As you may know I bought this rig off of the board here 2 months ago. I have gone through and fixed quite a few things and kind of saved the front end for last.

When I bought the rig, the PO let me know that there was a bolt welded to the Driver side shackle to keep it from dropping and letting the driveline pull apart. So when I was putting new ubolt plates/U bolts in last night I decided to cut the bolt out. My plan was to get some limiting straps and or build a square driveline.

When I went to lower the Hi lift this is how the suspension sits static. After I hang off the stinger the front end comes back down.

Now I don't know if this is a problem with bushings, shackle design/angle, or what????

I would imagine on the trail the suspension would settle again after cycling over terrain. Or it could sit with the shackles kicked back a little and the front end about 2" higher than the back??

I am trying to make the Tin Benders Jambo and have run out of funds. What would be a good solution? Weld the limiting (bolt) back in there??

The first pic is at ride height without the hi lift. Notice where I grinded the welded in bolt off.

The pic's of the shackle hanging down are after I raised the front end, then lowered it. It pretty much stays at this angle till I hang off the front bumper to weigh it down.

your shackle hangers really needs a total rework. Will you have shocks when you hit the trail? You need something to limit droop with such short shackles. Plus those stock XJ shackles are not known for being real strong. Me personally, I would not wheel that thing like that especially at the Hammers.

JMO, Phil

I have some Billsteins that I removed when installing the U bolt plates. They will go back on there.

When you say the shackle hangars need a total re-work, do you have any suggestions?

They are actually stock Chevy shackles....not that it matters because they are not the stongest either. I could pick some new/old ones up from the pic and pull too.

I would reposition the shackle hanger forward a couple of inches and get some longer shackles.

BTW not very hardcore.

There must be some internal friction that is keeping the shackles from returning. Like someone said, the hangers should be cut off and moved forward. Shackles are easy to make yourself, no need to go to pick and pull.

Your shacle mount is to far forward and thats why its sitting like that. You need to move it back some.

Your shacle mount is to far forward and thats why its sitting like that. You need to move it back some.

UMMM

If the shackle was any farther to the rear it would cause a lot more porblems. Like camming over in the wrong direction on compression.

The shackle is binding up when weight is put back on it, because it is vertical and their is not enough angle to it.

Moving the Shackle fwd a couple of inches with a longer shackle will fix this.

Shackle hanger is too far forward.Move it back.Towards the rear of the rig.And get a little longer shackle at the same time.With flat springs I would shoot for about a 45* angle on the shackle.

Cool, thanks for the heads up guys.

yea dude u deff need to move the mounts back and go with longer shackles if u move the mounts forward like half the other guys are sayin its just gonna bind more. and use limiting straps dont count on the shocks to limit your flex u will end up distroying your shocks. good luck man hope u make the jambo

I agree, they need to go back. But I will bet you if you just take some 3/8" x 2" flat bar and make some shackles about 1" longer, it would fix it as well. You are still going to need a shaft with a longer slip though.

Please explain why the shackles need to go back? If he moves them back he will risk inverting the shackles when the suspension recompresses. He needs longer shackles and to move the mounts forward. Remember we are looking at a front axle.

Cut off the mounts and put the shackles back in the front. It will be tons more stable on verticle stuff. Also, there will be no need to build a long slip driveline.

Cut off the mounts and put the shackles back in the front. It will be tons more stable on verticle stuff. Also, there will be no need to build a long slip driveline.

Agreed, I had the same problem on the front of my YJ, I finally got tired of messing with it and put the shackles back up front, never had any more problems, and I like the way it works offroad much better.

sounds like the shackles are binding... are the steel sleeves in the bushings? Seriously cut it all off and pick up some of these (http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/shackle-hanger-p-132.html) and put the shackles back in front and some of these (http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/spring-hanger-springs-p-123.html) for the back of the springs. then make sure you have sleeves in the bushings and go with rubber instead of poly if possible. Finally ditch the chevy tension shackles for some that are designed to work in compression. just my .02

sounds like the shackles are binding... are the steel sleeves in the bushings? Seriously cut it all off and pick up some of these (http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/shackle-hanger-p-132.html) and put the shackles back in front and some of these (http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/spring-hanger-springs-p-123.html) for the back of the springs. then make sure you have sleeves in the bushings and go with rubber instead of poly if possible. Finally ditch the chevy tension shackles for some that are designed to work in compression. just my .02

some of these are not worky :D

Cut off the mounts and put the shackles back in the front. It will be tons more stable on verticle stuff. Also, there will be no need to build a long slip driveline.


x3, i moved mine back to the front with 0 problems. shackle reversal is ok for road applications, but it causes more problems than it does good on a wheelin rig.

UMMM

If the shackle was any farther to the rear it would cause a lot more porblems. Like camming over in the wrong direction on compression.

The shackle is binding up when weight is put back on it, because it is vertical and their is not enough angle to it.

Moving the Shackle fwd a couple of inches with a longer shackle will fix this.

No. If you move it forward it will do what its doing now.

No. If you move it forward it will do what its doing now.

OK as it sits now problem#1)on compression the shackle is binding because it is almost past center or inverting. Problem #2)when the weight of the vehicle is on the axle the shackle flattens out and hits the shackle mount.

Moving the shackle hanger forward fixes problem #1, but as a result worsens problem #2. Therefore you must then put a longer shackle on and that will eliminate problem #2.

If the shackle hanger is moved backward you fix problem #2 however Problem #1 gets worse. A limitting strap would then have to be used to limit droop or some type of stop would need to be incorporated into the shackle to keep it from inverting.

some of these are not worky :D
works fine for me.... dunno what to tell ya
wayback shackle hanger and spring hanger from ruffstuffoffroad

Cut off the mounts and put the shackles back in the front. It will be tons more stable on verticle stuff. Also, there will be no need to build a long slip driveline.

I agree with this.I like the shackles in front for wheeling.But to fic it the way it is move them back and longer shackles.

Moving the shackle hanger forward fixes problem #1, but as a result worsens problem #2. Therefore you must then put a longer shackle on and that will eliminate problem #2.

If the shackle hanger is moved backward you fix problem #2 however Problem #1 gets worse. A limitting strap would then have to be used to limit droop or some type of stop would need to be incorporated into the shackle to keep it from inverting.

X2 on all of this.
On the D shaft pulling apart, and frunt waking out frum under the rig. Just put in a limet strap in the midel of the axel with the strap on the low side back of the axel this will keep the axel frum roling down. Make the strap so it has 1 to 2 inch of play at ride hite If that. It will work. I had one on my rig when I ran leaf springs in the frunt.

That shackle is garbage. Cut it off and build a shackle like was said. It will work.