I'm currently leveled. Truck is not at all smooth. I put fresh Bilstein 5100's in about 6 months/10k miles ago. Also put in Cognito UCA's and other steering parts at the same time.
I'm thinking of pulling the UCA's and going back to stock, turning the keys all the way down and putting some Belltech 3" shackles in the rear. Partially for looks, but if it is possible to improve the ride quality that would be great. Also, lifting things in and out of the bed would be easier if the truck were lower to the ground. Who knows, maybe I could even put it in my garage some day if it were a bit shorter.
I thought about pulling the overload springs, but I do pull a heavy gooseneck trailer a couple times a year, a car hauler a couple times a month and frequently load the bed with heavy goods. I've got Firestone bags that came on the truck, but I think the pump is shot. I've never tried to use them.
So realistically, is lowering the truck going to make me happy all the way around? Or too many compromises?
What sort of angle are your CV's at? I know the PO for my truck had them cranked way up and after I set them level, it rode a lot nicer. I expect that was done to clear the 325 Coopers that were on it.
From what I've read on here, the Sulastic shackles may be a good fit for you. Brings the back down and gives a better ride when the truck isn't loaded.
I don't think you're compromising anything if you're happier with the ride and it's easier to use.
See sig. I left the lift in (including UCA's) and dropped it down to 4" (as opposed to 5.5") and my ride quality went back to factory... Not sure about the suspension diff between 06 and 15, but if the question is "in general" then hell yes. Dropping it back down from level to factory torq on the keys and 1.5" rake made all the diff for me.
I leveled my 2015 by leaving the front at factory height and lowering the rear by installing McGaughey's drop shackles set at 1" (actually lowered 1 1/4") and removing overloads (don't tow/haul anything). Much improved ride and stance.
I would recommend installing 3" drop shackles and leave overloads in since you tow/haul, then de-crank front to level accordingly. You will improve the ride and still have a leveled truck.
Part of my reason for wanting to lower it is to make it look less goofy with smaller tires. I've had 315s on there since I got it, and of course they were too large. I snagged a set of wheels and tires pretty cheap, but the tires on there are only 265s. I don't mind the look of the tires and wheels, but the giant gap in between the fenders and the rubber looks odd to me. I found another member's truck that I'm basically stealing the idea from http://www.duramaxforum.com/forum/exterior/262881-stanced-trucks-13.html#post5876017
My CV angles are positive, but not terrible. I'd venture a guess and say around 5-10 degrees.
I'd love to put a 6" lift and run it as low as I can with a new set of wheels and tires, but the cost is prohibitive. Lowering it, I could probably sell the UCAs, buy new factory uppers, shackles, then get it aligned and put $50 in my pocket.
I think I'll probably order the UCAs and shackles this next week. Gives me some time to research best bang for the buck. I'll update the thread for sure when I actually get it done. Hopefully next week. Maybe the following. I've got a relatively large job next week, and I need to replace my entire A/C system. We are hitting our humid and hot season, so I'm miserable with that not running 100%. Gotta get that done first.
I took a look at the Sulastic shackles mentioned by @diggetydawg and they look pretty nice. Just a shame they are so costly.
When I bought this truck a few months back, I figured I'd buy the best of whatever I could afford when I'd replace something. Now, I'm looking to go a more reasonable route that costs a little less. High mileage truck is giving me hell every corner I turn, so the best of the best is beginning to make less and less sense.
I did the 3" drop shackles and turned the front all the way down along with belltech street performance shocks and the ride and handling of the truck is amazing.
Occasionally I haul a 14 foot boat or my dads 67 camaro...when on level ground I'm about .25"-.5" higher in the back when I'm empty. with a decent load you'll need to trim the rear bump stops a bit. I have about an inch and a half of clearance to my axle.
I've had my truck from anywhere to 7" of lift down to level and basically anywhere in between with two different lift kits.
I've found that the truck rides smoother when not resting on the front jounce stops. So, just my .02 when lowering.
I've never towed heavier than 5k bumper, but one thought might be removing the overload spring, putting in a Deaver mini pack, and then using lowering shackles. The Deaver mini pack will lift the rear 1.25"
Also, what would you be asking for $$ on the UCAs?
I prefer SuperSprings to air bags as they never need to be adjusted and there is nothing to fail. The Sulastics have only a 2-year warranty and when I found that out I never looked at them again as an option.
