Do I need a 1" drop shackle with 4/6 drop?

[rs74]

I am putting on a 4/6 Western Chassis drop on my 85 short bed. I am using 2.5 drop spindles and 1.5 springs up front and their flip kit in the rear. I am in the process of replacing all the bushings in the leaf springs and shackles. I can not find a rubber replacement for the shackle. I don't want to spend the money for new shackles if I am going to need drop shackles.

I just don't know for those of you that have this drop if I will need the drop shackles to level the truck out. I am not sure how much rake it would have if I just put regular shackles back on it. I have already bought the bushings and didn't fit the shackle and now I am looking at buying stock replacement shackles only to see if I will need to buy drop shackles. Kind of like spending the money three times here for the same thing. What is you experiences with this drop and if or not you need or needed the drop shackles to level it out. If I don't get the drop shackle will it look that much different and stupid?

[silvereagle07]

For the rear its easier to install a flip kit in the rear of the truck. I have 2.5 spindles and one coil off the front. Installed a flip in the rear. I added the rear shackle to my truck. But its really low. Here's the only pic I have at work. Avatar. Oh btw, to use the rear shackles with a flip kit, you will need to notch the crossbraces under the bed for clearance.

[rs74]

Originally Posted by silvereagle07

For the rear its easier to install a flip kit in the rear of the truck. I have 2.5 spindles and one coil off the front. Installed a flip in the rear. I added the rear shackle to my truck. But its really low. Here's the only pic I have at work. Avatar. Oh btw, to use the rear shackles with a flip kit, you will need to notch the crossbraces under the bed for clearance.

Are talking having to notch with stock shackles or drop shackles? Do you have any pics of the notching. I have the bed off now so if there are any measurements I could get that knocked out and out of the way.

[silvereagle07]

Originally Posted by rs74

I like the stance and color of this truck. Do you know what color your friend went with? The rake doesn't look too bad to me. With cutting a coil up front how much overall drop did it give you. I may just buy new stock shackles and go with that.

It's a factory color of a fox body mustang. We saw it at the dealer we work for. The code is either ke or yz I think. I was painting a similar year f150 at the time he brought me the code.

Originally Posted by rs74

Do you know what the back spacing those rims have and what the tire sizes were. I am ordering those same rims and thinking about 5" bs in the rearon a 10" rim with a 295/50/15 and 4"bs on an 8" rim with probably a 255/60/15 up front.

It's been several years back and the truck is now sold but I think the front was a 4.5 inch backspacing and the rear was a 5 inch backspacing. He got them from a local wheel dealer in Greensboro NC at a really good deal. The tires were 275/50/15 front and 295/50/15 rear.

Originally Posted by rs74

Are talking having to notch with stock shackles or drop shackles? Do you have any pics of the notching. I have the bed off now so if there are any measurements I could get that knocked out and out of the way.

The notch was on my truck (red/white). I used the flip kit and drop shackle kit. I also removed the bottom out spring (flat) from the pack. My truck is really low and it sits level. I dont have the measurements. I did it when I installed the kit on a lift. I marked it and cut it with an air saw. Prepped and sealed it . It was basically the width of the shackle and spring assembly wide . Just measure from the frame outward to make the first mark and then the width of the assembly. I gave it a half inch on both sides for more room. Sorry I don't have the measurements.

[silvereagle07]

I just saw your pm about the other blue truck. It has the same kit up front as mine but we only did a flip kit in the rear of the truck.

[rs74]

Originally Posted by silvereagle07

I just saw your pm about the other blue truck. It has the same kit up front as mine but we only did a flip kit in the rear of the truck.

I like the stance and color of this truck. Do you know what color your friend went with? The rake doesn't look too bad to me. With cutting a coil up front how much overall drop did it give you. I may just buy new stock shackles and go with that.

[rs74]

Do you know what the back spacing those rims have and what the tire sizes were. I am ordering those same rims and thinking about 5" bs in the rearon a 10" rim with a 295/50/15 and 4"bs on an 8" rim with probably a 255/60/15 up front.

[Skunksmash]

Originally Posted by silvereagle07

I just saw your pm about the other blue truck. It has the same kit up front as mine but we only did a flip kit in the rear of the truck.

Hey! That's my truck in the background! Got the same bad roof and the same faded trim! lol

[silvereagle07]

Originally Posted by Skunksmash

Hey! That's my truck in the background! Got the same bad roof and the same faded trim! lol

Yeah the paint baked off this truck years ago. It belonged to a local old farmer before I bought it. It has surface rust all over it where it sat beside sandy fields all of its life. Some of the rust is my doing. Sanded and welded up trim holes and roof seem. Then I lost interest and it sat outside the shop for a few years. I will get back to it really soon after I finish my custom hood and paint on the TBSS.