Did this ever happen to anyone on this board?

I am currently in the process of building up "Wallace" who is my 1986 FJ60. Decided to go SOA with a front shackle reversal. Stock spring packs were totally wrecked so I ordered new stock length springs from Alcan and I told them I was doing a shackle reversal. The shackle reversal kit we ordered is the same kit that Man-A-Fre sells. It is supposed to add 1.5" in the front and I figured I'd just order new shackles for the rear to compensate once everything else was complete. Wow. When the truck came off the list the front end was about 11" over stock and the rear was only about 6 inches over stock. In order to get it out of the garage to make room for another truck we set the front end SUA and left the rear SOA. I took images of it in this SOA/SUA configuration yesterday.

We are wondering what exactly to do next. Bringing the rear up would make it way to high (the rear height looks good now.) We could leave the front SUA just like it sits. However neither of these idea is sitting too well with me. Any advice would be appreciated. I did a search and found some info. about de-arching springs but was not sure how it applies to this situation where the front is so much higher than the rear. Can someone else who has done a SOA/shackle-reversal chime in please?

Thanks, Grant

looks like the new springs need to strech and break in. Might the front shackles be to tight to let it drop out. Get the specs on the front springs (weight rating, lbs/in) They should not have been to much over the stock if any inorder to do the soa. Most people like to use the worn springs so as not to get to much lift. Just in the soa one should get about 5-6". Make sure the new front springs are not lifted springs. Good luck

-Darius

looks like the new springs need to strech and break in. Might the front shackles be to tight to let it drop out. Get the specs on the front springs (weight rating, lbs/in) They should not have been to much over the stock if any inorder to do the soa. Most people like to use the worn springs so as not to get to much lift. Just in the soa one should get about 5-6". Make sure the new front springs are not lifted springs. Good luck

-Darius

Thanks for the reply. I have checked the spring measurements and the weight rating with Alcan and they are correct. There is no way they are going to relax enough (4 inches at least.) The shackle reversal kit is a Man-A-Fre 4+Plus kit and it is installed correctly. The springs are taking the load and the shackles are sitting just beyond 90 degrees when the truck is on the ground. The shackles are not too tight, they move as they should.

I think the issue is that the Man-A-Fre kit gives a lot more than the 1.5" inches of height that they advertise when it is SOA form - something more like 5".

Anyone else ever go SOA with stock springs using a Man-A-Fre shackle reversal kit on a 60/62 and get approx. 11" of total lift in the front? :shaking:

Try running it SUA front and SOA rear and see how it works! You might just end up with the best of both worlds and have a flexy 60 that drives well on the highway!

I know this because i did this with my old wrangler and it drove and wheeled so nice, i left it SOA rear and SUA front for 2 years and it worked awesome!

Nice pics though! Is that SOA in the rear using stock springs, or Alcan stock heights?

P.S. are those 35's?

I think the problem you have is you put a shackle reversal kit made for a SUA truck on a SOA truck:P....when guys use that kit they normaly use a 2in lift front spring and a 4inch lift rear spring...look at an 85 and later mini truck/4runner or somebody that has done a SAS on there mini...do it similar to what they do. You only need short mounts up front and a hole through the frame for the shackle in the back...you are going to have to take that SUA Shackle reversal out and make your own......

I will be up in NH this weekend(saturday) at the NEA trail maintaince event if you want me to take a look at the truck but i am pretty sure you are going to have to pull that SR kit out and make one that is shorter to get were you want to go. I also have a set of Stock 60 front springs i can bring up that i don't need/want that look OK...would need to be cleaned up ect ect...maybe also pull one or two leaves out of the front and see how it sits..

take a look here for some good SOA tech

www.ih8mud.com/cruisertech.php (http://)

Stew

www.ih8mud.com/cruisertech.php (http://)

Stew

Bad link dude.

Fixed it for you. :flipoff2:

www.ih8mud.com/cruisertech.php (http://www.ih8mud.com/cruisertech.php)

< ..The springs are taking the load and the shackles are sitting just beyond 90 degrees when the truck is on the ground. ..>
I thought the shackles should be sitting closer to 60 or 45 degrees?