leaf springs

[j homick]

hi. i have a 89 gmc, shortbox-stepside. i lowered it 2/4 and of course it isnt low enough. is there any good reason i cant remove a leaf from my rear springs to lower it about another inch? thanks in advance, jim.

[454ss]

Don't do it.....the ride sucks and you get nothing but axle wrap....I've tried it and couldn't deal with the bouncy ride.

[76 stepside]

Put the factory hanger and shackles baack on and get a flip kit.:read:

[Physh1]

Doing that will require you going to a 4" front drop however:read:

Cameron

[76 stepside]

He did say he wasn't low enough!:crazy:

[SquareOne]

I have a 3"/4" drop on mine and I'm not very fond of the "rake" look it took on (I know, I should've gone 4"/6"). Recently I've decided that I need to go with 20s (for the chicks of course), I already have an idea of how the set-up would look. A friend of mine has 20s and a 3"/4" drop on his '96 Suburban. He's running 295/45R20s all the way around. At least I'm pretty sure they are. I really like the way the wheel wells sit over the front tires but not the rear. So I was wondering about how to lower just the rear another 1"-1.5"? Aren't there leafspring set ups that lower the rear without compromising ride quality? Has anybody delt with these? Are they worth it?

[76 stepside]

They make 4" leaf springs, put your factory hangers back on and set your shackes to 1".:read:

I hear they ride good, also heard that you lose a little payload. Never rode in a truck with lowered leafs.

[46and2aheadofme]

Originally posted by 76 stepside
and set your shackes to 1"



...meaning aftermarket shackles, right? everybody point at me i'm a noob :idiot:

[454ss]

Originally posted by 46and2aheadofme
...meaning aftermarket shackles, right? everybody point at me i'm a noob :idiot: Yes..lowering shackles.....we won't laugh......not to your face at least:D

[dc96819]

I removed my overload spring and added traction bars.

[Physh1]

Originally posted by 76 stepside
He did say he wasn't low enough!:crazy: Oh yeah...I know...that was more pointed toward him....reverse rakes are goofy looking:crazy:

Cameron

[76 stepside]

Yeah reverse rakes do look funny!:idiot:

[jmproductions]

Originally posted by SquareOne
I have a 3"/4" drop on mine and I'm not very fond of the "rake" look it took on (I know, I should've gone 4"/6"). Recently I've decided that I need to go with 20s (for the chicks of course), I already have an idea of how the set-up would look. A friend of mine has 20s and a 3"/4" drop on his '96 Suburban. He's running 295/45R20s all the way around. At least I'm pretty sure they are. I really like the way the wheel wells sit over the front tires but not the rear. So I was wondering about how to lower just the rear another 1"-1.5"? Aren't there leafspring set ups that lower the rear without compromising ride quality? Has anybody delt with these? Are they worth it?

Clamping your rear leaf springs together about 8 inches in front of your axle will lower you about a half an inch. However this will stiffen your suspension somewhat. The upside is that it will reduce wheelhop. I posted an article on here called "Free 1/2"-5/8" Rear Drop for Shortbed NBS" which may apply to your truck as well. You'll just have to look under there and see if it's feasible. The combination of these two mods should give at least an 1" additional drop.