so i had to chop about 1/2" off each side of my trailer hitch middle mount tube and re-cap it . this combo cleared the home brew flip brackets but NOT the stock gm brackets .
then i got it back to as close to stock i could with parts on hand . i had some 5" shackles i used in the rear that is 1" longer than stock @ 4" so the back is down 1/2" from stock . then the extra leaf up front in the stock style springs made it a tad nose high . so to help fix this i already had these out knowing i might use them . i had some cut off rear spring overloads that were 3/4" thick i used like a zero rate to the spring pack with a longer center pin . this got me right were it needed to be .
the rear will come up a 1/2 to 3/4 inch when i pull the ballast weight from the bed for plowing snow . its around 450 lbs back there .
i got shocks on the rear but i need to redo the mounts positions later . i need to get more compression travel . i am at 3" now so hardly any .
overall i am happy with the outcome . its lower by the numbers . even tho the totals dont sound like much i feel it already in the in/out of the truck and how it rides . its firmer in the front but still soft with the tappered leaf front design . the rear will be better when i dial in the timbren bump stops . there just kissing now on road bumps and it feels kind of weird .
front wheel arch dropped - 3/4"
rear wheel arch dropped - 2"
tool box top dropped - 1.5"
trailer hitch tube bottom dropped - 2.5"
new springs on the scale were 58lbs each
old ? brand lift springs were 42lbs each .
i am also going to round up some stock shackles for the rear . this will help height look / ride quality / shock length problem / bump stop setting position .
