Going to be doing the install probably friday. I have 20" stands and i don't think they look big enough, though i didn't see any stands bigger at pep boys or sears. What size stands did any of you use and where did you put them. I took the hitch off a while ago and don't see it going back on to do this if at all possible? Any tips are appreciated......

 

I will also be doing the shackle install, hopefully today, so any info will be greatly appreciated!

 

Your stands are way more than enough. Put the stands under each side of the frame rails just in front of the rear tires where the rails bend upwards (hard to explain). Place a jack under the pumpkin. Undo the shackles, then raise or lower the pumpkin to line up the holes for the new shackles and bolt the newbies on.

--Joe

 

Hey Joe, I was looking last night and I noticed the frame rails bend down under the doors and then back up... so are you talking about putting the stands to the rear of the doors where they bend back up? I think that would be around the side step area.

 

when i did my shackles on my 00HD, i did one side at a time because my jack and stands were too short, so used a cinderblock under each, and jacked the truck up and put stands right around under the step area, then used a floor jack to raise/lower the one side of the axle. I think its easier this way than doing both at the same time and trying to line up both side holes at once, but i dunno.

 

i just jacked the rear up by the hitch worked perfect

 

Well guys, I installed my 2" shackles yesterday (Wed) and it was a piece of cake. I ended up jacking only one side of the truck at the time. Here is a brief run-down:

1. Chock front tires and place floor jack under frame below door handle where the frame "bends" back down. Jack up and place jackstand under frame to be safe. NOTE: You do not have to jack the truck up until the tires are off the ground. Only enough to get the weight of the truck off the leaf spring. Placing the jack in this location will basically jack the entire side of the truck.

2. Remove nuts from top and bottom shackle bolts.

3. Place floor jack under axle and raise while turning bottom bolt with wrench. Adjust jack to the point where the bolt turns the easiest, then remove bolt. You may have to tug on the top of the shackle to get it to come out.

4. Adjust the jack under the axle to get the spring raised up as high as possible, then push spring up with hand to clear frame and remove top bolt and shackle.

5. Install new shackle starting with the top bolt, then adjust floor jack to align bottom bolt and install.

6. Remove jackstand from frame and repeat process for other side.

It took me approx. 1 hour for the install, and another 15 mins. to clean the undercoating off of my hands and arms!
They dropped my truck by about 1.5 inches, which is EXACTLY level now. I am very pleased with the results!

Thanks to everyone for the tips!

 

Hey Don
If you need help with the shackles let me know.