Next summer I will be doing a SOA and am considering a shakle reversal. My son in his quest for SAS knowledge on his mini truck was told to consider using a rear spring shakle hanger instead of piercing the frame.
Has anyone had experience w/ this on a cruiser? Would a mini truck shakle mount work? Any concerns w/ not piercing the frame and going below? Any advice or information is appreciated.

My cruiser has this setup. It was already installed by the previous owner, who wasn't very good at welding. What I discovered was cracks on one side of the hanger where it was welded to the frame, not a very reassuring thing to find after I had driven it about 100 miles home. There's alot of stress at the weld because of the extra length from the shackel pins being father away from the frame. So this is what I did and I suggest you do it also if you choose this route. Make sure you have a qualified welder weld the hanger to the frame and then after the hanger is welded on weld a 1/4" steel plate on the side of the frame to beef it up and overlap the hanger and weld it as far down on the hanger as possible. The only down sides from welding the hanger onto the frame instead of pierceing the frame that I've found is the front of truck sets a couple inches higher than the back unless you jack the back up to compensate. What I did was put the front spring on the rear and the rear on the front then used a little longer shackels in the rear. I also had to cut and turn my knuckels to get the right caster and keep the driveshaft yokes from binding, If I would of stayed with 350chevy sm420, 3spd tc I could of made it work without turning the knuckels.

whe dogwalker and i did my soa..we did this. my header got in the way of peircing the frame. i9 havent wheeled it yet its still fresh. but i trust it w/ my life!

Did you use a mini truck bracket? If you did was it used or are you able to purchace them new? Thanks

i used the mini truck arm for my mini truck discs. i then took my old drum, brake arm and welded it ... well jeff welded it, bad ass too!...on top and you now have cross over.

--- am i talkin bout the same thign youi guys are? i hope so..otyherwise im just an idiot!

I just used my old ones... Either grind or torch out the rivets that hold 'em to the frame then use a bfh and they'll come off... :D

EXACTLY WHAT WE DID

my "family" (me, "little brother", "sister"and "dad") all run with the stock rear bracket put up front and the tube from the stock front hanger welded into the rear of the frame. Has worked great for all of us.

I did the same thing to my FJ40 using what I cut off and It worked great. Its better to have your shackle bolt run through about 1-2in from bottom of frame. You will have better stearing and less sway on the road. I've seen rigs with the shackle hanging off the bottom of the frame and they have a harder time steering straight untill you get used to it. Better to weld a scab plate to the inside off frame before cutting hole and to weld 2x4 steel tubing extending the width of front frame to weld hangers from.


T.P.I350 th400 HD44frt ARB D60R dthman ARB SOA RS 100"WHB rear tank pwr strg. My wife wants to know when its done? I said never, but she dont believe me.