Lowering rear of 03

[poorloser]

Does anyone have info on lowering the rearend of a 03 1Ton approx 4"? It is 4" higher than my old 98 1Ton. That sucks! 99% of my driving is towing a 36 ft. fifthwheel.

[Steve Joneli]

I have a 94 1 ton dually. At first I lowered the truck 4" by using "Bell Tech" extended spring hangers and hanger relocater. I later decided I wanted more drop and went back to the stock spring location and then did a "Flip Kit" and Frame notch. I have the Bell Tech 4" parts that I bought and then removed and would be happy to part with them. I don't know if these would fit your truck. If not you can order the Bell Tech 4" drop kit to fit your truck from several different sources. The Bell Tech kits are very good quality, the best there is, but bear in mind if you do this it required removing the extra top "Helper leaf". For me this presented no problem.

[Jim Dandy]

I was faced with a similar problem when headed to Washington state in my 97 F350 to pick up my new fifth a couple of years ago. The dealer and I compared measurements and knew it wasn't going to work. I had him raise the trailer and thankfully when I got there it worked o.k.

Subsequently, when I got my HD I needed to raise the truck or drop the trailer slightly. I went with the B & W gooseneck hitch for the bed and got their taller ball. It gave me the inch I needed to sit level and provided extra distance between the bed rail and bottom of the overhang. I have about 9" now which comes in handy on the type of terrain I traverse. I use a Cody Coupler to adapt the trailer to the goose neck ball.

My trailer does sit up high but is still very stable and I feel better about towing into the spots we camp at.

The D/A sure beats a 97 460 F350 5spd for towing. Love this truck.

[poorloser]

Steve

Is it possible to remove the Helper Springs and replace them with Air Bags?

[chipper]

poorloser,
I had my springs re-arched to lower it 4" & wound up with the dreaded launch shudder,"BAD".I had to install firestone air bags to bring it back up to the origional height when towing my 32' 5th. I wouldn't recommend trying to lower the truck especially if you have the 2 piece driveline.

[chipper]

poorloser,
I had my springs re-arched to lower it 4" & wound up with the dreaded launch shudder,"BAD".I had to install firestone air bags to bring it back up to the origional height when towing my 32' 5th. I wouldn't recommend trying to lower the truck especially if you have the 2 piece driveline.

[poorloser]

Chipper

Thank You

[Kennedy]

Chipper,

Buy a protractor, and start checking angles. The front and rear joints should be at equal opposite numbers. The rear could even stand to be greater as the "axle wrap" will decrease this angle.

Caster shims under the springs will allow adjustment. I'd bet you need 3-4

[Steve Joneli]

I had my truck lowered by "Charlie's drop Shop" in Portland Oregon. They are reputated to be one of the best on the West Coast. Part of the installation was shims and wedges at the tranny tail mount, the center driveline carrier bearing and the rear end angle, all designed to keep correct driveline geometery. The truck drives as smooth as a Cadilac, no vibration at all. Yes they do offer air bags as an option to correct for the removed helper springs. I also installed an "On Board" compressor so I can adjust the load capity or the ride height while driving down the road. I am very pleased with the end result. See pictures.

[poorloser]

Thanks for the reply John

I just went down to the shop and did some looking at the truck (26 miles on the odometer). From what I can see I think I can raise the Helper Spring stops up 3" and remove the 3/4" spacer between the regular springs and the helpers. Then all I should hav to do is put on shorter shocks. Any sugestions on what or who would make the shorter shocks? What about air shocks?

[DonG]

Anyone?

I am a whole lot confused by this discussion of the drive line angle changes. If I needed to lower my 3500 box couldn't I get a different length spring hanger from Summit racing and install that. A lot of people on this site have done this on their 2500HD without a problem. You may not get 4" but an inch or two should be "doable". How does changing the box height in the rear affect drive line angles? What am I missing???

Don

[Merconvert]

Hi Guys, I have a 01 3500 C C Long Bed.
I had the same problem,rail to close to underside of 5th wheel. Chevy Dealer orderd longer shackles,for me. Gave 2" more drop?? everything else is stock. 27,000 miles,going strong,for 70,ha ha.

