so i finally got around to pulling the leaf spring and notching the frame and cross member. but for some reason, it dont look like it even dropped. me and my buddy jumped on the back and axle didnt even get close to hitting frame. it has us both puzzled. i know we did it right as this wasnt our 1st rodeo. he has had 4 bagged trucks he built himself and i have had a dozen static dropped mazdas and toyotas. everyone of those has hit the frame after pulling leaf. on a good note, at least its notched, ready for future plans!
two things. first, how many leafs are in the pack and is there a stock overload on it? second... and this is important... jack the rear up, let the axle drop with the jack stands on the frame. loosen the nuts on the rear shackles, well enough where there is no pressure on the bushings. do the same fr the front leaf spring bolt. get the truck back on the ground with the weight of the truck now on the loosened up bushings and tighten up both the shackle bolts and the spring hanger bolts. this will take the bind off the bushings of where they used to sitt and "should" drop the truck in the rear some.
i started out with 3 leafs. now i have the main and overload. i have never heard of loosening all the bushing bolts, but its worth a shot. thanks, SD.
Did you add a drop block in there or was it already there taking away a leaf isn't a significant level of drop the truck itself is fairly light ....I removed mine a while ago . Didn't notice much at first couple months later and a few light loads in the back .the leafs slowly started de arching over time . Now there damn near flat and no longer bowed
Make sure your overloads are curved downward (stock) like a frown and not like a smile. Maybe they've been installed upside down by someone and are holding the truck higher than if they were curved the other way.
i think this truck was lowered before and when we flipped the leaf, we ended up flipping it backwards. it doesnt look like it bows one way or the other. most i have seen is clearly flat on one side, bowed on the other. these are just thick in middle and thin towards the end. top side bowed down, bottom side bowed up. i will take apart and look while they are off. i only have like 60 miles on new ubolts, can i reuse them? or just get new ones?
stock the overload curves UP. you want it flipped. I never thought of loosening stuff up either, my old 77 sat like an inch off the ground mono leafed with 3" blocks and notched for bags but you had to stand in the bed to get the frame on the ground.
