shackles or hangers? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

AirMale · 02-03-2003, 04:02 PM

I need advice with lowering my 86 chevy rear to 6 inches. I'm curently running western's 4 inch drop leafs. Is there an advantage between the shackle or hanger with regards to pinion angle? Has anyone had any trouble with either? Thanx in advance!

*Zilverado* · 02-03-2003, 04:56 PM

Hey Airmale,

My advice - RAISE the truck 6".

Just kidding of course. I had a similar pinion angle concern when I I did a suspension swap to raise my rearend. It turned out that the lift made the angle almost disappear. U-joint, hardly has to work at all now.

As for your question, sorry, I have no input, but there are tons of slammed trucks on this site, and I'm sure you'll get plenty of "useful" information.

bigblock73 · 02-03-2003, 05:07 PM

The shackles would be cheaper and easier to do. If you go the shackle route you will need to notch your bed supports to clear them...this will be easier to do with the bed off.

If you go the hanger route, you need to remove your existing ones...and they are riveted to the frame. You can either grind them, torch them, or chisel them...having the bed off for this would make it easirt as well.

If it were me...shackles all the way.

Hope this helps a little.

-Jeff

AirMale · 02-03-2003, 05:45 PM

ok--->with all that understood between price and ease of install, who has some experience with this? I am leaning towards hangers just so I don't have to notch the bed. Keep it coming

c10scotty · 02-03-2003, 05:51 PM

when i lowered mine, i didnt like the idea of cutting the bed supports so if you dont wanna do that then go with the hangers, but shackles are a little easier and cheaper. as for pinion angle, i cant help ya.

bigblock73 · 02-03-2003, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AirMale
who has some experience with this?

ummm, my reply WAS based on my experience...I have a 4" drop out back using the shackle/hanger combo from Bell Tech. I have done BOTH.

notching the bed supports does not affect the bed and its struc integrity at all...unless you are hauling 2000 pounds of brick in the bed or something like that.

your welcome - Jeff

**swervin ervin** · 02-03-2003, 06:00 PM

I have Western Chassis 4" dropped leafs and shackles. Just to let you know, this will not drop it 6". Mine is dropped 5.25" to be exact. Adding shackles will only drop it another 1.25" even though they call them 2" or 2.5" shackles.

PHOENIX · 02-03-2003, 06:18 PM

Yeah these drop companies need to get their act together. They always say 2" or 3.5" and its wrong most of the time. My brother has a 2002 Chevy truck with an Escalade front clip on it. When he lowered it, it was waaaay lower then advertised. He got his money back, researched some more, and bought the right kit. The "right" kit was also mis-advertised, but he knew that from someone elses expierence, he ended up with what he wanted.

**swervin ervin** · 02-03-2003, 06:33 PM

Well in a way, they are advertising it right. If you compare stock shackles with the 2" or 2.5", they are this amount longer. So, it does move the rear spring eye 2" or 2.5". But, this won't drop the truck this amount. It only moves it half of it. You would need to move the front 1" and the rear 1" in order to drop it a full 2". I like to call it the seawaw effect.

This I know from experience. I had stock shackles with the 4" drop leafs. Measured it but can't remember what it was. Added the shackles and it lowered it exactly another 1.25", for a total of 5.25".

AirMale · 02-03-2003, 07:12 PM

Swervin........was there any trouble with the pinion angle with your current rear drop?

**swervin ervin** · 02-03-2003, 08:49 PM

No.

Oh, and I see your sig says your 383 has 450 HP. Did you have it dynoed and what is your combination of parts?

AirMale · 02-03-2003, 11:16 PM

The engine set-up is from a crate motor company in north Jersey so I decided to give the drop in 383/450hp a try. They don't dyno every engine but follow the build specs of the ones they do. The engines are totally complete and hot run, broke in and timing set. They send you a video of the hot run before you take delivery (it's awesome!). I have yet to get the power to the pavement so more horsepower would only be futile. Check it out
www.enginefactory.com
for all the engine specs check the site, they have so many combinations and options for any budget!

Izzy · 02-04-2003, 03:35 PM

If you plan on doing it on your own I'd suggest against the hangers unless you have access to a torch or grinder.

AirMale · 02-04-2003, 04:11 PM

I have torches, air and a lift. I just wanted to know what side of the leaf to raise. I sounds like it really doesn't matter, just whatever I prefer. I'm trying to get an idea of what the driveline would look like with each choice. I want to retain a negative angle on the pumpkin so when I'm on the throtle it's paralel with the trans yoke.

Izzy · 02-04-2003, 05:54 PM

Shackles will give a better angle seperately. Hangers will sometimes put the nose of the driveshaft too far in the tranny.