Two things helped my ride. One was going to Rancho adjustable shocks. I turn them up to their highest setting with a heavy load and the rest of the time they are at 5 or 6. The second thing that helped a great deal and was not expected is adding a Hellwig Big Wig anti-sway bar at the rear axle. Anti-sway bars transfer road shock from one wheel to the opposite wheel and with a car that is often not good but with the light rear of a pickup truck it made a big difference in handling and ride on rough roads and in turns where there are bumps for one wheel. A lot less hopping of the rear of the truck with the Big Wig installed.
I did 3" drop shackles and lowered the front right down. Front rides rough as hell, if you lower your front to match up to the rear, you may want to look into some different lca's. That's my next step as well.
After lowering front, bump stop is squashed on lca's, this leave no real room for upward movement. Avoid this if possible
Thats how my truck is. 3" shackles in the rear and keys turned down a bit in the front. I couldnt turn them down too much becasue Im running H2 wheels with 285/70/17s on there so theyre a little tall and rubbed when lowered any more in the front. I went to this setup from cranked up keys and the same size tires on factory PYOs. The front rides way better, and the rear does slightly. Youre really not changing anything in the rear on how its going to ride because of the leaf springs. I think if you wanted a softer ride in the rear youd have to remove the over load springs but since you tow I wouldnt worry about it too much. I keep a aux tank in the bed of my truck so even if Im not towing anything theres the weight of 100+ gallons of fuel in the bed most of the time so that takes some of the harshness out of it. Im not sure why everyone is saying to keep the front off of the "bump stops". These trucks come from the factory riding on the jounces, theyre part of the system, not a bump stop like the rear has. What WILL help the front is to upgrade to the newer style jounces. Theyre triangle shaped instead of curved and are supposed to work much better than the rounded ones. My truck rides great with them and the arms sit just barely touching them. Cant compare them to the stockers much in personal experience because when I rebuilt my front end the stock ones were almost non existent @ 250K miles.
Anyone know if 2 inch drop shackles off a half ton will work on a three quarter ton? I bought them off a guy that lives near me, just want to make sure they'll work. They look the same thinkless and what not
Good thread. I too have been thinking about how to shrink the gap between my 265s and wheel well. I'm slightly cranked in the front -- just to the point where the newer poly jounce stops just touch the LCA. Still have probably 20k left on my tires, so trying to think of a game plan when the time comes to get new tires. New tires, maybe new wheels but of course which size. I don't think I want to go to 285s given what I've read -- bigger tires are harder on brakes and wheel bearings -- but I sure like the look of 285s.
Have considered lowering but am reluctant to go that route, as I tow a travel trailer and want to maintain ground clearances for hunting purposes.
Well I'm finally getting around to doing it. Got the new UCA's on today and started on the rear. Unfortunately, the spring bolts were a bear so I've decided to soak them until tomorrow and try again. If they don't come off easy, I'll cut them off. I think I probably need to replace them anyway since they are pretty corroded where I need to take up thread after pulling out the spacer.
Still up in the air about pulling the overloads. I rarely ever load my truck heavy, but just two weeks ago had to pull a gooseneck that weighed about 15k loaded for about 100 miles. That may happen 2 or 3 times a year though. What do you guys think? I'm leaning towards leaving them on there, but I'm really tempted to have a nicer ride for the 95% daily driving I do.
Well I'm finally getting around to doing it. Got the new UCA's on today and started on the rear. Unfortunately, the spring bolts were a bear so I've decided to soak them until tomorrow and try again. If they don't come off easy, I'll cut them off. I think I probably need to replace them anyway since they are pretty corroded where I need to take up thread after pulling out the spacer.
Still up in the air about pulling the overloads. I rarely ever load my truck heavy, but just two weeks ago had to pull a gooseneck that weighed about 15k loaded for about 100 miles. That may happen 2 or 3 times a year though. What do you guys think? I'm leaning towards leaving them on there, but I'm really tempted to have a nicer ride for the 95% daily driving I do.
Yeah I'm gonna leave them in there. Actually I may be leaving it stock and not installing the shackles. I've got everything ripped apart and I cannot for the life of me get the top bolt out of the leaf. Seized in there. I can't find reasonably priced bushings locally, and haven't found much online that won't keep me out of commission for another week.
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