Here's the deal. I just bought the JLP (2"3"4") lowering shackles. I had tried the Bell Tech 2" and wasn't happy at all. We (myself and speeder) first installed the shackles at the 3" position and it still didn't look level with the front. We then took them back off to set them at the 4" position. I just got my L's horrible vibration problem (props to everyone that said flip the stock shim around, worked like a charm) fixed and took some measurements. I measured from the top of my center cap to the bottom of the wheel well. The front is 18", and the rear is like 18 5/8". I then measured from the ground to the bottom of the wheel well on a brand new L, and it was 34 1/2". I just measured mine and it's 33". My 4" lowering shackle only lowered my L by 1 1/2".

Please provide logical explanation, if you can.

 

I'm no expert, but I think there is a reason that nobody but JLP makes anything more then a 2 inch drop shackle.
There is only so much a shackle drop will do, then you need hangers or doing something with the leafs.
This is just my opinion.

VINNIE

 

When you changed your wheels did you change your tires? Different tires could have different sidewall heights. That could explain the difference between yours and one with stock wheels and tires.

From the look of your picture, if the distance from the center cap to the wheel well is only 5/8" different from the front to the back now, the back end was lowered considerably.

By the way it is "Gallery".

David

 

Those of us that used the JLP's on our HD trucks only got about 1-1/2" to a max of 2" drop, I got 1-7/8". The 2" shackles only yielded about 1". It seems that they call them 4" because that is the distance between the holes not how much they lower the truck.

 

Think of it like this, you're only raising one end of the long leaf spring up 4" The midpoint (where axle meets) of that spring is only going to move part of that because the front end is still attached at the same spot. You would have to raise both the rear and the front of the spring 4" to get a true 4" lower truck.

 

Thanks guys. That kind of makes sense. The new shackle is way longer than the stock one, but for some reason doesn't seem to lower the a$$ end that much. At least it looks better than it did. Oh yeah, the tires are the factory tires remounted to the new wheels.

 

Unfortunatly Mart Man since the 03's are higher than all the other years, it seems shackles won't level it off like other years.

I was told a few things when installing mine (02 of course, but..)

DO NOT Raise or Jack the rear of the Truck up while installing them,

Install new Shackles LOSE, put a jack under the front end
and jack a little bit, putting the weight on the rear,
the rear will squat and close the gap a little

THEN TIGHTEN THE REAR SHACKLES

This will net you the most you can get out of the shackles


every little bit help's...

BTW
being you had to change the pinion angle, you can rest assure
you lowered it more than you think. And also sometimes it will settle in and go down another 1/4 - 1/2 inch in a few days ?

 

If you "search" around this site and other L related websites you will find that most all that went with the alleged 4" JLP drop shackles on their '03 got no more drop then say with DJM 2" drop shackles. If they did get more drop with the JLP 4" drop shackles it was only very slightly more. Most all that went with 2" drop shackles did not have to shim. Guess moral of the story is that JLP 4" drop shackles do not do what the 4" implies. Funny, as far as I have found, JLP is the only vendor that offers a 4" drop shackle that allegedy gives you a 4" drop... Advertising ploy/gimmick ? hmmmmmmm..

 

Drive around on it some, and your height may change... it will not be anywhere near the 4", but you may get about 2 5/8". For an 03/04, you will only see maybe a 2" drop max.

 

OK, I tried to get this figured out, but the fight between me, the flashlight, the tape measure, and the dog may skew the results slightly.....but trigonometry says:

Leaf spring app. 60 inches from end to end ( with truck sitting on the ground) and saying the axle sits on the spring at app. 28" from the front spring eye..
.
A '1" ' shackle would move the axle toward the truck frame(lower the truck) .47"

A ' 2" ' shackle would move the axle toward the truck frame(lower the truck) .9"

A ' 3" ' shackle would move the axle toward the truck frame(lower the truck) 1.4"

A 4" shackle would move the axle toward the truck frame(lower the truck) 1.9"

 

From what I've seen, I'd say that is very accurate!

 

I used DJM 2" Suspension Lowering Shackles to lower my '03 L a few months ago.. Rear was lowered 1 1/2", No vibration after lowering, no shimming necessary.

 

Same here...Almost level...still has a slight rake...I like them though...especially for $35

 

It looks like we need to measure on the shackle---is it actually two ( or three, or four) inches longer from center of hole to center of hole over stock shackle??
I'll dig mine out tomorrow....shackle, that is.

 

I installed 2'' shackles at first,Then got my hands on some 2001 leafs and put them on.I now only have 1/2'' difference between front and rear fender height,Have a much smother ride,And never touched the shims.Im very happy with the results.