I was reading through an interesting article in Truck Trend about the GMC C4500 4x4 Duramax Diesel TopKick today while spending quality time with the john.



One part of this article caught my attention and made me wonder.

It says:Would it be possible to have my rear leaf springs re-arched to fix the 3" difference in my rear ride height?

What kind of shop can do this, and how much should/will it cost?

Thank ya's!

 

is 4 threads really necessary??

 

The server hiccuped when I clicked the Post button or something. I only posted it once in Suspension. It showed up here and in General.

Actually, I can't use lift blocks. The Explorer 8.8 rear is designed to be Spring UNDER Axle, so if I added blocks it would decrease the distance from axle to frame, thereby providing additional drop.

 

just flip the leafs to over axle and youll have your 3 inches

 

Wanna come grind off the spring perches and re-weld them on top of the axle for me? I don't have a welder, so don't forget yours!

 

I'm in the same situation, I want my leaves to be arched more. I was wondering about the re-arching situation too, I called a local spring shop, they wanted at least 60$ per spring to re-arch!!!!
I really want long travel prerunner springs which are the wickedest arch i've seen, you can get a set of Deavers for around $500, check out other companies and price around.

You could also get longer shackles.

 

they sell lifted leafs for Explorers that leave the spring under the axle......

re-arching springs will NOT give you any more lift.....they will get back to stock height IF they have sagged......the only way to get more lift by re-arching is you will HAVE to move the spring hangers closer together.....

 

soooo...........
why don't you just get a flipkit............?

 

wait, why don't you just lower the front with some 2-3" drop springs..?

 

^^i wouldn't if it were my truck......i would want to re-weld the spring plates in the proper place....

besides, he did all that work to get the shocks to mount like the Explorer's...

 

just take it to a shop..its like 5 mins of welding..

grind em off..bolt everythin up to ge the right angle..mark on the axle where they go..pull it off..take it to a welding shop 5 mins later..drive back bolt up and ready to roll..

ive got mine ground off waitin on perches and ill be doing all of that..

 

It will be quite interesting to load the 8.8 rear end into the trunk of my wife's Honda Civic! I'll see if there's any way I can even GET the axle to a shop, then I'll have them re-weld the perches.

 

^^na anything is possible

 

Yeah I'll have my master hauling expert friend help me with that one:
"Sorry man, I gotta put these 3 cases in your seat. Can you sit on the hood?"

 

I finally took a picture worthy of estimating the amount of drop I am facing. Although it is much easier to estimate with the bed ON the truck, this is as good as it gets until I get my fuel fittings.

Based on this image, I'm guessing I'll need a 4" lift in the rear to achieve true level.
(Before you ask, it's the transmission in-line connector and the fuel filter that are hanging down beneath the truck)

 

that doesnt look like that much of a drop Im guessing 2 inches or so.

give me a measurement from the bottom of your back bumper to ground and I can take the mesaurement off my new 07's back bumper since they are both 2wd reg cabs.

And I can get a measurement off my 98s rear bumper lol

 

15-1/2 to the bottom of the bumper
21-1/2 to the top of the bumper.

 

From stock measurement on my 07 with no sagging leafs you are 3 inches lower. Which you already know since we talked already but this is for everyone else if they are curious.

 

i say add drop springs to the front instead of trying to lift the rear....

 

you dnt know anybody else that owns a truck or a trailer?

 

Yeah I do...my dad has an 07 F250 that I could borrow.

 

id lower the front.. it would do wonders for looks too