Why not Shack Rev??

[stoneyxj]

So iam looking at all these pictures of different zuks, some have complete new front axles and or leaf springs, also i saw some where someone jsut moved the front perch down(for more lift?). but i don't understand why you would go through all that work and NOT do a shackle revesal?? thats one of the first things i am doing!

[OKIE ZUK]

UPS trucks run shackle reverse, so guess it would work on the trails.:laughing:

[Hvy_Chevy]

some people like the shackle in the front
some people like the shackle in the rear
some people like no shackles.

it's all opinion.

[trail rated]

some people like the shackle in the front
some people like the shackle in the rear
some people like no shackles.

it's all opinion.
I like no shackles or leaf springs for that matter.

[RockMolester]

You'll love how the S/R handles rough terrain. I converted my Samurai to shackle reversal with YJ springs and couldn't believe what an improvement it was over having missing links in front.

Solid axle Toyotas come from the factory with trailing shackles for a reason. About the only downside I can think of is that the wheels move rearward as they move upward, so tire rub at the back of the fenderwell can sometimes be an issue.

[rkwfxd]

You'll love how the S/R handles rough terrain. I converted my Samurai to shackle reversal with YJ springs and couldn't believe what an improvement it was over having missing links in front.


Did you fab this yourself or use a kit? Can you post pics? I'd like to see some ideas for S/R with YJs and Yotas.

[MOSDIF589]

Solid axle Toyotas come from the factory with trailing shackles for a reason. About the only downside I can think of is that the wheels move rearward as they move upward, so tire rub at the back of the fenderwell can sometimes be an issue.[/QUOTE]

Jeep CJ & YJ's didn't come that way & Ford F-250's didn't.... It's all what you like.... If Iwas driving on the road at high speeds then I would do the S/R or if I was real concerned on the ride quality maybe then also.... But I do not like the trade off of the longer spline front driveshaft needed for the extra front to back movement needed for this type of set up... If it's built right it will work great both ways but if you build it wrong you can have a mess with a driveshaft that is to long trashing your x-case Or if it's to short then it's pulling out on you....... my vote is for "NO S/R"... but do what you like...:)
MOSDIF589

[RockMolester]

I agree on the long-travel driveshaft; consider this a MUST if you're going to have any significant amount of front wheel travel, otherwise your driveline will pull apart and/or you'll destroy the front output of your transfer case. Seen it happen.

While a shackle reversal rides better on the road, the real benefit is off-road where the wheels are doing a lot of up and down movement. Because the wheels move backwards as they move up, there is a huge difference in how easily and smoothly a rockcrawler progresses through rock piles. Before doing the shackle reversal on my Samurai, it bounced and lurched through the rocks like most vehicles (including coiled/linked vehicles) because as the wheels move upward, they move forward. This causes the tire that is climbing the rock to "fight" the forward progress of the other 3 tires. Once I did the shackle reversal, it was amazing how much smoother and easier the truck crept through the rocks. With the tire that's climbing the rock also moving rearward, it allows the other 3 tires to progress forward without having to "push" the 4th tire forward faster than it wants to roll over the rock.

It's hard to explain, but the first second you hop behind the wheel, you'll feel an immediate difference. I hope I've made my explanation clear.

Here are a couple pictures of my Samurai showing how the front wheels move forward/backward as they go up/down:

http://www.off-road.com/suzuki/reviews/images/cssusflex01.jpg

http://www.off-road.com/suzuki/reviews/images/cssusflex05.jpg

The article I wrote can be found here (http://www.off-road.com/suzuki/reviews/cssuspension.htm).

Everyone has his/her own preferences, but based on my own personal experience with many different vehicles, my vote goes to the shackle reversal. That same personal experience goes to a vote against missing link type shackles in front, but that's a different argument for a different day. :flipoff2:

[steveracer]

shackle rev is the way to go IMHO,if is done properly. i dont have a long spline ds and i have never pulled a shaft apart,and i have lots of wheel travel.:p

[xxlf250]

I switched to s/r and the ride is better and it still works as good if not better than missing links

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d87/xxlf250/saltonsea079.jpg

[RockMolester]

shackle rev is the way to go IMHO,if is done properly. i dont have a long spline ds and i have never pulled a shaft apart,and i have lots of wheel travel.:p

