Getting ready to buy drop parts. Question.

[Damon23]

Looking at my 82 the truck looks level. I cant use a tape measure cause it looks like the rear wheel opening is lower than the front. If I do that then the truck sits 1.5 in lower in the rear already but you can look at the truck and tell the opening is lower or is that a illusion? Here is the truck in the driveway and the driveway is level.

Now, I looked underneath the truck and it has 4 springs which after some reading that is normal. I thought all trucks sat 2in higher in the rear. Can you tell by looking at these pictures of the shackles and hangers are stock?


I'm looking at the summit brand 2in front spindles and 2in shackles. If the rear shackles are drop then I need to get hangers and that looks like a job for a pro and i'll just have to shelf it cause a pro wont be cheap. I'm pretty sure I have the 1in rotor so the drop spindles will be 2.5in and the rear shackles will drop it 2in but a half inch difference wont be too bad. I guess another thing is my springs could be worn to a point where it is sagging. Thanks.

[Jason S]

The rear spring setup looks stock.  I'd also agree that the rear springs are probably worn and you have some sagging there too.  I'm sure others will be on to add more.

[frotosride]

No doubt in my mind that those hangers are stock hangers. No one in their right mind would ever try to duplicate those huge rivets to hold them up let alone a machine to install them.

The hangers will work without having to replace or remove the mounts. If you look at the factory shackels and think that if you extended them up 2" it will allow the leaf spring to ride up in the quarter panel higher this bringing tha axel up with it. The truck does look level and it is most likely just as previously stated "sag". Unfortunately, because of the wear and tear on your leafs over the years you most likely will be lower in the rear if you go with the shackels you suggested.

There's always axel flip kits that will get the rear down. They aren't any more complicated just more involved than simply changing the shackels.

[Damon23]

Thanks, maybe I should look for a 3in drop in the front and two in the rear to compensate. I really like the level look of it but it needs to come down and be level. I guess I could change out the rear springs later down the road.

[Captkaos]

The front and rear wheel openings are not the same.

[Damon23]

Alright, got my components. Went with western chassis 2.5 in spindles for up front and 2in shackles in the rear. Question, when getting ready to remove the spindle, what are you guys using to keep the spring from flying out and killing you? I've heard to put the truck on stands and use a floor jack under the a-arm and also not to remove the castle nuts on the ball joints all the way. I noticed the shocks on these trucks mount to the a-arm and not in the middle of the coil spring like I'm used to.

[79gmc15]

A strong chain should be fine.

[Captkaos]

I loop a heavy chain through the spring and lower control arm..