I did the aim drop shackle install yesterday.. it was finally a bright and sunny high 60 degree day and I felt like wrenching on the truck. This install is *Easy*!!!, if you have a good floor jack.

Tools Needed: 13/16s Socket, 13/16s wrench, a good floor jack, and some car stands.


First thing you need to do is jack up the truck up and get some jacks stands under the frame. You have to have the rear end completely off the ground to do the install. (Without a jack under the rear end the tires can't be touching the ground)

So here is the truck jacked up.. (yes the rear tires are barely off the ground)



The shackles are at the back of the leaf springs..



Put a little bit of pressure on the pumpkin (center of the rear end) with the jack, just enough to support it while you remove all the bolts, this way the rear end doesn’t want to fall as you loosen it.

I loosened both the top and bottom bolt. On the top bolt you don't have to use a wrench, just the socket. The top bolt as a metal peace welded on it to stop it from spinning on one side.

Loosen all four bolts (2 per side) they are all 13/16s.

I had to use a small tire iron, in a rocking motion under the shackle to get the bottom bolt out on each side...



After you get both bottom bolts out, jack the rear end up slowly, so that you raise the top of the shackle above the frame rail.. this is the only way to get the top bolts out.




I then put the new shackles on, hand tightened the top bolt on both sides, and started to let the rear end fall back into place, guiding the shackles so the bottom bolt holes lined up



Put the bottom bolts in, again you might have to use a small tire iron to manipulate the shackles into the correct position.

Tighten all 4 bolts, but don't over tighten. I don't have a torque spec on this but remember the shackles move back and forth with the leaf springs. You'll get a feel for how tight everything was when you disassemble it all.

This is as easy as it gets.. anyone can do it

Brad
SVT2GO@Silicontemple.com if you have any questions...

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* 99.5 Black Lightning
* Personal Best ¼ Mile 13.99 @ 97.75 Mph. (Bone stock, ready to run low 13’s now)
* Ohio Plate SVT2GO
* Sal’s Chip and Filter
* Interceptor Trans
* All three Factory options for 99
* Factory CD Changer
* Class 3 Towing Hitch
* Factory Tonneau Cover
* 8" Bazooka Tubs
* Kenwood 80 watt *2 amp
* Viper 550 Alarm w/ remote start
* Often found in the bed: 98 Yamaha Banshee/Pro Design Cool head/ Toomey T-5 Chrome Racing Pipes/ Wiseco Power Pistons / Boyesen rad valves

Injection is nice, but I'd rather be blown. 99 Lightning, the best of both worlds!


[This message has been edited by SVT2Go (edited 04-14-2000).]

 

Thanks Brad, great pictured tutorial. ordered mine 3weeks ago from Aim, and guess they will be coming in sometime, maybe,. usually when i order something for this truck, the only indicator that it has been shipped, is the charge on my visa statement.

 

The charges on my visa statement are really ugly this month.... my wallet share my pain..

 

Installed today. My mechanic tapered the ends of the bushings slightly, then put in the vice. I was cleaning the inside of wheels while he installed shackels, He was done before me.
If I knew the wheel cleaning was going to be that much work I would have waxed them before driving truck1

 

hey, would you mind posting a couple of pics of your truck before & after the shackles?
so as i can see how much difference it makes.
thanks

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brooks

 

the hardest part of this installation is getting those darn little rubber thingamijigs in the shackle..even in the vice it was a challenge!

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99 RED Lightning
90 ZR1
67 XR7 GT
87 Honda Accord (?)