Rear leaf shackles

[dreamersrevenge]

My mom has a 98 explorer, and while I don't know the specifics of it, I know it's 4 wheel drive (did they come in 4 or 2?). The shackles on the rear of the leaf springs have completely collapsed to the point where the frame is resting on the springs. She's still driving it (although I told her to use extreme caution) until I can find the replacement parts for a decent price. I called the dealer and they wanted $550 for the parts alone, but that's a bit out of my budget. Does anyone know where I can get a decently priced set to replace them with?

 

[James909]

You could ask the forum vendors to see if they have any decent used ones. Besides the dealer I don't know where you could find new stock height shackles. You could put on Warrior shackles but that would raise the rear end about 2".

 

[dreamersrevenge]

Thanks. With the stock height in the front would it make the rearend of the vehicle set freakishly high?

 

[James909]

Thanks. With the stock height in the front would it make the rearend of the vehicle set freakishly high?

No, I installed about a 1.5" lift on the rear of my truck with plans to lift the front. But after I installed the lift in the back I decided to just leave it. The truck has a more aggressive stance now. Plus the leaf springs on these vehicles typically sag a little. So if the back end was sagging before, this would probably raise it so that the truck sits level.

 

[EMG7895]

depending on how much it has sagged it may just bring it back to level.

 

[96eb96]

My mom has a 98 explorer, and while I don't know the specifics of it, I know it's 4 wheel drive (did they come in 4 or 2?). The shackles on the rear of the leaf springs have completely collapsed to the point where the frame is resting on the springs. She's still driving it (although I told her to use extreme caution) until I can find the replacement parts for a decent price. I called the dealer and they wanted $550 for the parts alone, but that's a bit out of my budget. Does anyone know where I can get a decently priced set to replace them with?

WHHHHHHHATTTTT???

I paid 35$ at a ford dealer to get 2 new shackles. Did he give you a price for springs AND shackles?

The bolt is a MAJOR PITA to remove from the spring bushing. You may need an air hammer.

 

[patrick112390]

My mom has a 98 explorer, and while I don't know the specifics of it, I know it's 4 wheel drive (did they come in 4 or 2?). The shackles on the rear of the leaf springs have completely collapsed to the point where the frame is resting on the springs. She's still driving it (although I told her to use extreme caution) until I can find the replacement parts for a decent price. I called the dealer and they wanted $550 for the parts alone, but that's a bit out of my budget. Does anyone know where I can get a decently priced set to replace them with?

:ttiwwp: -well kinda... if you took a pic of what it looks like, it can give us a better understanding of the situation, and will make us more accurate in telling you what parts you need... (shackles, leaf springs)

 

[dreamersrevenge]

WHHHHHHHATTTTT???

I paid 35$ at a ford dealer to get 2 new shackles. Did he give you a price for springs AND shackles?

The bolt is a MAJOR PITA to remove from the spring bushing. You may need an air hammer.

I'm thinkin that's what they did. I'm gonna bring it in to them Monday and be like, "This is what I need, this is ALL I need, don't try to sell me anything else."

As far as the pics I'll see what I can do. It's obviously too dark to do it now (10:40pm EST), but tomorrow morning I'll take one of each side and post them.

 

[patrick112390]

I'm thinkin that's what they did. I'm gonna bring it in to them Monday and be like, "This is what I need, this is ALL I need, don't try to sell me anything else."

As far as the pics I'll see what I can do. It's obviously too dark to do it now (10:40pm EST), but tomorrow morning I'll take one of each side and post them.

sounds good i just mention pics because a semi-trained eye can diag on the fly = more condidence tellin them what you need.

 

[dreamersrevenge]

That'll work. I knew what it is and what it does, but I'm not too great with the proper names sometimes. While it's being fixed I'll probably have the universal joints replaced as well, they're starting to squeak and I'd rather them not get really bad like the ones on my Astro were.

 

[Lankhimself]

I'd say get the Warrior shackles, dozens upon dozens of people on this site, including myself, have them installed. They're heavy duty, more durable, and will last a lot longer especially when it comes to being exposed to the elements. Depending upon how bad your mother's Explorer's rear end sag is, these might just bring it back to normal instead of making it look raised. Way back when when I did mine I cut my old stock bolts instead of even attempting to get them off with a wrench...way too rusted and stripped. The Warrior shackles come with heavy duty hardware w/ locknuts. Good luck with whatever route you choose!

 

[dreamersrevenge]

I might've overlooked it, but what's the link to the Warrior shackles?

 

[Lankhimself]

I ordered mine from a local auto store back before I had a debit card, long, long time ago. Search for them on google, many sites carry them...4wheelparts.com for one, if I had to guess. The part number is WAR153.

 

[Turdle]

You have a private message--

 

[dreamersrevenge]

I'm sure everyone has seen collapsed leaf spring shackles, but since I was asked to post pics, here they are. She's still driving it at the moment, as her job requires her to. It's an XLT by the way, not sure if that makes a difference.

 

[techieman33]

That thing is a death trap I wouldn't let my mom drive it to the end of the driveway. It looks like the passenger side spring is broken as well, you'll need more than just shackles.

 

[Silver X]

That thing is a death trap I wouldn't let my mom drive it to the end of the driveway. It looks like the passenger side spring is broken as well, you'll need more than just shackles.

The passenger side spring looks OK to me. Just looks like the exhaust hanger is casting a shadow on it from the camera flash.

I've never seen shackles that bad though. I don't know how she's still able to drive it that way. There's no way I'd drive that truck anywhere.

 

[Blazepet7]

yeah you need to change them ASAP if your looking for cheap shackles autozone has them for 20 -30 dollars and you dont have to have them at one single height theres three settings i think the middle is factory but as james909 said so many people on this site has changed their shackles im sure you could find someone willing to give their old ones away mine a rusty id give you mine but youd have the same prob in a few years...good luck

 

[Turdle]

I have 2 extra sets of fine looking stock shackles. Check your private messages.

 

[lee2489]

i recently changed the shackles on my explorer and it was a pain. my dad helped me and had his thumb smashed by the spring. not sure if anyone has an easier way, or correct way, for him, but my way was difficult.