i just spent the last hour or so searching and mmmmm....nothing that covers my little problem. just got done turning a bone stock 85 EFI xtra cab into a little something i can start beating and throwing money at. i have all pros in front...and a beat up set of used superjunks in the rear. i removed a leaf from the rear pack and went to a little spot close by to bounce her around a little and after screwing around i was back on flat land and noticed that the ass of my rig was still stuffed???? my shackle had been stuck flat against the frame and would not come back to its regular position?? do i need to return the leaf i removed? run a longer shackle? or am i just being retarded..??? anyone had this happen? any help will be greatly appreciated.
and now to start the next activity..:beer: :beer: :beer:

Do me a favor and measure how long those rear springs are (flat, along their length). I am *guessing* they are from an 89-85 truck, and are therefore a couple of inches too long for your application.

I may be wrong, but maybe not ;)

i just checked the spring number and it is for a 85 pick up...#7035r
#7045r is the number for the 89 trucks.. will a spring that is TOO soft cause this?

Spring nubers can be mis-stamped - measuring is the sure way to tell :) See, the problem seems to be that the spring is too long for the hanger distance and shackle length used. So you either need to move the shackle hanger back, get a longer shackle, or a shorter spring.

you called it...i measured the stock set at 44 1/2 and the set on there now at about 47 1/4. so now that is solved....will a longer shackle solve this?? i need just a little more lift out back anyway.

Couldn't hurt.

well looks like i'll be gettin some steel tommorrow and doin a little shakle makin':D thanks for the help.

Originally posted by screwedUp
you called it...i measured the stock set at 44 1/2 and the set on there now at about 47 1/4. so now that is solved....will a longer shackle solve this?? i need just a little more lift out back anyway.

Hmmm.... how are you measuring? Stock rear springs for your truck are 47.5" or so long... Even so, if you measured both the same way, it looks like the pack you have now are about 3" longer... which could still mean you have 89+ springs - which are more like 51" long.

Anyway... If you are using 89+ springs, then you also moved your axle back 1" in the process due to a different center pin location.

Regardless, a set of longer shackles should solve your problem, and if not, relocating the rear shackle hanger definately will :)

i measured from eye to eye...but the ones on the ground were unloaded and the ones on the truck are..well you know..:rolleyes: since my welding still leaves a lot to be desired and im working with a cheepo wire feed welder ill just make some shakles.

For future reference, the proper way to measure a leaf spring is along it's length. Probably the best way is to use a cloth type tape that you can lay directly against the main leaf and measure from center of eye to center of eye.

This measurement gets you the correct "lenght" - and is static - hever changing for that leaf, unlike the simple eye to eye distance in a straight line.

got it..man i cant believe i havent been flamed here yet.:bounce2:

Originally posted by screwedUp
got it..man i cant believe i havent been flamed here yet.:bounce2:

You are posting about backyard swaps, you are actually going out and measuring instead of just reading the internet, and you are doing your own work to MAKE IT WORK...


Nothing to be flamed at here - shoot, other newbies should be taking notes on this :p

Originally posted by screwedUp
you called it...i measured the stock set at 44 1/2 and the set on there now at about 47 1/4. so now that is solved....will a longer shackle solve this?? i need just a little more lift out back anyway.

My rule of thumb is about 1" extra shackle length for each extra inch of of spring length (over stock).

for shackle material....hot rolled or cold rolled steel? difference??

Originally posted by screwedUp
for shackle material....hot rolled or cold rolled steel? difference??

I use 3/8" x 2" hot rolled flat bar. Cold rolled might be a little stronger.

WHAMMO!!!! problem solved. 2 1/2 hrs to buy material, cut to length, drill holes, paint and bolt on. but those damn all pros up front are so flexy i gotta get busy with the sawzall to stuff the 35's:D :D