02-03-2003, 04:02 PM	#1
AirMale Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Atlantic City, NJ Posts: 1,073	shackles or hangers? I need advice with lowering my 86 chevy rear to 6 inches. I'm curently running western's 4 inch drop leafs. Is there an advantage between the shackle or hanger with regards to pinion angle? Has anyone had any trouble with either? Thanx in advance! __________________ 86 SWB 9.0 LITER T-400-OD 4.11 eaton-4/5 drop Best 1/4 12.51 @112mph no traction

02-03-2003, 05:45 PM	#4
AirMale Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Atlantic City, NJ Posts: 1,073	ok--->with all that understood between price and ease of install, who has some experience with this? I am leaning towards hangers just so I don't have to notch the bed. Keep it coming __________________ 86 SWB 9.0 LITER T-400-OD 4.11 eaton-4/5 drop Best 1/4 12.51 @112mph no traction

02-03-2003, 05:51 PM	#5
c10scotty ~THE SILVER BULLET~ Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: WYOMING Posts: 285	when i lowered mine, i didnt like the idea of cutting the bed supports so if you dont wanna do that then go with the hangers, but shackles are a little easier and cheaper. as for pinion angle, i cant help ya. __________________ ~1980 c10 chevy scottsdale~ ~2.5/4 drop 305/th350c~

02-03-2003, 06:00 PM	#7
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	I have Western Chassis 4" dropped leafs and shackles. Just to let you know, this will not drop it 6". Mine is dropped 5.25" to be exact. Adding shackles will only drop it another 1.25" even though they call them 2" or 2.5" shackles. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

02-03-2003, 06:18 PM	#8
PHOENIX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 4,703	Yeah these drop companies need to get their act together. They always say 2" or 3.5" and its wrong most of the time. My brother has a 2002 Chevy truck with an Escalade front clip on it. When he lowered it, it was waaaay lower then advertised. He got his money back, researched some more, and bought the right kit. The "right" kit was also mis-advertised, but he knew that from someone elses expierence, he ended up with what he wanted. __________________ * AVOID: LOPER'S PERMORANCE / LOPERSPEED.COM OF PHOENIX, AZ & COTTMAN TRANSMISSION *

02-03-2003, 04:56 PM	#2
Zilverado Account Suspended Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 798	Hey Airmale, My advice - RAISE the truck 6". Just kidding of course. I had a similar pinion angle concern when I I did a suspension swap to raise my rearend. It turned out that the lift made the angle almost disappear. U-joint, hardly has to work at all now. As for your question, sorry, I have no input, but there are tons of slammed trucks on this site, and I'm sure you'll get plenty of "useful" information.

02-03-2003, 05:07 PM	#3
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,824	The shackles would be cheaper and easier to do. If you go the shackle route you will need to notch your bed supports to clear them...this will be easier to do with the bed off. If you go the hanger route, you need to remove your existing ones...and they are riveted to the frame. You can either grind them, torch them, or chisel them...having the bed off for this would make it easirt as well. If it were me...shackles all the way. Hope this helps a little. -Jeff

02-03-2003, 06:33 PM	#9
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Well in a way, they are advertising it right. If you compare stock shackles with the 2" or 2.5", they are this amount longer. So, it does move the rear spring eye 2" or 2.5". But, this won't drop the truck this amount. It only moves it half of it. You would need to move the front 1" and the rear 1" in order to drop it a full 2". I like to call it the seawaw effect. This I know from experience. I had stock shackles with the 4" drop leafs. Measured it but can't remember what it was. Added the shackles and it lowered it exactly another 1.25", for a total of 5.25".

02-03-2003, 07:12 PM	#10
AirMale Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Atlantic City, NJ Posts: 1,073	Swervin........was there any trouble with the pinion angle with your current rear drop? __________________ 86 SWB 9.0 LITER T-400-OD 4.11 eaton-4/5 drop Best 1/4 12.51 @112mph no traction

02-03-2003, 08:49 PM	#11
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	No. Oh, and I see your sig says your 383 has 450 HP. Did you have it dynoed and what is your combination of parts? Last edited by swervin ervin; 02-03-2003 at 08:51 PM.

02-03-2003, 11:16 PM	#12
AirMale Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Atlantic City, NJ Posts: 1,073	The engine set-up is from a crate motor company in north Jersey so I decided to give the drop in 383/450hp a try. They don't dyno every engine but follow the build specs of the ones they do. The engines are totally complete and hot run, broke in and timing set. They send you a video of the hot run before you take delivery (it's awesome!). I have yet to get the power to the pavement so more horsepower would only be futile. Check it out www.enginefactory.com for all the engine specs check the site, they have so many combinations and options for any budget! __________________ 86 SWB 9.0 LITER T-400-OD 4.11 eaton-4/5 drop Best 1/4 12.51 @112mph no traction

02-04-2003, 03:35 PM	#13
Izzy Trucker. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,364	If you plan on doing it on your own I'd suggest against the hangers unless you have access to a torch or grinder.

02-04-2003, 04:11 PM	#14
AirMale Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Atlantic City, NJ Posts: 1,073	I have torches, air and a lift. I just wanted to know what side of the leaf to raise. I sounds like it really doesn't matter, just whatever I prefer. I'm trying to get an idea of what the driveline would look like with each choice. I want to retain a negative angle on the pumpkin so when I'm on the throtle it's paralel with the trans yoke. __________________ 86 SWB 9.0 LITER T-400-OD 4.11 eaton-4/5 drop Best 1/4 12.51 @112mph no traction

02-04-2003, 05:54 PM	#15
Izzy Trucker. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 1,364	Shackles will give a better angle seperately. Hangers will sometimes put the nose of the driveshaft too far in the tranny.

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