Shackles and springs for 3/4 drop

bignick31985 · November 1, 2005

Looking to get a 3/4 drop in my 88 Silverado. I have heard that there are a such thing as 4 inch drop shackles. I havent seen them.

But I have used 3" drop coils before and they did not drop my truck 3 inches. I used 4cyl drop coils on my 4cyl S10 and they only dropped the truck .5 inches, and I measured it.

So has anyone used 3 inch drop coils and 4 inch drop shackles to drop their truck? And how is the ride after the 3/4 drop.

quick66ss · November 19, 2005

I just bought a 93 GMC 1500 with the 3 inch springs up front and 4 inch shackle kit in the rear. The truck sits pretty low in the front. The stock air dam is just a few inches off the ground. The part I do not like is the 2 inches of rake it has. I think I am going to replace the front coils with 2 inch springs or spindles next time it needs an alignment. I do not know how it rode before the drop but after feels ok. I do not like how bouncy the front end seems even with drop shocks installed. I have installed energy suspension sway bar kit and it does handle pretty good for a truck but it still seems bouncy in the front.

I think the previous owner used a DJM kit but I am not certain.

I can email you a pic if you want.

GroceryGetter99 · February 12, 2006

I just bought a 93 GMC 1500 with the 3 inch springs up front and 4 inch shackle kit in the rear. The truck sits pretty low in the front. The stock air dam is just a few inches off the ground. The part I do not like is the 2 inches of rake it has. I think I am going to replace the front coils with 2 inch springs or spindles next time it needs an alignment. I do not know how it rode before the drop but after feels ok. I do not like how bouncy the front end seems even with drop shocks installed. I have installed energy suspension sway bar kit and it does handle pretty good for a truck but it still seems bouncy in the front.
I think the previous owner used a DJM kit but I am not certain.

I can email you a pic if you want.

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I don't mean to butt in but I would like a pic, I am looking in lowering and I want to gauge the rake you are talking about. my email addy is [email protected]

bignick31985 · April 1, 2006

Whoa...this topic hasnt moved much since I last looked, lol.

I went ahead with a 4/6 drop. I knew if I went 3/4 I'd just want lower so I went ahead with it.

Used the DJM flip kit and notch on the rear and DJM 2 inch drop spindles and 2 inch drop coils up front. The flip gave me near 7 inches after notching it, but the front left some to be desired. I finally got the springs situated in both pockets, but I still only got 1" of drop out of them, so I chopped 1/2 of a rung (actually a little less) off. The stance is sweet, but there is still a little gap up front but I like it nonetheless.

airride05 · May 14, 2006

Just a suggestion when lowering a truck, i've done a few now. When you lower a truck in the rear with shackles and hangers you lose tons of travel, the leaf springs are 4 inches closer to the frame, and you sacrifice ride and load capacity. When you flip the rear diff. to the top of the springs, your clearance to the frame stays the same, keeping the stock ride and load capacity, and making it easier to lower further when you get the itch. If you go more then 4 inches(using a flip kit) i would highly recommend c-notching the frame, mini notches at least. also, make sure you adjust the pinion angle when going 4 inches, your u-joints will wear normally this way. Drop spindles in the front are also a great way to keep the stock ride. Just thought i'd throw that in there, save some headache down the road....

gmc1996 · May 14, 2006

I have never heard of a 4 inch drop shackle, but know that most shackles give the flexibility of a one or two inch drop. I have shackles on my truck in the two inch position and also the two inch hangers. Those together dropped the rear a full four inches. I measured before and after. As for the front, I wouldn't recommend anything more than a two inch drop spring because it's going to cause the spindle and wheel to be tilted in so far at the top, that you may lose all adjustment when you try to align it. I used a two inch drop spindle and a one inch spring to lower mine a total of three inches in the front. Something to remember though, if you use the drop spindles be prepared to do a lot of grinding on the lower control arms unless you are running a 17 inch or bigger wheel. The whole deal was not that bad of a project just takes time to make it right. Thanks

gmc1996 · May 14, 2006

I have never heard of a 4 inch drop shackle, but know that most shackles give the flexibility of a one or two inch drop. I have shackles on my truck in the two inch position and also the two inch hangers. Those together dropped the rear a full four inches. I measured before and after. As for the front, I wouldn't recommend anything more than a two inch drop spring because it's going to cause the spindle and wheel to be tilted in so far at the top, that you may lose all adjustment when you try to align it. I used a two inch drop spindle and a one inch spring to lower mine a total of three inches in the front. Something to remember though, if you use the drop spindles be prepared to do a lot of grinding on the lower control arms unless you are running a 17 inch or bigger wheel. The whole deal was not that bad of a project just takes time to make it right. Thanks