I'm the guy that contacted a dozen or two companies until one of them (Warrior) took a chance and agreed to manufacture some to see if there was a market. At the time nothing at all was available to match a torsion lift except add-a-leaf, and mine already rode plenty stiff enough and I was not interested in an even more rough ride.
Warrior is a J**p aftermarket company and was the ONLY one willing to work with me and take a chance on developing an Explorer product. We owe them a debt of gratitude for that. All of the other big name aftermarket companies told me it wasn't worth the effort to mess with it.
The shackles are the result of correspondence between me and one of their machinists to design a set. I think you have to admit they are just a "little" more sturdy than the stock Ford OEM part Dead Link Removed. You are correct that the offset to the center section is designed to install the longer end up to help clear the frame during flex. At the time I was just learning about all the differences in Explorers and was reluctant to tell Warrior that they would fit all of them, so I told them I knew for sure they would fit any new model '95+ but didn't know about the early models. That's why Warrior doesn't designate them for all Explorers. We immediately learned that the shackles would fit any Explorer, but Warrior never changed the wording in their catalog.
The first run was only fifteen shackles. I guess we convinced them! Yeah, I told them they were 1/2" bolts, based on the shaft diameter of most of the bolt, so that was my screwup. I know some are concerned about that, but I used the Warrior bolts they supplied me with and have had no rattling or other problems. With that much weight on them it hasn't happened to me. I've got the first set made (gold zinc to match my '99 Eddie Bauer) and over the past year have put about 35,000 hard miles on them, oftentimes in 4lo situations, with no problems whatsoever. Unbelievably, my bushings aren't wallowed out or anything like that from the slightly undersized bolt. I will eventually replace them and put in a larger bolt, but have had no need to yet. The correct thing of course is to put in a better fitting bolt, but I believe my experience shows that the 1/2" bolt won't kill you to use it.
There is no difference between the two shackles. Only color finish.
Hope that helped with the questions.
[Edited by GJarrett on 09-24-2000 at 07:38 PM]
