General HD Leafs + RAS + stock shackles = frame contact

Current rear suspension setup: General HD leaf springs, HD RAS and stock everything else (shackles, shocks, etc).

Yesterday while under the truck, i noticed it looks like the rear RAS mount was really close to the frame. Looking closer, its hitting the frame, on both sides. Kinda surprising, I've been running this setup since April. No weird noises, ride isn't bad at all, i've towed with it, etc. Both sides are exactly the same. I'm guessing it's always been that way?

I ran the RAS on my stock springs as i have a topper and decked drawers in the truck all of the time. Truck's normal weight with me in it is ~6700lbs, 3200lbs on the rear axle. When i switched to the General HD springs, i just went ahead and put the RAS back on, but didn't crank it up nearly as high.

From the pictures i posted in the thread i created when i installed these springs, the General springs appear a bit longer, but i would assume the stocks would lengthen when they flatten out?

Anyone with stock springs/shackles and RAS check their clearance?

Previous thread: https://www.tundras.com/threads/2nd-gen-anyone-running-general-hd-leaf-springs-installed.140947/

 

Are the springs too long? Guessing you are not bottomed out to the bump stop

 

Still inches from the bumpstop. I'm guessing the springs are long, but assumed they can't be longer than the stocks when flat.

 

Maybe they are designed for a longer shackle?

 

I purchased the General HD springs after your initial post. I still don't have the weight you have in the rear but I do not have any frame contact that I can tell. The spring pack might be too weak for your set up or maybe get some extended shackles?

 

I’ve got some extended shackles I’ll try and report back.

how close is the end of your spring to the frame?

 

Hi, new here, I am having the same problem. I have stock leafs and shackles and got the ras last spring to help with pulling our camper. I was hauling some firewood the other day and noticed the shackles were hitting the frame but I was still 2” off the bump stops. Surprised more people haven’t had the same issue, ras seem to be very popular. I thought maybe between my upper shackle bushings being worn and the springs being tired might have caused it but don’t know. Would be nice if a little longer shackle would fix it. I have been pricing out new hd springs and weighing other options like switching to airbags but not sure what direction to go.

 

Glad to hear it wasn't just with the HD springs! I honestly never checked or looked when i had the stock springs.

I ended up swapping the stock shackles with some ones that were supposed to provide a 1.5" lift, i ended up with about a 1" lift in the back and tons of room now. As you can imagine, the ride is better now too. I retained the RAS but it's at the minimum setting now.

How the truck sits now:


Shackles, you can see the marks on the frame from the rubbing of the RAS:

 

Interesting…

I just installed some Husky HD springs that I purchased on RockAuto (literally the exact same part number as the General Spring, Dayton, and a few others offered online). Stock shackles, Daystar poly bushings. Only have a bed shell on right now but will weigh the same or more than you’re rig @_none_ when I get everything transferred over.

Right now there appears to be plenty of clearance on the rear shackle.





A few things I noticed about HD pack:

- It’s about an inch thicker overall than the OE leaf pack. Part of that is the additional leaf but all of the other leaves are a bit thicker as well.

- I ended up with about 2” of lift above my stock worn leaves, or about an inch over stock.



- due to the additional individual leaf thickness, I wonder if the rear bushing eyelet OD is appreciably larger than OE so pulled out the calipers.

OE eyelet - 2.3725”
HD eyelet - 2.41”



So not an appreciable amount.

Still strange that the shackles hit the frame. I’ll have to keep an eye on it when I load it up.

 

Very interesting. I think i would have been fine without the RAS. The mount is about as thick as the leaf spring, so it cuts that clearance down quite a bit. I should have paid more attention after installing it.

Your truck looks great, very good stance.

 

Thanks. I think you and I are the only guys on here that think a truck with rake looks good.

You are probably correct about the RAS taking up the extra space. I wonder if it needs more preload to pull the shackle forward - kind of like my airbags (not on this truck) need enough pressure to maintain close to stock height when loaded else they can have bottoming issues.

It's also strange to me that your leaves appear pretty flat even with load you have in the bed. I was honestly surprised how much lift I got with the leaf pack given your experience with them on the other thread. I mean, a shell isn't all that heavy but these leaves ride fairly stiff empty - still tolerable and much better than the worn out factory leaves that were bouncing off the overload empty. But there's a bit of arch to them as they sit.

Either way, glad you were able to sort it out with some different shackles. I had CB+1's on my other truck for a long while but ended up going back to OE shackles. Decided to keep the OE ones on this truck but that might change now.

 

Agreed! I never understood the desire to level the trucks...

 

That is awesome the longer shackle fixed it. Nice looking rigs to both of you. I also like having some rake to my truck as well. Mine still had about 2” with the stock springs and sitting at 4” empty with the ras at about a quarter thickness setting. It does go down fairly quick with wt added. I don’t really want any more than that so hopefully a 1/2 to 1” lift shackle will give it enough room.