shackle flip

[jayjabour]

I have a 2007 silverado classic 4x4. I had a leveling kit installed and I am thinking about getting just a little bit more height in the back. I posted a question here before about installing slightly higher then stock blocks in the rear. Someone had mentioned doing a shackle flip. I was wondering if this was a good idea and how it is done (complicated or easy). Will this have a negative effect on anything? any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[75K30]

A few potential negatives here. Your current design is a tension design, and it is probably th best for ride confort VS stability when you load it down. See with this set-up the shackle actually pulls apart under load. This keeps the shackle pretty straight.
When considering a conversion to a "compression type" shackle, you now change some of the characteristics of the shackle and how it accepts the same load.
I might have been the person that suggested the shackle flip, but I question whether or not I would do so for such a new truck.
As you convert to a compression style design, you run the risk of folding ths shackle over under load, or promote side movement simply by the shackle design, and how it pivots.
While you could just replace the block, doing so also promotes additional and existing "axle wrap", which is never a great solution.
The better solution would be either an add-a-leaf for aditional heigth, or a complete spring pack with the desired lift, that would eliminate the block all together. That would be the most ideal.

[87c10slammer]

the leveling kit should have just raised your front. or lowered the rear. i would go with a 1 inch block if your just looking for a look and not really towing to much with it. the blokes tend to break if you tow alot of poundage with them installed. but this happened to me with 4 inch blocks a long time ago. i sure they have improved something in the casting now but if you do do alot of towing or plan to i would go with the ad a leaf or new leaf pack

[jayjabour]

the leveling kit lifted the front but the back seems just a slight bit lower. I know you must think this is rediculous. I don't do a lot of hauling. I am just doing it for a slightly meaner look. I am really only looking to get an inch or so. Would an add a leaf be better than a block. Is an add a leaf easy to install?

[75K30]

You should remember that your truck had a given rake when it was built. By adding the leveling kit, you only raised the front in an attempt to "level" the truck. If you wanted to keep the rake for that "look" you probably should have purchased a kit that addressed the front and rear equally.
Anyway, if you are only looking for about an inch you first need to know how big the block is in the back now. You do not want to stack blocks. Instead if you have a three inch block under the spring now, then you will need to remove this and purchase a 1 inch larger block than what was removed.
If you have a three inch block and desire an additional inch, then you need a 4 inch block to replace the existing block.
Stacking blocks is a little dangerous, even though they have alignment dowels, this practice is not the best.
Now, you will have to consider the cost of the block, and the cost of new u-bolts since the old ones are probably not long enough. Hardware runs about 50 bucks and the blocks around another 65 to 100 bucks. There is some expense here.
The Add a leaf can be as cheap as say 75 bucks and will not require longer hardware.
For such a nice new truck, i would really lean towards a complete spring pack that eliminates the block. Your ride will improve, and you can eliminate any axle wrap problems associated with blocks.
This would be a real improvement over factory springs.

[87c10slammer]

add a leafs are the easiest if you have the right tools but a new spring pack would be the best for ride quality. its up to you really...100$ over say a few hundred for the new sping pack