Alright guys, what do you think. I'm thinking about droping my truck about 3", will this help much or is it a waste of time? Lowering will also help level my fifth wheel when towing, but I'm mostly interested in the benefits if any for racing.

I'm thinking of doing it also. I tow my TT to. But tired of going to the track and lowering and then cracking the tbars back up every weekend. I'm going with the 3'' drop shackles for the rear and put my airbags back on.

If I do it I'm also going to use 3" drop shackles. I figured I'd lower the back 3" and the front probably about 1-2" to kind of level it out a little. I still want it higher in the rear for heavy towing. Do you think there will be adverse affects from the drop shackles when launching the truck?

I wouldn't think so? A lot of people use them. Your not taking out the overload spring so you still have your load carring capibilities.

If I do it I'm also going to use 3" drop shackles. I figured I'd lower the back 3" and the front probably about 1-2" to kind of level it out a little. I still want it higher in the rear for heavy towing. Do you think there will be adverse affects from the drop shackles when launching the truck?

Both me and Dustin have our T-bars lowered to where our CV joints angle up slightly to the wheels. Then we have 2" drop shackles out back and it levels the truck up nicely, still have enough suspension to tow, and launches beautifully at the track.

Both me and Dustin have our T-bars lowered to where our CV joints angle up slightly to the wheels. Then we have 2" drop shackles out back and it levels the truck up nicely, still have enough suspension to tow, and launches beautifully at the track.

That's where I got my info from was Dustin! Chris have you and Dustin made It back to the track yet? Our track opens back up January 9th!

Both me and Dustin have our T-bars lowered to where our CV joints angle up slightly to the wheels. Then we have 2" drop shackles out back and it levels the truck up nicely, still have enough suspension to tow, and launches beautifully at the track.

Can you post pics of the CV angles? I'm looking to lower mine a bit and wanted to see the stance of your truck and CV angles. Thanks man.

Both me and Dustin have our T-bars lowered to where our CV joints angle up slightly to the wheels. Then we have 2" drop shackles out back and it levels the truck up nicely, still have enough suspension to tow, and launches beautifully at the track.The shackles I'm looking at will go 1,2, or 3" drop, I'll try 2" first. Do you leave your t-bars lowered all the way or do you make changes at the track? I'd like to find a setup that would work OK at the track and also for daily driving.

my t-bars a lowered all the way and i have 3in drop shackles in the rear and the truck launches great and still tows alot, the truck also sits level and has a mean stance

I'll get some pictures up later, too dark and cold outside to be crawling around under the truck, lol.

I have my T bars lowered all the time, I don't change anything when I go to the track now except tire pressure.

I have a set of McGaughy's drop keys for sale in the marketplace

any pictures yet of your guys trucks with the lowering shackles?

do it ive got a real hard on to drop mine latley. alot of people think its retarded mabey thats why i think its so sweet. i say do it.

Sorry, I should be able to get some photos up Wednesday. Up in Ohio for the weekend and I can do it when I get back.

Oh it's cool man. I know how it goes. I'm just interested cause I want to get ahold of the guy selling those 22's cause I priced them out and YIKES!! buying them at retail is scary expensive lol. But I wanted to order my lowering shackles at the same time as I bought the rims that way it would look good once they were on.

I have drop shackles on mine with the torsion bars all the way down and 305-50R20 tires on it. I really like the stance. I have cut 1.5 60' times with them on there and don't hesitate to tow anything. Even without my inner fenders I get some rubbing.

How does the front end feel driving down the highway? any problems with bottoming out on like a RR track?

How does the front end feel driving down the highway? any problems with bottoming out on like a RR track?

With the SkyJacker Nitro 8000 shocks I had on it it was a little soft but I had still never bottomed out. I mainly didn't like that after hitting a big bump it would bounce up and down a few times before settling - but that was all from the shocks. Now that I put the QA1 double adjustable shocks on the front I have the rebound cranked pretty stiff and it rides awesome, no more bouncing after a big bump. And when I go to the track I can crank the rebound all the way up so that it helps keep the front end down when I launch - keeping the front CVs level and more traction on the front tires.

Here's the trucks stance and pics of the CV angles. This is the stock torsion bar keys lowered as far as they will go and 2" drop shackles.

And like Dustin said, my stock shocks were a little bouncy, I put the QA1 double adjustables on and I have them set pretty stiff, I love the ride. The stock shocks never bottomed out though.

Do ya'll do it this way because it's cheaper then buying a lowering kit or is there other reasons?

Do ya'll do it this way because it's cheaper then buying a lowering kit or is there other reasons?

