I have searched this topic but couldn't find much info specifically on 87-96 ford f150's. I have a '90 regular cab long bed 4x2 and I want to level it by lowering the rear. I am installing 2 inch drop shackles in my truck soon but I've read where a couple people said it only lowered 3/4 of an inch.

If this is the case for me I would like to remove my overload springs to drop it another 1/2 to 3/4 inch to get it level, or at least real close, a slight rake is OK with me. Also a slightly better ride wouldn't offend me

Before I do that though I have a few questions. Will this cause any wheel hop/axle wrap issues? How much will this lower the rear? Should I remove the overload leaf (bottom thick one) or any of the other leaves?

 

I installed the 2" shackles on same truck configuration as yours and it leveled it. It still has maybe 1/2" or so of rake but completely level they give a nose high look anyway.

 

Thanks Martin. Care to post a pic of your truck? Also was handling affected by installing the shackles

 

Handling seems about the same. There is a thread with pictures of a member that removed the overload leaf and did shackles on a long bed.

 

Nice pic, thanks. If mine sits like yours I would stick with just the shackles. How much would you say they actually lowered the truck?

 

Lowered 1" but that's the shackle setting I used. Hard to see but it does have 1" of rake. The tire size helps the stance, 255/65/17 they fill in well nice.

 

Well I got the drop shackles installed, I used the top hole and it still has about 1.5 inches of rake. So I decided to remove a leaf to see what that did and I ran into an issue. The u bolts came out easy but I couldn't remove the bolt holding the leaf springs together, it goes through the springs and the bottom is round. Tried holding it with vice grips but it just slipped. How the heck do you get this bolt out? I thought about grinding it off and replacing it or grinding two flat sides in it to hold it with a wrench