Frontend Push with 2" Shackle

Slick · June 11, 2004

Has anyone experienced the frontend of their trucks pushing (understeer) through corners after dropping the rear 2"? My truck steering seems looser. Is a alignment needed for such a small change of ball joint angle? THX

droppedgmc · June 11, 2004

rear shackels should not effect the alignment, however, it sounds like it might need one. sound like either the toe is out or the tire presure is low. i'd start with that

Hecktorx · June 11, 2004

Rear shackles will effect the castor in the front end. I wouldn't think droping the back end 2" would effect it that much though, but it is possible. Some people notice small changes more the others. It wouldn't hurt to have it aligned.

The only thing is, by dropping the backend, you should have added positive caster. What your describing sounds like negative caster.

On a side note, longer shackles will allow more side to side movement in the rear axle. This could be what your feeling as well.

Slick · June 11, 2004

I had a tie rod end replaced and a 4 wheel alignment a couple of months ago before the shackles were installed. It could partially be the tires, General Ameri-tracs are garbage.

fmjcafe · June 24, 2004

I second the motion on the Generals. I couldn`t wait to get those things off my truck!

03Bowtie · June 28, 2004

Slick, what kind of shackles did you use? If you're getting lateral movement from the shackles, something is definitely wrong and needs to be addressed ASAP. Dropping the rear 2" should not affect handling at all. Nor should it have any effect on the camber of the front end.

Slick · June 29, 2004

So here is the latest on my truck. I have AIM Industries shackles. They have rubber bushings and I had to make properly sized steel sleeves. I would buy Bell Tech next time. Anyways, I lowered the truck 1" the first time around and that was when it felt funny to me. Last weekend, I lowered it the full 2" and added a Helwig swaybar. It seems to be much better now. I will see what happens once it rains.

03Bowtie · June 30, 2004

So here is the latest on my truck. I have AIM Industries shackles. They have rubber bushings and I had to make properly sized steel sleeves. I would buy Bell Tech next time. Anyways, I lowered the truck 1" the first time around and that was when it felt funny to me. Last weekend, I lowered it the full 2" and added a Helwig swaybar. It seems to be much better now. I will see what happens once it rains.

oh dear God, all you had to say was you bought AIM shackles....... JUNK!!!!! Take them back and get your money back. I haven't heard 1 good thing about that company.

Why did you have to make the steel sleeves that go inside the bushings??? The shackle kit didn't come with sleeves???? My Ground Force kit had the shackles, bushings, and sleeves all for $50.00 at Pep Boys.

Slick · June 30, 2004

Yeah, I realize that the AIM shackles are garbage. They came with steel bushings, but they were way too small and the rubber was getting crushed once tightened, hence me making new bushings that fit properly into the hangers. I will probably end up swapping them out for Bell Tech or DJM units with polyurethane bushings at some point. Lesson learned........you get what you pay for!