Just trying to keep the CV's level to slightly angled up to the wheel. No reason to get drop spindles to do it. If you want to drop it more and use spindles to do it then your CV's will be angled up to the wheels too far and you run into the same problems as the guys that crank their CV's to level the trucks when racing.

Makes good sense. Thanks!

Dr holiday how do you like your qa1 shocks up front?

Just trying to keep the CV's level to slightly angled up to the wheel. No reason to get drop spindles to do it. If you want to drop it more and use spindles to do it then your CV's will be angled up to the wheels too far and you run into the same problems as the guys that crank their CV's to level the trucks when racing.

The only way i could see using drop spindles for racing is if used them and had the torsion bars cranks - if you want it to sit the height ours do now but have a stiffer ride up front. With the QA1 shocks I like the front end riding soft and smooth yet very controlled.

Dr holiday how do you like your qa1 shocks up front?

I'm not Chris but I also just put a set on and love 'em. No other shocks I have tried on these trucks keep the front end from bouncing after you hit a bump, especially with torsions let all the way down - you hit the bump and bounce 3 more times before the truck settles. I have mine set to 9 clicks on compression and 15 on rebound. It lets the truck go over bumps smoothly but then keeps it from bouncing at all afterwards. They have 24 clicks for each so I have alot more room to play and when I race or pull I will crank the rebound all the way tight to help keep the front end down.

I never thought after having a 12inch BPS and all lifted trucks would I have lowered a 4wd!!! Well I just did yesterday 3 inch rear and lowered the tbars on the front with the silver bilsteins front and rear. Rides and handles very well and no bounce. All for the sake racing!!!!

Dropping the t-bars is such a help just got back from the track and let me tell you my truck launched straight as an arrow

Also ran a personal best of 8.86 in the 1/8 in a virtually stock truck :) gotta love EFILIve

Dr holiday how do you like your qa1 shocks up front?

I'm not Chris but I also just put a set on and love 'em. No other shocks I have tried on these trucks keep the front end from bouncing after you hit a bump, especially with torsions let all the way down - you hit the bump and bounce 3 more times before the truck settles. I have mine set to 9 clicks on compression and 15 on rebound. It lets the truck go over bumps smoothly but then keeps it from bouncing at all afterwards. They have 24 clicks for each so I have alot more room to play and when I race or pull I will crank the rebound all the way tight to help keep the front end down.

x2 I have my rebound set about the same as Dustin, and the compression might be a hair tighter, but I love how the truck rides and handles now. Smooth and not bouncy.

I just wish now I would have bought the ones for coil overs. Then I could save weight with the torsion bars and have an even better ride with a coil over front suspension.

I just put the yellow and blue bilsteins all the way around with the sulastic shackels out back, cv's level. Also running a 265/70/17 general grabber ht-s, truck rides awesome and launch's great now.

Any pics ^^^

You guys happen to have QA1 part numbers for those shocks? I would like to look into the adjustable ones, I dont think 7" stroke ones off the race car will work :D

DTC1538P is what I used. you need to either modify to lower mount on the shock or the shock mount to make it work.

Do you have any pics of the modification needed? I got a pretty good in with a QA1 dealer and wouldnt mind looking into this. If pics are a problem PM me with what you had to do to make em work, I would appreciate it.

The rubber bushing's hole is too small to fit a metal bushing that would take the stock bolt. Your options are to weld washers to each side of the stock lower mount and use smaller bolts that fit in the QA1's bushings (recommended); or use a thin walled metal bushing that will fit the stock bolt and cut out some of the rubber bushing for it to fit.

What're you guys running for rear shocks?

Complete discussion on QA1 shocks on our trucks: http://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12804&highlight=Shock+bushing

You can buy a set of shock bushings from Prothane or Energy Suspension to get the proper 9/16" sleeves for the shocks. It would be nice if QA1 would just open the hole in the lower mount to 3/4" and include two sets of sleeves for different vehicles.

QA1 usually sends two different sets of steel sleeves (or you can request the extra sleeves when ordering). Take the thicker walled sleeve and run a 9/16" drill bit through it and you are all set using the stock lower shock mount and stock diameter lower shock bolt.

QA1 usually sends two different sets of steel sleeves (or you can request the extra sleeves when ordering). Take the thicker walled sleeve and run a 9/16" drill bit through it and you are all set using the stock lower shock mount and stock diameter lower shock bolt.

Thats interesting, as they wouldnt do that when I ordered mine. If they send a 9/16" sleeve with the shock then it'd be good to go.