I searched and didn't find much of a discussion about shackle angles. What type of an angle are most rigs running. We are in the process of a SOA on a CJ-5 with wrangler leaves and have the front hangers all welded up. I measured the arch of the spring center to center and subtracted 3/4". Hopefully with the wieght of the body and motor, the spring eye (front end of jeep, without schackle reversal) will be about a 1/2" to 3/4" forward (6 degrees or so). This is with a 6" shackle center to center. We haven't done the rear yet so hopefully this brings up some discussion! The farther the schackle angle is forward the more droop correct? How far forward is TOO far or Rearward when we get to that tomorrow? :beer: :beer: :beer:

20 degrees from vertical.

Are these stock Wrangler springs? These springs are really flat so I would want a shackle angle at about 30 to 35 degrees. Just remeber, if you have your shackle angle more than 35 degrees or less than 30 degrees then your Jeep will roll and catch on fire the first time you take it out of your driveway (but you will get thrown out of the Jeep and onto a soft patch of grass on the side of the road).

;)

You just want the shackle to rest in the middle of its its throw, from maximum stuff to max droop. I like to use long shackles, 6" center to center aint bad, because they let you get more travel without worrying about the shackle being an issue.

A shallow shackle angle (i.e. 10-15 degrees) will make for a stiffer ride, and increased load carrying. You will also sacrifice some droop - because once the shackle has swung in toward the axle, the spring will now be under tension between the shackle and the hanger at the other end - making it much harder for the spring to droop.

A steeper shackle angle (i.e. 30-45 degrees) Will give you a smoother ride, but decrease your load caryying capacity. It will give you more droop because the shackle has further to swing downward, but it also has less compression, because the shackle can only swing back so far until it hits the frame.

Most CJ/YJ rigs I see have near-vertical shackle angles - especially those with lift shackles and stock springs. My Toy has a 45* rear angle, and I'm going to do my best to replicate that with the SAS on the front in two weeks. It makes sense to me, since leaf-sprung rigs usually have much more droop than compression, and the smoother ride quality might be nice. It'll make up for the TSLs :)