Rear shackle labor

[explorer1995]

My rear shackles are rusted through on one side so i need to get them replaced on my 95 explorer sport. anyone know how much a shop would charge to replace them? and would it be best for me to get the oem ones or get the ones that lift even though i have the monoleaf?

Thank you

 

[gmanpaint]

Depending on the condition of the bushings. If they have to be replaced, this will add in parts & labor. Shops vary on hourly charges, so ask ahead of time. Hard to say. Call around and get some estimates. If you want to save some $$ and are capable of doing a little wrenching, this is not that hard to do in the driveway.

Stock shackles are fine if your springs are in good condition. The war153 lift shackles are good if they are sagging and want some lift restored for cheaper than new springs. This is just a band aid though, new springs are the way to go if you can afford them.

 

[Hartman]

It really is pointless to ask a forum for labor quotes. It varies wildly depending on your region, which type of shop you go to, etc.

 

[explorer1995]

Yeah i kinda figured someone may know a ball park of what to expect. I could do it myself but i live in an association and they kinda frown on doing that stuff hahaha i got introuble already for doing my front hub in the parking lot, so i wanted to avoid getting in trouble again. I ll call around and get some prices. I may do the warrior shackles for now and maybe in a month or two get the leaf springs off of a 4 door explorer and do the tt as well.

 

[explorer1995]

I just looked at it again and the shackle is actually rusted all the way through, the leaf spring is resting on the frame,or i should say the frame is resting on the rear shackle. is that safe to drive it couple miles to a shop?

 

[Hartman]

Carefully....

 

[swetrid]

I would say $100-200 depending on if bolts are seized or not.

 

[explorer1995]

If i wanted to replace it myself, would i just need to lift the frame off the spring and take out the old bolts and place the new shackle back in?
would the tire need to be off the ground or can i just lift it enough to get the frame off the spring?

 

[janolsson]

Hi
I did mine one side at a time on a 98.
Put the frame up on axle stand so the wheel hangs, undo the bolts (assuming they are not rusted solid) and knock them out. Bolt the top of shackle to frame loosely then put bottle jack between frame and springs to align the bottom bolt holes and insert. Both sides took me 1 hour total the one and only time i've done this.

 

[explorer1995]

dam! that doesnt sound too bad at all!!!

 

[gmanpaint]

Soak the bolts with PB blaster for a couple days if you can, this will help greatly with removing the bolts.

After the frame is supported with stands and tires are off the ground, use a floor jack under the rear dif to raise and lower the entire rear axle. You need to take pressure off the leafs as much as possible when removing the bolts. Place the bottle jack in between the leafs and the frame 1st to help relieve pressure aiding in removing the bolts, and stabilizing the leaf spring.

Sounds harder than it really is. Once you do it, you will be like, what was I thinking, taking it into a shop to do this, it was a piece of cake!

 

[Paraphoe]

M bolts were seized in the sleeves and I couldn't get them out no matter what I did. A local shop blew them out and put the warrior shackles in for $100.

 

[69Mach1]

A local shop blew them out

Blew them out?

 

[Paraphoe]

Blew them out?

I'm told they used their impact/pneumatic tools to get them out - they were seized petty well.

 

[explorer1995]

I went to a local shop here in west palm yesterday after work to see how much it would be and they want 125 bucks parts and labor to replace one shackle with an oem one.

 

[gmanpaint]

So...Is this something you can find a way to do yourself?

If you have access to air tools (friends house), you can do this yourself. The shop will probably use an air hammer (after heating them), to knock the bolts out. The bushings will most likely have to be replaced after that. Tedious labor no doubt, but not rocket science. LMC truck parts sells the stock shackles & the bushings (very affordable), and this can be done in a couple of hours.

The price tag of $125 seems cheap if they are replacing the bushings and supplying the shackles. BUT...is that going to be $250 + tax for both sides? That seems way to steep to me. But if you have NO way of doing this yourself, your stuck paying threw the nose.

 

[explorer1995]

I have air tools at home, just no compressor haha but i a tool box full of hand tools i could use. I live in a place with a hoa adn they wont let me do that in the parking lot, so i will do it the parking lot at work. i will try to get the bolts out myself since the shackle is complelty broken, if i cant get them out then ill have the shop do it, if they come out then it's on like donkey kong and ill be saving myself some mula hahaha

 

[Paraphoe]

$250 is ridiculous for two of them. Keep looking. Like I said, I had a shop handle mine for $100. You can get a better deal.

 

[KPSquared]

You called more than one shop right? I wouldn't go to a dealership for this to save my life (I wouldn't go to a stearlership for anything, come to think of it)

Find a shadetree backyard mechanic on Craig's List and get a hard price quote from him. Then stand there and watch him do it, pay the man the money, and go home happy...

Why do you want to lift the rear? Is it sagged? You'd be better off to go to the junkyard, find a set of real leaves, then take them to a spring shop and have them re-arc them for 2" of lift. Then you don't have the ugly long shackles sticking down that everyone on this forum seems so fond of.

My local spring shop will add 2" for $45/side if you bring the springs in...

 

[explorer1995]

I called more than one place, they are all telling me to bring it in so they can see it before giving me a price, it's kinda of funny to me cuz there isnt much to look at, unfortunatly i really cant drive too much, cuz the frame is resting right on the leaf spring. I will do a search on craigslist, that's a good idea. I want to eventually get a new set of leaf springs or the 4 door explorer ones but kinda low on mula right now.