question about shackles, for those who has replaced em...

[whdahel]

Well, I was just about to install a hidden hitch on my mounty tonight when I noticed My shackles are rusted through on the drives side. Not good, I remember reading apost a while back about it happening to some one else. looks like ford made these on the cheap.. oh well. So I was thinking I will got to work and fab up my own. Now the originals where bout .25 inch thick and about 5.5 inches center to center on the bolt holes. I have been wanting to raise the back end a few inches cause of the imfamous sag:yelexp: , so I was thinking that I will make my set out of 3/8" in bar stock by 2" wide and then make my bolt holes 7.5 oh 8.5 inches center to center. I was thinking that it would give it about 2 or 3 inches lift in the back. also the bolts are bout 5" long and seem to be metric, I was going to replace them with some grade 5, 1/2" bolts that are 5 inches long. I have a bad feeling I will have to tourch the old ones off. Any ways my question is does my thinking sound right? and how much longer should I go than stock on the shackles.? thanks for your help.

 

[onecrazyfuq]

well i am looking to upgrade my shackles for a lift. eveyrone has been talking about the company warrior the part number is war153 for our trucks. You get a 1 1/4 of a inch lift, i found a webstie which customizes their own for our trucks http://copperheadfab.com/index.php?action=catview&cat=Shackles
Let me know what you think of the ones i found compared to the warrior ones. If you find out any more information let me know. Thanx and good luck -Anthony

 

[hunterdan]

If you lengthen the shackles by 3" you will only get about 1.5" of lift as you are only lifting one side of the spring. I would also you grade 8 9/16" bolts as they are closer to the original bolt size. 1/2" will work, its what I have, but they are loose in the bushing.

Dan

 

[whdahel]

9/16 eh........ hmm I will think bout that one. how much longer did you go one the ones that you have Dan? how long can we safley go? it would be nice if I can get 3 inches lift, that way I can crank up the torsion bars a lil bit.

 

[hunterdan]

I would stick with about 2" max. After that the angle the shackle is sitting at can become an issue. You could do the shackles and an AAL to get the amount of lift you want.

Dan

 

[brianjwilson]

eveyrone has been talking about the company warrior the part number is war153 for our trucks. You get a 1 1/4 of a inch lift, i found a webstie which customizes their own for our trucks

It's 1.5" of lift. Have you ever measured them? Not much difference, but try not to give out information that you haven't verified.
I wouldn't recommend more than 2" of lift on shackles either. It would tend to be less stable, plus mess with pinion angle on the axle.

 

[Charlie]

If you are going to make your own, I would recommend following this design.

This is one of my old shackles. Note how it is rusted all the way through, in a big area, on both sides. Its a wonder these didn't collapse..

 

[JoeMahma]

If you are going to make your own, I would recommend following this design.

This is one of my old shackles. Note how it is rusted all the way through, in a big area, on both sides. Its a wonder these didn't collapse..

HEY! Where'd you get a picture of my shackle??? :bsnicker:

 

[whdahel]

thats just what I had in mind! only I was thinking about 7.5 inches, but now I think I will try the 8.5. when I am done I will post some pics. Thanks!