Auto zone shackles

[iggy1718]

I built my own shackles too out of 3/8 by 2in wide bar stock. Drilled some 9/16s bolt holes and got longer grade 8 bolts. Each shackle is 12 inches long with multiple spring mount holes for adjustablity. My bilstein shocks maxed out so i couldnt go up all the way. Got about an inch higher. 34 inches from the ground to the bottom of the fender flare. The bolts were the most expensive part and the most time was spent on making sure each hole was in the same place on each bar.

 

[TheChadders]

Whats the diameter of the bolt holes in that diagram??

Cheers

what do you mean as in the torsion bar bolts or the shackle bolts?

 

[TheChadders]

I built my own shackles too out of 3/8 by 2in wide bar stock. Drilled some 9/16s bolt holes and got longer grade 8 bolts. Each shackle is 12 inches long with multiple spring mount holes for adjustablity. My bilstein shocks maxed out so i couldnt go up all the way. Got about an inch higher. 34 inches from the ground to the bottom of the fender flare. The bolts were the most expensive part and the most time was spent on making sure each hole was in the same place on each bar.

id like to see a pic could you post one?

 

[guelph_ford]

I'm planning to install shackles that will give about 1.5" - 1.75" on lift in the rear. You think i'll have to put on longer rear shocks then. hmmm, didn't think about that.

 

[TheChadders]

I'm planning to install shackles that will give about 1.5" - 1.75" on lift in the rear. You think i'll have to put on longer rear shocks then. hmmm, didn't think about that.

Do you have stock shocks? if so i am not sure i bought some ranchos that said stock up to 2" of lift

 

[guelph_ford]

Yeah, their just stock i beleive. I don't know how much they will un-compress.

 

[TheChadders]

Yeah, their just stock i beleive. I don't know how much they will un-compress.

well if i remeber right the ranchos i bought where a little longer compressed. but if you have the money get new shocks because the stock ones are horrible well at least mine where and go get some new shocks

 

[iggy1718]

I will post a picture tomarow and yes you will need new longer shocks. I have bilsteins on mine and i couldnt get to the 2" lift hole on the shackles I built, 1in lift so far. The stock bolts are not long enough to go through the 3/8in bar stock. I had to get 5in long 9/16 grade 8bolts and nuts. The stock bolts are metric and 9/16s was the closest size in standard.

 

[iggy1718]

ok heres the pics. This project really helped the ride quality and the sagging rear.

The top hole is stock ride hieght. the middle one is 1 inch and the last hole is 2 inch lift. The stock shocks are not long enough for the third hole.


I also have add a leafs and removed the overload spring.

 

[TheChadders]

ok heres the pics. This project really helped the ride quality and the sagging rear.

The top hole is stock ride hieght. the middle one is 1 inch and the last hole is 2 inch lift. The stock shocks are not long enough for the third hole.


I also have add a leafs and removed the overload spring.

nice job! why did you make 3 holes out of curiosity?

 

[exploder1221]

on those add a leafs, would it make a difference if you didnt remove the overload spring

 

[iggy1718]

The 3 holes are for adjustability. First on is stock hieght and the others are 1in increments in hieght. The overload spring interfered with these universal add a leafs so I had to take it out. These add a leafs add another 1000lbs carrying capacity and I dont plan on hauling anything so I didnt think it would be a big deal to remove the overload spring. These add a leafs were 30 bucks from Pep Boys.

 

[guelph_ford]

hey iggy, did those overload springs help out much in terms of lifting the rear end? before you put the shackles on??

I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of your truck from the side, see what the ride height looks like.

Thanks.

 

[iggy1718]

The front is a lil lower at the moment till it gets warmer and I have a day or two off to fix things.


PS. the overload springs dont support any wieght untill the springs are FULLY flat and loaded. So they have no effect on ride hieght. The overload springs and add a leafs are different springs. The over loads are the flat ones at the bottom of the spring pack.

 

[guelph_ford]

Nice pics, truck looks good a little higher.
Good to know about the overload springs.
I guess i'll stick to the Shackles, but I've heard that by installing them you change the pinion angle which can result in the u-joint wearing prematurely. Is this true?

 

[Incal]

I bent my leaf spring and the autozone shackles are absolutely fine... If they can hold up to that then I dont see any reason to pay an extra 65 bucks for a shackle that is "stronger". I am also running stock shocks which I have not had a problem with. As far as the U joints wearing... maybe if it were lifted way more but a two inch lift using shackles isnt enough to cause binding or premature wear and if you are that worried, get a drop bracket for your transfer case

 

[iggy1718]

Heres after the 2 inch lift and my new tires

 

[Incal]

I see you relocated the spring to the last hole on your shackles... did you buy new shocks or just pull the spring to make it fit?

 

[iggy1718]

Pulled the shock and bought some steel sleeves and longer bolts to move the shock mount further down off the body of the truck to give them more travel just in case.

 

[Convict1997]

Pulled the shock and bought some steel sleeves and longer bolts to move the shock mount further down off the body of the truck to give them more travel just in case.

Do you have any pics of this?