2" drop shackles, HOW TO ?
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2" drop shackles, HOW TO ?
how do i install 2" drop shackles on my 2001L ?, i looked under the truck and it looks like the shackles that are on it are welded on there. Would i have to weld the new ones on or am i totally off on this ?
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Everywhere
Hey you are looking at the rear of the springs right? Its simple just two bolts per side....took me about 25 minutes taking my time. Just be sure to have your truck secured on the jack when lifting the body up.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: SD, CA
Probleminfected: like Blown95Stang said, I don't think you're looking where you should be (at the rear attachment point of the leaf springs), I think you're looking where I incorrectly did the first time I was trying to figure out what everyone was talking about (where the leaf springs attach to the axle).
Like just about everyone else on this board it seems now, I too just installed the Belltech 2" drop shackles on my truck, that I purchased from/with the help of John893. Once we had a "capable" jack (inside joke), we were able to go from start to finish in about 15 minutes.
Here is the best advice I can give you with regards to installing the rear shackles (most of this is advice I gathered from other peoples posts, some of it is stuff I figured out while doing my own install):
(1) Before you start, make sure you have a good floor jack that can lift somewhere between ~18-21" off the ground (*After trying with my Walmart special that just wasn't cutting it, we went out to Sears and John bought a 3 ton SUV jack with ~20" of lift that made the job a breeze).
(2) Make sure your truck is on level ground, in Park, and place wheel chocks tightly in front of the front wheels (we used winter sand bags).
(3) Place the jack underneath the center of your hitch (I had actually taken mine off months before when I went to New England Dragway, and put it back on to do the job (~8 bolts)).
(4) Jack up the back of the truck to relieve the tension on the leaf springs (this does NOT require lifting the real wheels OFF the ground).
(5) Loosen the top and bottom bolts on each side shackle, and remove the lower bolts (the top ones are blocked by the frame).
(6) ***Key time saver***: Instead of "pushing up" on the leaf spring to remove the top bolt, all you have to do is slowly lower the rear of your truck a few inches. The top of the leaf spring will now be above the frame, and you can pull the bolt right out!
(7) Now, all you have to do is reverse these steps and you're good to go.
Something to keep in mind is that the further apart you space the bolts in your shackle of choice, the lower the rear of your truck will be (the Belltech shackles had ~5 holes I believe, and for a 2" drop use the "top" holes).
Its literally that simple to do this install- there's no reason not to. To be honest, I don't know why other people said they needed jack stands. I mean, always make sure your truck is VERY stable before you even think of going anywhere underneath it, but to do this, the wheels are still on the ground and you're only underneath the edge (***which means, use your best judgement and take my steps and advice for what they're worth- just advice).
Hope this helps.
Later...
GK
Like just about everyone else on this board it seems now, I too just installed the Belltech 2" drop shackles on my truck, that I purchased from/with the help of John893. Once we had a "capable" jack (inside joke), we were able to go from start to finish in about 15 minutes.
Here is the best advice I can give you with regards to installing the rear shackles (most of this is advice I gathered from other peoples posts, some of it is stuff I figured out while doing my own install):
(1) Before you start, make sure you have a good floor jack that can lift somewhere between ~18-21" off the ground (*After trying with my Walmart special that just wasn't cutting it, we went out to Sears and John bought a 3 ton SUV jack with ~20" of lift that made the job a breeze).
(2) Make sure your truck is on level ground, in Park, and place wheel chocks tightly in front of the front wheels (we used winter sand bags).
(3) Place the jack underneath the center of your hitch (I had actually taken mine off months before when I went to New England Dragway, and put it back on to do the job (~8 bolts)).
(4) Jack up the back of the truck to relieve the tension on the leaf springs (this does NOT require lifting the real wheels OFF the ground).
(5) Loosen the top and bottom bolts on each side shackle, and remove the lower bolts (the top ones are blocked by the frame).
(6) ***Key time saver***: Instead of "pushing up" on the leaf spring to remove the top bolt, all you have to do is slowly lower the rear of your truck a few inches. The top of the leaf spring will now be above the frame, and you can pull the bolt right out!
(7) Now, all you have to do is reverse these steps and you're good to go.
Something to keep in mind is that the further apart you space the bolts in your shackle of choice, the lower the rear of your truck will be (the Belltech shackles had ~5 holes I believe, and for a 2" drop use the "top" holes).
Its literally that simple to do this install- there's no reason not to. To be honest, I don't know why other people said they needed jack stands. I mean, always make sure your truck is VERY stable before you even think of going anywhere underneath it, but to do this, the wheels are still on the ground and you're only underneath the edge (***which means, use your best judgement and take my steps and advice for what they're worth- just advice).
Hope this helps.
Later...
GK
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Redmond, Wa
check out this post, there are instructions on exactly how to do it. I just did mine today in less than an hour!
http://nloc.org/ubb/Forum2/HTML/003386.html
http://nloc.org/ubb/Forum2/HTML/003386.html