I put Belltech shackles on my 98 short box Club Cab and while it did a nice job of dropping the back end 2+ inches I lost suspension travel. It doesn't clunk or bang and it's not hitting the bump stops, but it feels like it easily bottoms out and ride quality over railroad crossings and rough areas has decreased considerably. I think either the shocks are bottoming out or the rear eye of the leaf springs is binding with the underside of the bed, which the springs are almost touching sitting.

The shackles are Belltech PN 6590 http://www.stillen.com/product.asp?i...GRS&c=SU&m=all
has anyone else ever installed these? What is your experience?

I am thinking about putting the stock shackles back in and finding a spring shop to rearch my leaf packs to drop it a couple inches.

Attaching pic of truck. . . once I solve the rear suspension issue it'll be time to drop the front about 1.5" and then find some 20s to put on it

Vaughn

 

Does your truck have overload springs? That would cause what you describe.

 

No I took those out a couple years ago along with their bump stops.

 

Kicking this old thread up but I found out the issue with my Belltechs, it turns out the rear ends of the leaf springs were interfering with a bed crossmember. I discovered a friend with a '97 had the same Belltech shackles but he notched his bed crossmember about an inch on both sides which was enough to allow the springs to clear and not impede suspension travel.

I took my Belltechs out and instead of notching the bed crossmember I am going to have my leaf springs rearched to drop the back 1.75-2.0" at a shop in Spokane WA. Cost will be about $160 if I do the R&R.