1994 Explorer Rear shackle replacement

[KJBekalowicz]

Rear shackles on my truck need be replaced. They are rusting out. I have been spraying them with PB blaster for almost 2 weeks. I purchased a universal shackle kit from Advanced Auto and new rubber bushings from the dealer. IS there anything else that I need? The shackle kit came with new bolts and the actual metal pieces for the shackle. Other than that I am not aware of anything else that I need. I guess the real question is besides the shackles, mounting bolts/nuts and rubber bushings, are there any other parts I may have missed? Is there any sleeve or anything that the bushings sit in? I can't tell and the dealer wasnt offering any additional advice?

 

[jakprince]

as long as the rubber bushings have metal in the center where the bolt goes through i would think thats all you need.

 

[KJBekalowicz]

I have just the bushings but no metal sleeves

 

[yellowford]

You might want to consider getting some grade 8 bolts instead of the ones that come with the Autozone shackles, as they have been known to fail.

 

[Bruces expo]

ive been running the auto zone shackle kit with the supplied hardware for 5 years and havent had a problem , i must be one of the chosen few

 

[KJBekalowicz]

ive been running the auto zone shackle kit with the supplied hardware for 5 years and havent had a problem , i must be one of the chosen few

Did you get new metal sleeves with the bushings? or what? I can not believe that when I went to the dealer and I asked about the parts they never mentioned anything about a metal sleeve?

 

[Bruces expo]

i never seen one , so i just put it together

 

[KJBekalowicz]

i never seen one , so i just put it together

so just to be clear, bolt in the middle of 2 rubber bushings with the nut on the end, thats it?

 

[yellowford]

so just to be clear, bolt in the middle of 2 rubber bushings with the nut on the end, thats it?

Thats how its normally done.

 

[KJBekalowicz]

Thats how its normally done.

Just called the dealer this AM and it took almost 20 mins of prodding before the parts person acknowledged that there was indeed a metal sleeve. $19.99 per sleeve. Ordered today. Here tomorrow and change em over the weekend.

 

[KJBekalowicz]

So I took everything apart this weekend. Sprayed the shackles and bolts for almost 1 week straight everyday prior to disassembling. All bolts came out with the use of an airhammer except one. The thing was melded to the shackle with rust. Took a torch to the bushings and melted it out. Need to put it back together later this week. Very easy job if you have air tools and a torch. 16 years of rust makes big problems.

 

[KJBekalowicz]

Got everything put together last night. Used my wife's 2002 VW Jetta jack to spread the spring open enough to get the bolts through it. That was the most difficult part. Passed VA Inspection today. I am happy