maybe thread overkill but.... shackles

[Cali' Explorer]

My question is, how interested are people in options of shackles other than warrior?

After reading through this thread, it came to me that it might be useful if we could order shackles of different sizes. I am right now working on getting some new sidebars made for a custom set of shackles. They should give about 1/2" or so more lift than the Warriors. The other advantage is that I am planning on using (2) 1/2" Grade 8 bolts to join the two sides together with a spacer tube in the middle (Similar to a couple of others on this site). The difference is, I am offsetting these 2 so that they give as much flex before hitting frame. Not sure how big of an issue this is, but we will see.

If all goes according to plan, I should be able to make them for $20 - $30 a pop in just about any length you want. I have to wait and get a quote back from my friend though, so we'll see.

 

[Brian_B]

I will stick with mine. FREE...no cost for the steel, primer, or paint. I will have to buy longer bolts when we get dads truck running though.

hartman: are you refering to my pic? Thats the back side of the other shackle. Flip it over and its the same as the left.

 

[vervepipes]

wow, those do look hefty. i still havent found any 3/8 locally so i will try a wealding shop soon. even the metal bashers at work dont have over 1/4" and they offered to give it to me, would have probably looked at the blueprints and built them for me to keep buisy if i asked. oh well, no easy way out this time

 

[nissanboy]

If you make the shackles out of 3/8's do not use the cross brace bar. It hinders your flex and wears out the bushings faster. If both sides can move independently then you will not stress the bushing as much and get slightly more flex since there will be less binding.

 

[Creager]

If you make the shackles out of 3/8's do not use the cross brace bar. It hinders your flex and wears out the bushings faster. If both sides can move independently then you will not stress the bushing as much and get slightly more flex since there will be less binding.

i dont quite understand that. or atleast the part about wearing the bushing faster. If two sides of the shackle are pushing that cross bolt two different directions (how would that happen anyway? they are bolted to the frame), that bushing is going to oblong out after a while. If that were the case i think you would have bigger problems hah. Shoot i dont even understand how not having the cross bar would even make it flex more, just sounds like carnage to me.

i atleast wouldnt recommend using weak shackles like that on the street.

why? http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133757&highlight=bent+shackle

 

[Brian_B]

For street use...who cares about flex? Without a brace they are too weak with side play. See above thread after hitting a curb (post 12).

Mine are the same size (not as long) as the warriors everyone here buys, except mine have the lip on the side. Mine will not bow sideways. Thats the point. They should hold the spring just like the factory brackets. I can't see how that can possibly wear out the bishings faster. Maybe its just me, but that makes no sense.

 

[Creager]

For street use...who cares about flex? Without a brace they are too weak with side play. See above thread after hitting a curb (post 12).

Mine are the same size (not as long) as the warriors everyone here buys, except mine have the lip on the side. Mine will not bow sideways. Thats the point. They should hold the spring just like the factory brackets. I can't see how that can possibly wear out the bishings faster. Maybe its just me, but that makes no sense.

hah thanks, im glad im not the only one.

nissanboy, explain to me how eaither side of a leaf spring shackle is going to move independently. sounds like a good invention, but uh, you would need something that would slip the sides of the shackle up and down, and something to retain the position of the spring eye. sounds physically impossible haha.

 

[vervepipes]

OK, I have finally found the 3/8 at a welding shop (cheaper than 1/4" in stores too) and had 4 11" legnths cut so hole to hole i will get about 9", giving me approx 1 3/4"- 2" lift. I've also decided on square tubing (1/4"X 2" i'm thinking) for the centre brace, that thread made me think twice about putting in only a bolt as a brace! i may even have the shackles done tonight, but i cant install for a while because my bushings are shot, and Ford wants 30$ each! gonna search for dimensions and get generic brand i think

edit: by the way is that 3.8" interior or exterior dimensions? looks like it could be either one from the drawing

 

[Creager]

OK, I have finally found the 3/8 at a welding shop (cheaper than 1/4" in stores too) and had 4 11" legnths cut so hole to hole i will get about 9", giving me approx 1 3/4"- 2" lift. I've also decided on square tubing (1/4"X 2" i'm thinking) for the centre brace, that thread made me think twice about putting in only a bolt as a brace! i may even have the shackles done tonight, but i cant install for a while because my bushings are shot, and Ford wants 30$ each! gonna search for dimensions and get generic brand i think

edit: by the way is that 3.8" interior or exterior dimensions? looks like it could be either one from the drawing

Those bushings are a PAIN! haha you will need an air chizzle or a bushing that uses the stock sleeve. Energy suspention bushings do not retain the stock sleeve so you have to cut/pry/hammer/CussAt/nail/smack it to get it out.

