Just dropped my front axle on Sunday as part of the SOA process, and am wanting some new shackles and U bolt when it goes back together. I've looked at CCOT and $OR for shackes and U bolts.
Would like to stay with stock shackle dimensions, but would like a better build as well greasable pins.
Where (if any) are there other places to look, as in best bang for the buck?
Any reputible pirate shackle fabricators? Did a Search here and didn't really come up with any useable results (?)
Thanks!

You can get the u-bolts you need from any Napa. And it's much cheaper.

As for shackles, if you can find greasable bolts why not make em? I made mine, 3/8"s 2 inch wide flat stock. Took me about a hour to make and install them. (well hour and half if you count waiting for the paint to dry).

Pete,

For the u-bolts, just take one of the old ones to an spring shop where you live. They can make a full set in under an hour.

Cheers,

tp

I built my shackles too. Used 1.5" wide 3/8" plate and had a friend punch 9/16 holes in it for the grade 8 bolts. Not greasable but I fugure I will be destroying the poly bushings fairly often and will just grease it up when I put the new ones in...

AS for building my own shackles, I'd be into that. I did notice that the more hardcore/heavyduty shackles have a cross support whereinas the two sides are not independant of each other. Is this creating that much more "strength performance"? (noting that the stock shackles do not have this feature) Or is this a design choice allowing the change-in/out for greasable bolts?

I think that for crawling and flex, the shackles without the bracing would be better. When I built my FJ40 ten years ago, the ConFerr shackles/rancho springs were popular ,and I went that route. It rode like a brick and did not flex. Would never use them again for anything near wheeling where flex it good.

If you're going with a stock length shackle you will probably won't need the cross brace in there. Especially if you go with 3/8"s flat stock to make me. That's some beefy stuff.

I agree stay away from the cross braced shackles, you're gonna want the flex. Also with the SOA you'll get all the lift you want , so stay as short as neccessary on the length.
Glo's right 3/8 ought to work just fine.

I had my u-bolts fabbed up, any good spring shop can do them for you. Have them made a little extra long , you can always cut them to size later.

Originally posted by Reddog
I had my u-bolts fabbed up, any good spring shop can do them for you. Have them made a little extra long , you can always cut them to size later.

Bingo, but it's damn hard to make those short ones longer....:laughing: Trust me, I know. :D

You should sell me your used SU lift :D