[Steve Joneli]

Don, If you install longer shackles to drop your rear end 2" this will change the angle of your driveline to the rear end from the carrier bearing back. So theoretically you need to raise the carrier bearing 1". Now you just changed the angle from the tranny to the carrier bearing and now need to raise the tranny tail 1/2". I do not know how critical this all is but if you order a Bell Tech Kit, they feel it is critical enough to include the nessacary shims to do this.

[DonG]

Thanks for the reply, Steve, but I need a little more help grasping this idea.

The drive shaft connects to the rear axle, the rear axle's position and height is governed by the size of the wheels and tires.
How will changing the box height change the height of the rear axle, or effect the drive line angle???
Does changing the rear leaf position add some torque to the axle? and that affects the angle?
Maybe this is beyond me...

Thanks, Don

[Steve Joneli]

Don, when you install longer spring shackles you drop the rear axel closer to the frame, which lowers the frame and box, or ride hight of the truck in relationship to the ground. This has nothing to do with the tires. Since you are re locating the axel in relationship to the frame this also changes the angle of the drive line since it's also attached to the frame. The axle centerline stays the same distance from the ground as you haven't changed tire size. But the axle centerline gets closer to the frame and box since you dropped the axle in relationship to the frame. Hope this helps.

[ 12-09-2002: Message edited by: Steve Joneli ]

[ 12-09-2002: Message edited by: Steve Joneli ]</p>

[poorloser]

Steve
What all does the Bell Tech kit include? this drive shaft angle issue is not "rocket science"
any one with a protracter can make the adjustments and shims necessary. What do you want for that Bell Tech kit? Will it fit late model trucks?

[DonG]

Steve,
I agree you are lowering the frame to the axle and the distance between the two will get 2 inches less. The drive line is attached to the frame at the transmission and carrier bearing, so I guess this is where the angles start to change. The light bulb is coming on.

I would also like to know how to contact Bell Tech for their shackle and shins. Do you have a web address???

Many Thanks, Don

[Steve Joneli]

Don, No I don't have a web address as the shop that did the installation ordered it for me. But Stylin Concepts sells Bell tech products.

To Poorlooser, The 4" kit I origionally used came with 2 new hangers for the forward end of the leaf springs, 2 new extended shackles, 2 new rubber bumpers, and shims and spacers. I believe mine has been sold but if not I will re post it.

[Kennedy]

Simply put, the angle change from front input to main shaft must be cancelled by the pinion joint. A 2 pc shaft can complicate this a bit as well.

On mine IIRC, the front section of the shaft was at approx -1

[ZR1Hauler]

Prety sure Bell Tech does not make a flip kit for the '01 up HD/3500 trucks.

DJM makes a kit specified for the 3500 & 1500 HD 2wd. A flip kit will drop your truck about 8" in the rear!

I used the 3500 kit on my 2500HD, but with a _lot_ of problem solving.

Kennedy, I'm now using the 1pc driveshaft. To set my pinion angle correctly (i have a vibration), do I want my pinion to have a total difference of -1deg (pointed down)from the angle of the trans?

Or with the 1pc, is it closer to -.5?

TIA

[Kennedy]

ZR1,

You want to have equal angles at both ends. Here's how to do it:

Take all measurements with the truck flat on fairly level ground. Earth makes NO difference, but repeatability does. You should do this at empty height and loaded height to see how things vary.

Measure the angle of the output shaft. It will likely be 6

[poorloser]

I just lowered my 02 3500 2WD. I made the parts myself. The rear spring shackels were lengthened from 4 1/2 to 10 3/4 this is what it takes to lower the rear of the truck 4 inches 3 1/2 at the axle. The rear helper spring pad has to be relocated also. Then a tapered shim also has to be added to rotate the rear housing to correct drive shaft angle. Also am going to take the spacer between the regular spring stack and the helper spring stack and cut it down from 3/4 thick to 1/4 and taper it to give more clerance at the rear helper spring pad. as you see it isn't real simple.