jmproductions
01-14-2004, 08:49 PM
This mod is mainly for folks that have already installed the 2" lowering shackles and decided that they need just a little more than the 2" drop that the shackles provided to get a nice level look. You can do this simply by drilling a hole and relocating the the leaf slightly higher on your stock hanger. If you take a look under your truck where the leaf connects to the hanger in front of your rear wheels you'll notice a nice 1 1/2" of space above the connecting bolt.
Now the only cost that may incur here for you is the drill bit. A quality 3/4" drill bit cost me about $20, provided of course that you already own a heavy duty 1/2" drill. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU MAKE SURE YOUR DRILL WITH THE BIT INSTALLED WILL HAVE ENOUGH CLEARANCE INSIDE YOUR QUARTER PANEL WHEN IN POSITION TO DRILL THE HANGER. My truck is a sportside so the quarter is made out of plastic, which gave us some flexibility with this issue once the fender supports were unbolted. Another possibility is to use a die grinder or a dremel with a grindstone to make your hole. It will take a while, but drilling a giant 3/4" hole into metal with a drill is no picnic either.
1.The first thing that you'll want to do is get a jack stand under your frame supporting a good amount of the truck's weight.
2.Remove the the nut on the bolt that connects the leaf.
3.You will need to cut some of the end of the bolt off because it will not clear the frame in the new position. On the driver's side you will need to cut off about an 1/8" less than the threads that will fit into the nut when fully torqued on the truck. You need to cut this one a little short because it will not clear the gas tank otherwise when you try to pull it out the other side of the frame. If you don't like not being able to use all of the threads, get another bolt from the dealer or remove the gas tank. On the passenger side, just cut the bolt flush to the end of the nut before removal.
4.Remove the bolt and use a prybar to pull the leaf down out of the hanger, if it won't come down you will need to get your frame up a little higher with your jack/jackstand.
5.You want your hole's center about 1 1/4" above and maybe a 1/16" toward the (rear) axle of the approx. center of the stock hole.
6.NOW THE FUN PART. There is a lot of room for error, but make sure you drill straight across once you break through the outside of the hanger to drill the inside. This is the trickiest part. Keep checking to make sure you are where you want to be. Definitely punch your spot with a centerpunch or make a pilot hole because that big bit will want to wander around a lot. I wasn't smart enough to use my dremel to make a pilot hole on the inside hanger holes when I did mine, hopefully you'll do better.
7.Now slowly lower your truck down with the jack. If your hole is true, the leaf should seat in right in line with your hole.
8.The bolt will go back in the opposite direction as it was (with the head side facing out) as there is no hole to put it through the frame now.
Well that's about it, if all goes well using a drill to cut the hole and a dremel to cut the bolts; it should take about 45 minutes a side. A whole lot faster and cheaper than lowering hangers!! You will have a noticeable drop that will level the truck off nicely. I'll check back and try to answer any questions as best as I can, I know it is difficult to follow without pictures. I'm not sure if you can do this on other years and bodystyles or not but I'm sure that it is possible and the hole placement may vary slighty.
Now the only cost that may incur here for you is the drill bit. A quality 3/4" drill bit cost me about $20, provided of course that you already own a heavy duty 1/2" drill. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU MAKE SURE YOUR DRILL WITH THE BIT INSTALLED WILL HAVE ENOUGH CLEARANCE INSIDE YOUR QUARTER PANEL WHEN IN POSITION TO DRILL THE HANGER. My truck is a sportside so the quarter is made out of plastic, which gave us some flexibility with this issue once the fender supports were unbolted. Another possibility is to use a die grinder or a dremel with a grindstone to make your hole. It will take a while, but drilling a giant 3/4" hole into metal with a drill is no picnic either.
1.The first thing that you'll want to do is get a jack stand under your frame supporting a good amount of the truck's weight.
2.Remove the the nut on the bolt that connects the leaf.
3.You will need to cut some of the end of the bolt off because it will not clear the frame in the new position. On the driver's side you will need to cut off about an 1/8" less than the threads that will fit into the nut when fully torqued on the truck. You need to cut this one a little short because it will not clear the gas tank otherwise when you try to pull it out the other side of the frame. If you don't like not being able to use all of the threads, get another bolt from the dealer or remove the gas tank. On the passenger side, just cut the bolt flush to the end of the nut before removal.
4.Remove the bolt and use a prybar to pull the leaf down out of the hanger, if it won't come down you will need to get your frame up a little higher with your jack/jackstand.
5.You want your hole's center about 1 1/4" above and maybe a 1/16" toward the (rear) axle of the approx. center of the stock hole.
6.NOW THE FUN PART. There is a lot of room for error, but make sure you drill straight across once you break through the outside of the hanger to drill the inside. This is the trickiest part. Keep checking to make sure you are where you want to be. Definitely punch your spot with a centerpunch or make a pilot hole because that big bit will want to wander around a lot. I wasn't smart enough to use my dremel to make a pilot hole on the inside hanger holes when I did mine, hopefully you'll do better.
7.Now slowly lower your truck down with the jack. If your hole is true, the leaf should seat in right in line with your hole.
8.The bolt will go back in the opposite direction as it was (with the head side facing out) as there is no hole to put it through the frame now.
Well that's about it, if all goes well using a drill to cut the hole and a dremel to cut the bolts; it should take about 45 minutes a side. A whole lot faster and cheaper than lowering hangers!! You will have a noticeable drop that will level the truck off nicely. I'll check back and try to answer any questions as best as I can, I know it is difficult to follow without pictures. I'm not sure if you can do this on other years and bodystyles or not but I'm sure that it is possible and the hole placement may vary slighty.