the correct shims. Thanks in advance for any information. PS will it hurt anything in the mean time>??????

Thanks Doug

 

The only problem with vibration with my 03 was the exhaust hangers came loose. It wasn't too bad at first but got worse as time went on. I don't know if this is your case but it is worth a look. It was the hanger closest to the tail pipes. Hope this helps.

 

I had that problem and the only thing that will fix it is to have the axile shims removed. A factory 2 degree shim is on there and removing it will put the pinon angle back to normal after a 2" drop.

 

From what I have read and also with my '03 L with 2" shackles
no vibration occurs with the 1 1/2" drop you get with the 2" drop shackles. Of course maybe your L needs shim work but also look elsewhere. Did the vibration begin immediately after the 2" shackle install. DID YOU lower the truck to the ground, place weight on the tailgate like two fat asses and THEN tighten the shackles? DID YOU overtighten the shackles? These things can also cause ride problems after you install shackles from what I have read....

 

Thanks for all the info guys... I will double check and see if maybe the muffler is lose... I put on a magnaflow about a month ago... maybe it worked lose. Does any one have a how to on how to remove the shims?????? thanks Doug

 

Put on my Bell Tech shackles yesterday on my 02' L, no vibration at all.

 

The exhaust hangers were loose on my 02 also.(they were loose at the bolts that hold them to the frame)

 

Remove the shackles and go back to stock set-up. See then of you still have the vibration...

 

Do a search for shackles, or do a search under my name. It's not the hangers but the pinion angle. You need to flip the stock shims around. If you are brave enough do this yourself go ahead. However since you need to have the truck aligned after all of this, I elected to have the shop do it. With an alignment and shim flip it only ran me 60.00. Sometimes if you don't have the tools it's just better to have somebody else do it.

BTW I was glad to have the alignment done since mine was out enough to cause tire damage. Good luck

 

Thanks for all the information. I keep hearing to flip the shim or to take it out on the 03. I will have a shop do it, but which one is it. Will it hurt anything in the mean time??? thanks Doug

 

I took it to a shop to have the shims removed. I said to remove them first since that would raise it 2 degrees and then we would see if it went away. If it didnt then they were going to put the shim in backwards which would raise it 4 degrees from stock.


Just taking it out fixed it. Only $35 for labor and took about 30min

 

Ok I will try taking it out first..... I wounder how hard it is to do on your own..... does anyone out there have a second to give a step by step on it?????? thanks Doug

 

It’s not exactly what you want but….
Here’s what I did to spin my shims( 3” JLP shackles) on my ’03.
Please observe all safety precautions & be careful….
Chock front wheels. Jack up one side. Support on jack stands. Remove wheel.
Slightly load spring with jack under both U-bolts (I used a 2x4 between jack & bolts).
Install 2 C-clamps on springs close to axle (keep leafs together).
Remove 4 21mm U-bolt nuts.
Remove plate.
This fully exposes 1 15mm nut on the pin that holds the springs together.
It is rusty & really tight (use penetrating oil)
Lower axle away from spring a few inches.
What makes this a real bastard is the nut is on a pin.
You can see the head of the pin on the underside of the spring.
Hold the head of the pin with the biggest pair of pliers you have.
I had to use an impact loosen the nut.
As soon as the nut was loose, I spun the shim.
(I think the shim could be easily removed at this point)
Now put stuff back together & do the other side.

2003 stock pinion angle -5.3 degrees
3” drop, spun 2 degree shims -2.1 degrees

metco uppers installed, 2 turns preload = -2.9 degrees

Your results may vary

Good luck

 

thanks for the info... I may give it a shot tommorow.... or I may take it in... looks like it may be more then I bargend for..... do you know if the vibration will hurt anything ??????? thanks DOug

 

Short term probably not, but long term it will do alot of damage. Like it's been said before, if you mess with the shims you should do an alingment, so just get the shop to do the whole thing.