"De-Lifting an 85 GMC...
 

We have a 1985 GMC Sierra 4wd that I purchased new in October of 1984. It has been a great truck and has served me well for 34 years. About 18 years ago i decided to do a few upgrades; new crate 350, cap, wheels/tires and a 4" lift package. Well, the stiff and bumpy ride is getting old...what once was cool is now not so much fun.

So, has anyone 'de-lifted' their truck..?? I can't even remember all the parts we used at the time...I assume different springs, shocks, various brackets, etc.

The truck has leaf springs, straight axle, short bed, 4wd...

Any thoughts are appreciated.

-wilma

4" lift is usually springs in the front, blocks in the back and 4 longer shocks.

Steering arm (on axle), front springs, blocks between rear springs and axle, and yes shocks. Sometimes we'd drop the trans//transfer case cross member so the front driveshaft CV joint wouldn't bottom out on itself also. LMC should have the stock-height (two leaf) front springs. The axle steering arm (if changed, and bet it had) has those cone-shaped spacers below the three nuts/studs. Remember not to try and beat off the arm from the underneath, you have to hit it on the top so as to pop the cones up/out (heat helps). Then the arm will lift right off. Those look like 31/ 1050 tires on it, and those are the biggest that will fit with no lift...

If you want to keep lift and make it ride smoother there has been many improvements on lifts and shocks . Look at tuff country
https://www.tuffcountry.com/more-products/leaf-springs/
Off-roaddesign
Some Bilsteins
What wheels are those? I may be interested if you decide to sell!

85 gmc...
 

Smoothing out the ride would be better than changing everything, but if we need to update springs it may not be any cheaper. The wheels are American Racing models...tires are Cooper 35 12.50 x 15

If I could soften the ride up on this beast up, we could live with the altitude.

Truck runs pretty good...we get lots of compliments, there aren't a lot of 35 year old GMC trucks running around.

-wilma