DIY Rear Leaf Shackles for $20

[97Mounty97]

Okay so today I made a set of shackles for the leafs because the rear of my mountaineer is sagging about 1.3 inches and I wanted to bring it up. I was going to buy warrior shackles for about $80 but since I'm 17 and don't have a whole lot of money I thought I'd try to make my own.
Everything bought from Lowes
What I used to make them:
1. The Hillman Group Hex Cap Screws 1/2-13 x 4-$2.34(each, I used 4)
2. The Hillman Group 2-Count 1/2-in-13 Yellow Zinc Standard (SAE) Hex Nuts-$1.09(used 2)
3. The Hillman Group 4-ft x 2-in HotRolled Weldable Steel Flat Bar-$11.64(used 1)

Sub Total for Materials(with out paint)-$20.27
Estimated Sales Tax-$1.22
Estimated Total-$21.49

For the dimensions of the shackles I used this picture below(thanks to a member on here RockRanger)

So I went out and bought all the materials and then I measured out everything before I made any cuts to the steel. After everything was measured I cut the steel to length 10.25inches(four of them) and two 2inch pieces(center brackets).
After I had them all cut I put them on the drill press and drilled 1/2inch wholes 8.5inches away from each other on each 10.25inch piece of steel.
Sorry for not many pictures of the process, I didn't think about making a post about it until I was almost done.

The lines in the between the holes are where the brackets will be welded

Once I had that all done I began to weld them. Now being 17 I am no welder at all! Hahaha so I did my best using a MIG welder. When they where all welded up I took some rustoleum primer/filler paint and put 2 coats on(followed directions on can) after that was all dried I took rustoleums aerosol bedliner and put 2 coats on them. Because of so many coats of paint the holes I drilled where too small so I took a metal file and used in inside the holes so the bolts could fit through.

Let me know what you think! I'll post some pictures when I get them on the mountaineer.

 

[jprentice94]

Pretty nice for 20 bucks lol i made mine out of 1/2 in metal

 

[Campoli]

Is the cross brace thick enough? They look good tho

 

[97Mounty97]

Pretty nice for 20 bucks lol i made mine out of 1/2 in metal

Thanks haha I thought so too and how have yours held up?

 

[97Mounty97]

Is the cross brace thick enough? They look good tho

I'm hoping it is. It's all 3/16 steel I believe. And Thank you

 

[jprentice94]

From how much ive used them not very much but they are really beefy they have been on there for about a year tho and are fine
Are your bolts grade 8 i also heard from some off road guys around here the center brace isnt really needed thats why mine dont have it

 

[Maniak]

Just some info here..

The Factory Bolts are not 1/2". They are actually 14mm. The early war-153 shackles where drilled to 1/2" AND required you to use 1/2 bolts. The issue is, the center sleeve of the bushing is designed for 14mm bolts.

That means if your using 1/2" bolts (13mm) your bushing sleeve will be lose on the bushing and you may introduce some vibration.

Otherwise.. Nice shackles....

~Mark

 

[97Mounty97]

From how much ive used them not very much but they are really beefy they have been on there for about a year tho and are fine
Are your bolts grade 8 i also heard from some off road guys around here the center brace isnt really needed thats why mine dont have it

Oh okay cool, mine should be good then because I don't think I'll be doing much of roading with it anyways and yes they are grade 8

 

[97Mounty97]

Just some info here..

The Factory Bolts are not 1/2". They are actually 14mm. The early war-153 shackles where drilled to 1/2" AND required you to use 1/2 bolts. The issue is, the center sleeve of the bushing is designed for 14mm bolts.

That means if your using 1/2" bolts (13mm) your bushing sleeve will be lose on the bushing and you may introduce some vibration.

Otherwise.. Nice shackles....

~Mark

Thanks for the info! I didn't realize that. I may try and find some 14mm bolts then.
Do you know how bad the vibration will be? Because this vehicle is my daily driver.

But thank you

 

[Maniak]

Thanks for the info! I didn't realize that. I may try and find some 14mm bolts then.
Do you know how bad the vibration will be? Because this vehicle is my daily driver.

But thank you

I ran with 13mm (1/2) bolts in there for 100k+ miles.. I can't say if the bolt caused any vibration on our truck.. We have/had enough mods that anything could cause it..

Basically, with the 13mm bolt its acting like a worn bushing where things can move around free.

~Mark

 

[97Mounty97]

I ran with 13mm (1/2) bolts in there for 100k+ miles.. I can't say if the bolt caused any vibration on our truck.. We have/had enough mods that anything could cause it..

Basically, with the 13mm bolt its acting like a worn bushing where things can move around free.

~Mark

Ahh alright well I'll try it with the 1/2inch bolts and see how it does

 

[jprentice94]

Are they on yet ??

 

[97Mounty97]

Are they on yet ??

Not yet but hopefully tomorrow I'll have time to get them on there. I'll post pics when I do

 

[97Mounty97]

Here are some pics of the shackles on my mounty

 

[jprentice94]

they look good

 

[97Mounty97]

they look good

Thanks!

 

[97Mounty97]

So the rear end of my mounty from the ground to the center up the fender was

BEFORE:
Driver side rear-31 3/8inches
Passenger side rear- 32 1/2inches

AFTER:
Driver side rear-33inches
Passenger side rear- 33 1/2inches