Front leveling = Rear sagging???

[Sewie]

Originally Posted by Ipedog

Hmmm... I hadn't noticed that here on the East coast. Maybe with the BIG slabs in Moab and the Rubicon...

The hangers in front of the rear wheels are the real problem. We were hitting those all weekend.

[Ipedog]

Originally Posted by Sewie

The hangers in front of the rear wheels are the real problem. We were hitting those all weekend.

Yeah... I've got LOTS of scars on them.

I just re-viewed Bully13's Rubi 2006 vid to try to see where you were getting hung up in the a$$ end. It looks like when you were coming down off the slabs you were coming down onto the leaf springs, muffler, trailer hitch, and the bumper itself. Currently the shackles are above the line of the bumper so I can't see how they would be a big issue.

Oh, how did your mufflers survive coming down off the slabs with all the vehicle weight on them?

[Sewie]

The mufflers never hit AFAIK. Coming down some of those big ledges we would just ride down on the bumper / hitch.

The hangers would get caught up on rocks, almost like high-centering. We would have to get out and stack rocks in order to get enough clearance to get the rear tire up on the rock. Or just drag the hanger.

[Ipedog]

Originally Posted by Sewie

The hangers would get caught up on rocks, almost like high-centering. We would have to get out and stack rocks in order to get enough clearance to get the rear tire up on the rock. Or just drag the hanger.

You're talking about the front attachment point for the leaf spring, not the shackle way in back, right?

If you had longer shackles that would in turn raise the entire back half of the truck. Ie: a 3 inch longer shackle would hive you 1.5" to 2.5" more ground clearance at the hanger (I'm guessing here, I don't know the exact math). Do you see the shackle hanging down beneath the rear bumper being an issue that would be worse than the ground clearance you gained?

[Sewie]

Originally Posted by Ipedog

You're talking about the front attachment point for the leaf spring, not the shackle way in back, right? Yes.

If you had longer shackles that would in turn raise the entire back half of the truck. Ie: a 3 inch longer shackle would hive you 1.5" to 2.5" more ground clearance at the hanger (I'm guessing here, I don't know the exact math). Do you see the shackle hanging down beneath the rear bumper being an issue that would be worse than the ground clearance you gained?

No. It's the same as the pumpkin. The only thing that will give you more clearance at the hanger is bigger tires.

[Sewie]

I didn't get any intentional pics of us getting hung up but this one kind of gives you an idea of what was happening.



You can see the scrape marks on the big rock under the drivers door where the hangers were hitting before we could get a tire up.

[Ipedog]

Edit...

I'm not sure I agree with you Sewie. By adding the shackle aren't you forcing the axel away from the body of the vehicle? In essence lifting the hangers away from the ground.

I've been doing some research and it seems that the Colorado/Canyon people (Who have LOTS of lifts available ) do shackles to do the rear lift and a t-bar crank in the front. Typically this seems to yeild about 2 inches of lift on the cheap.

This sort of lift WOULD get the front hanger up away from the rocks.

Here is a pic of a Fabtech 3.5" Spindle/Shackle lift for the colorado/canyon. Only $600 too...

[Sewie]

Well, I'm definitely no expert. Maybe some folks with more knowledge can give some input here.

[Ipedog]

Originally Posted by Sewie

Well, I'm definitely no expert. Maybe some folks with more knowledge can give some input here.

Hell, neither am I LOL. I'm just trying to envision the mechanics of this whole thing and try to get us farther into the air in a timely manner and without having to sell off our children!

Just so that we're on the same sheet of music... The part that you're refering to as the hanger is this, right?:




No, its all good Sewie. For all I know I am totally way out in left field talking out my butt. Hopefully someone with some knowledge will chime in.

This is the way I'm figuring it (put on your thinking caps ):

Call the connection of the leaf spring at the hanger "A"
The connection of the axel to the leaf spring "B"
and the connection to the leaf spring at the shackle "C"

Assume that the leaf spring always returns to its basic shape

A is a fixed point and cannot move in relationship to the body of the vehicle
B is a fixed height in relationship to the ground

If C is forced down away from the truck with a longer shackle and B is a constant, fixed distance above the ground, AND the leaf spring retains its basic shape

The result is point A must be forced higher into the air. This is because if point C is pushed down then point A must go up because point B is a constant.

The end result is a lift.

Oh well... I'm probably talking out of my butt. ;-p

[HummBebe]

Originally Posted by Ipedog

Edit...

I'm not sure I agree with you Sewie. By adding the shackle aren't you forcing the axel away from the body of the vehicle? In essence lifting the hangers away from the ground.

I've been doing some research and it seems that the Colorado/Canyon people (Who have LOTS of lifts available ) do shackles to do the rear lift and a t-bar crank in the front. Typically this seems to yeild about 2 inches of lift on the cheap.

This sort of lift WOULD get the front hanger up away from the rocks.

Here is a pic of a Fabtech 3.5" Spindle/Shackle lift for the colorado/canyon. Only $600 too...

One small issue....may-beh... this kit is for 2WD??

2004 - 2005 Chevy/GMC Colorado/Canyon 2WD - 3.5" Spindle System

Fabtech?s Spindle system for the new midsize Colorado and Canyon features a cast replacement spindle that directly replaces the OE unit for a fast install. System includes steering stops, front brake lines and a rear shackle system to level the vehicle.

[deserth3]

Wouldn't it be easier to have a shop make a small skid plate or cover to protect the hanger?
Could probubly come up with something to fit the reciever hitch and protect the back bumper. Though i don't know if the hitch could handle it.

[Ipedog]

Originally Posted by HummBebe

One small issue....may-beh... this kit is for 2WD??

2004 - 2005 Chevy/GMC Colorado/Canyon 2WD - 3.5" Spindle System

Fabtech?s Spindle system for the new midsize Colorado and Canyon features a cast replacement spindle that directly replaces the OE unit for a fast install. System includes steering stops, front brake lines and a rear shackle system to level the vehicle.

I just used it as an illustration of what was available and that used a shackle in the back. I know it wouldn't fit...

Originally Posted by Sewie

Amstar is making a skid for the shock plates. But you just end up losing even more clearance.

I read somewhere from someone who had used a prototype that they just slid over the rocks smothly because they didn't have all the nooks and crannies to get hung up on.