 

[vervepipes]

damn. maybe i'll just re-use the stock ones for a while, they dont cause any harm now (if they dont tear during bolt removal) and have them changed later, but i sure dont want to pay 120$ for 4 oem bushings

 

[Creager]

damn. maybe i'll just re-use the stock ones for a while, they dont cause any harm now (if they dont tear during bolt removal) and have them changed later, but i sure dont want to pay 120$ for 4 oem bushings

yeah, if your gonna get anything get Poly bushings. they are a lil stiffer, but they last basically forever

Dystar (sp?) sells em too. There are a couple companies. i think it was James Duff that make the bushings that you can reuse the stock bushing sleeve

that means all you would have to do is melt that sucker out and push the new one in haha.

 

[vervepipes]

if the others dont use the stock bushing sleeve, does that mean you have to buy a new one?

 

[nissanboy]

look at factory YJ shakles. They have no x-brace and are made from a 1/4" stamped steel plate on each side. Think it out or go read a board that has more to do with offroading.

I dont think you are gonna wheel as hard as a custom truggy, and if he doesnt need x-braces why do you think you do?

 

[Creager]

Please read the following question, please answer with one of the multible choices below.

look at factory YJ shakles. They have no x-brace and are made from a 1/4" stamped steel plate on each side. Think it out or go read a board that has more to do with offroading.

I dont think you are gonna wheel as hard as a custom truggy, and if he doesnt need x-braces why do you think you do?

A) Why would he want to put a weak spot in his suspention?

B) Did you not follow the link to the thread above?

C) How does a 'custom truggy' relate to putting a shackle lift on an explorer?

D) The two sides of the shackle are not going to move independently of each other no matter if its a 'custom truggy' or not.

E) All of the above

 

[nissanboy]

Please read the following question, please answer with one of the multible choices below.



A) Why would he want to put a weak spot in his suspention?

B) Did you not follow the link to the thread above?

C) How does a 'custom truggy' relate to putting a shackle lift on an explorer?

D) The two sides of the shackle are not going to move independently of each other no matter if its a 'custom truggy' or not.

A) It isnt a weak spot.

B) If you are speaking about the link that i pulled the truggy pic from yes, i was just using it as an example of not using a x-brace.

C) It relates cause a shakle is a shackle regardless of what it is on.

D) if you honestly believe the tow sides will not move independently you have no idea of how much a leaf spring twists, or have no clue how basic physics work.

 

[Creager]

...again you missed the point.

You said it yourself! It twists, so how would the sides move independently from each other? They are bolted together in two different places. Stronger ones are built with a cross bar in the middle. They stretch and bind with (IE Dependent) each other, not independent.

damn dude, do you have your glasses on? i sure wasnt talking about your buggie, This thread

 

[Hartman]

I think the whole twisting issue is blown out of proportion. They might move independant from each other in very extreme conditions, but even then, they can't move that much without breaking.

 

[Creager]

haha yeah i felt like being an instigator

 

[cisurfer]

Brian did you put you shackles you made on your X yet? Im in ag class right now and i plan on making them just liek yours.i foudn a place that has 3/8 inch thick angle 2x2 and plan on doing the ****. Is it better that it doesnt flex with the angle iron. how big is the max....i wanted to do a 2 inch lift from them and also eliminating the sag in the rear which is about 1/2 inch. I would probly make them 4 inches longer than stock which are bolt to bolt 9.5 inches.

 

[cisurfer]

ight just made them. they can prolly hold a 18 wheeler if i wanted them too. Tell me how to post pics and ill do it.