I own a 07 ram 1500 regular cab short bed truck and I want to lower the rear end of my truck about 4-5 inches so I recently conducted an experiment on my truck and I removed the rear shackles connected to the rear hanger completely and just bolted my leaf springs into the hanger. Surprisingly it all fit well; that being said I thought I would lose a couple of inches. Unfortunately, the truck is at the same height it was before! It just doesn't make any sense. I don't know a whole lot about truck suspension, but can someone tell me why when I removed the shackles nothing happened, what purpose do the shackles actually have and can the truck be driven safely w/o them? What other ways can I get 4-5 inches out of the back w/o paying a lot.

Thanks.

 

Put about 2000lbs of something in the back If you lower the back that much you will need to lower the front too. You'll need a front/rear drop kit. Not sure how much they cost. Welcome to DF.

 

http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts.as...rtfamilyid=825

 

A 3 and 5 kit runs about $600 w/ drop shocks from summit. It takes about 3 hours to install if you have access to a lift. But if you just want to drop the rear you can get a axle flip kit, it moves the leaf spring from the top of the axle to the bottom of the axle, about a 3" drop with the stock shackles, if you use the shackles supplied its about 5". You can get it from Summit as well for about $300. I hope you reinstalled the shackles on your truck, without them the suspension has no way of articulating, hitting any bumps could do some damage to leaf spring, not to say a VERY stiff ride.

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04 qc Laramie
hemi
4 pc cold air intake
bullydog power programmer
super 44 w/ cutouts

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-...Q5fAccessories Check this out. might help.