Obviously, every vehicle is different. And what springs you select (and even small details like where the center pin is located on the spring) can have a huge affect on the amount of spline travel. But for comparison's sake, my Samurai used about 6 inches of driveshaft spline, while my Toyota uses about 9 inches, from full compression to full extension. On both vehicles I had custom drivelines made utilizing PTO spline shafts because that was the only readily available spline that was long enough. Actually, the first driveline I had made for my Toy only had about 7 inches of spline, and it both pulled apart AND bottomed out, so I ditched it immediately for one with proper travel. The company that made it for me burned me on that, because I gave them exact measurements and let them know how much spline travel I needed, and then they wouldn't make me a new one or even give me a full refund when I explained the problem.

My Samurai's driveshaft was made by Gloeco (AZ Driveline) and my Toyota's correct driveshaft was made by Inchworm Gear (Sierra Driveline). Haven't managed to break either one.

[crashnzuk]

I am contemplating doing a s/r when I move my front axle forward. The reason being, I am probably going to be doing more desert exploring/trailriding in the future. The last time I went to the desert, I hit a whoop a bit too fast and jammed my front axle back and bent the shit out of my springs. If I had done this with a s/r set-up, I am confident the only thing that would have happened would be slightly flatter springs or maybe a sheared center bolt. Either of which is way better than taking your springs out, disassembling them and hammering each leaf back semi-flat. It all depends on what you like, and what you are doing with your junk.
Travis..

[tinbeater]

shackle rev is the way to go IMHO,if is done properly. i dont have a long spline ds and i have never pulled a shaft apart,and i have lots of wheel travel.:p
:confused: :confused:

[RockMolester]

The last time I went to the desert, I hit a whoop a bit too fast and jammed my front axle back and bent the shit out of my springs. If I had done this with a s/r set-up, I am confident the only thing that would have happened would be slightly flatter springs or maybe a sheared center bolt.
Travis..

Oh yeah. That's one of the things I hated about Missing Links in front. Not only would I lose steering when the passenger side wheel drooped, but if either front tire drooped down and unfolded the Missing Link, the wheel would get pushed backward as the truck moved forward, and several times I almost munched a front spring. It's like trying to push a pencil along your desk by its sharpened tip with one finger, trying to keep it moving straight without "cheating" and moving your finger to either side; quite quickly, your finger will pass the pencil. When this happens with your springs, you wind up with a bent or broken main leaf. And that isn't good.

With a shackle reversal, the trailing shackle means the axle is pulled along by the spring. No chance for a main leaf to get bent or broken. And no loss of steering as the axle droops!

[Tusker]

S/R rocks :p

Here are a few pics of two I have done s/r.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=239989&stc=1&d=1145076803

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=239990&stc=1&d=1145076803

[tdavis]

Did you fab this yourself or use a kit? Can you post pics? I'd like to see some ideas for S/R with YJs and Yotas.

There is no kits for S/R on the market that are worth buying.

Build your own; the knowledge is out there, you just need to do some reading, writing, and uh humming.

[RockMolester]

There is no kits for S/R on the market that are worth buying.

Build your own; the knowledge is out there, you just need to do some reading, writing, and uh humming.

While they're relatively easy to build yourself, I can recommend the Asian Auto Parts shackle reversal. My roommate just ordered one for his Sami.

[tdavis]

While they're relatively easy to build yourself, I can recommend the Asian Auto Parts shackle reversal. My roommate just ordered one for his Sami.


Too bad, it's not that great of a kit. I know - I had one on my zuk, and just finished cutting it off.

[Elusive1]

The factory mounts that front trailing shackle hangs from are pretty thin. I broke mine off the frame one day, so i made new ones out of 1/4" plate and boxed them in. I'd consider doing it from the start.

[paulevans76]

the shackle angle, how level the eyes of the springs are (ie is one higher than the other from the ground), and centerpin location play a huge part in how it rides/drives/handles/brakes/flexes/climbs, in both std and rev shackle setups.

[catfish<><]

toyota trucks already have it figured out and with toy axles I just copied toy dimintions and angles, toy rear springs, the hardest part was hanging the shackel as the frame width is narrower so I went through the bottom of the frame, square driveshaft, the rig works great

bob

www.extremewheelers4christ.org