Questions: Warrior Shackles with 5.5" lift?

[Positive Vibes]

Are the shackles greasable?
Would their be any advantage (more flex etc)?
Would their be any disadvantages?

I have talked with one person and they seemed to like the shackles but wanted to get some other opinions before investing any cash. All opinions are welcome!

thanks

 

[Positive Vibes]

Ok did everyone got to Moab?

 

[Maniak]

The WAR-153 shackles are not greasable..

the advantage is that you can get more droop out of them.. and they lift the vehicle 1.5" (or so)..

Disadvantage..
They change the anlge the springs are sitting.. What it does is make the springs look more flat.. when they aren't really flatter.. The arc they move in is just different. Another disadvantage.. they hange down more than stock.. easier to get hung up on when coming off rock ledges.

Easy fix for that issue.. put a wheel (preferably all steel) on the lower bolt of the shackle.

 

[Positive Vibes]

Finally! Thanks Maniak!

I take it that's a wheel on your shackle. Dam good idea! If I were to install the shackles in the rear what would I do in the front to get the 1.5"? Also my e-brake cable is tight at full flex, really tight! If I was to get more flex what should I do about the ebracke cable? How hard to install. Also do you advise doin this with a lift already? Is there anything else I would need to modify?

thanks!

 

[Maniak]

Yup, thats a wheel on the shackle. Unfortunately, they aren't all steel.. so the inner part isn't exactly round anymore (I actually use those things).. but even when they aren't round they still work well.

We have OME-36 springs (2.5" of lift) and the War-153 shackles for our rear lift (4" total).. and our e-brake cable gets really tight at full flex. I can just imagine yours.

You will at least need to relocate the e-brake cable some so it will hang farther down. This will allow you to get the flex without it getting too tight. You can only do this so much.. You may eventually have to get a longer cable.. (never done it.. not sure if it is actually possible to buy one).

If you add the War-153 and you find you need to lift the front (some people like the rear a little higher than the front) you can put a spacer under the front spring.
You can use f-150 coil spring spacers (it is called a coil spring seat) for 1.5" of lift.. OR you can just use small solid spacers.. The small solid spacers are just round pieces of steel cut to the height you want (1" or so) with a hole drilled in the center.. You can have the solid pieces made for <$50.. and the f-150 spacers are about the same price (slightly more I think)..

I'm not sure about your current 5.5" lift, but if you are already close to not being able to be aligned, adding the spacer up front may make it unalignable (is that a word? ).

If you want some extra flex in the rear suspension you can open up the spring clamps on the rear springs. This will allow the springs to pull apart during droop (look at the pic I posted above and you can see how far they pull apart). All you really need to do is keep them from rotating side to side.. and even if you don't keep the vertical pieces they still won't rotate that far as the u bolts will hold them.

~Mark

 

[TwoToneX]

Sorry to jump subjects, but where's the best place to get the parking brake extender?

 

[zensius]

Hey Positive Vibes, I just finished putting in my 5.5 lift ( I got mine after seeing yours at T-haven!) Anyway, I didn't remove the rear shackles I had on there and mine rides nice and flat. I did take out the Ford coil spacers. My rear springs are tired (175k) so I think the shackles helped even it out. I've yet to go off-road so I can't say about the flex. And boy is MY parking brake tight!

 

[Positive Vibes]

zensius: Thanks for the input. When ever you get back from wheeling let my know how the shackles worked for you. I'm thinking we are going to have to swap the ebrake cable with an extended one from a ranger. I posted a thread on it before and I think someone gave me a part #.
Maniak: I really like the wheel idea. I was thinking the big RVs use them on there tails also and I was thinking of getting a set. Where did you get yours and how much?
TwoToneX: Do a search I think there was on a thread I started. I'm just not sure of all the work or modifications it takes. If you find any info could you please post it!

Thanks!

 

[Maniak]

My wheels are 'el cheapos from Ace Hardware.. Not the right kind to use.. but they work.. but they are really not round anymore (still work, just not as well)..

I have 2 solid pieces of rolled steel (4" steel) 1/2" thick that I am going to drill and put in a bearing, but until I get the time/enegy I'm going to keep the current wheels.

~Mark

 

[Positive Vibes]

Anyone else have a big lift and warrior shackles?