Cutting down aftermarket shackles

[drothgeb]

So my 97 is lifted about 2.5 inches from the autozone shackles it has on it now but soon I will lowering it 2-2.5 inches all around. I don't really want to spend another $60 for OEM shackles so would there be any downside to just cutting the ones on it now? I'd be putting the bottom bolt through the nearest hole and cutting the rest off...
Thanks

 

[techieman33]

shouldn't give you any problems, stock shackles aren't $60 though, you can get them online for about $20 each from tasca ford. They are a site sponsor, their link is at the bottom of the forum page.

 

[turboranger91]

or you can get a set of stockers from you local junkyard for about $5.

 

[yellowford]

or you can get a set of stockers from you local junkyard for about $5.

Problem with this is almost all stock shackles are rusted through and a pain to get out.

 

[turboranger91]

Problem with this is almost all stock shackles are rusted through and a pain to get out.

even my newly acquired michigan truck shackles were in fairly good shape... and easy to remove. i guess it all just depends on how purdy you want it to be underneath and how motivated you are to save money. me... i like what little money i have, so i try to unload as little as possible. lol.

 

[yellowford]

even my newly acquired michigan truck shackles were in fairly good shape... and easy to remove. i guess it all just depends on how purdy you want it to be underneath and how motivated you are to save money. me... i like what little money i have, so i try to unload as little as possible. lol.

Thats just not fair on my 96 the stock shackles were pretty much rusted through when I poked them my finger just went through the side. On my 00 they were starting to get pretty rusted but not as bad, dang Kansas weather apparently we get more salt on the roads.:fire:

 

[drothgeb]

These VA winters can be pretty bad and almost all shackles I've seen around here are all rusted through...Anyone know if the closest hole on the autozone shackles are stock ride height?