[miniyota]

will a small shackle lift to the front help to arch the springs back the right way?
they bend upward instead of downward. it really limits travel and the stock shackle is almost touching the frame. i'd like the truck to sit level. any idea how much to make the truck level. it's still stock except for the engine mods i have done.

thanks <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

 

[dangerber]

No.

Maybe some rear toy springs would be good. Or stock wagoneers. What lift do you have in the rear that you are trying to level to? <IMG SRC="smilies/question.gif" border="0">

 

[miniyota]

well, i haven't lifted it yet. just sick of the springs that way.

i plan on putting chevy's on the rear this winter and the rears up front. so should i just hold my horses until then i guess.

i read that 1 inch of extra shackle length gives you 1/2 inch of lift. is that true? <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

 

[4CrawlR]

Originally posted by Ross A Hildebrandt:
<STRONG>will a small shackle lift to the front help to arch the springs back the right way?
they bend upward instead of downward. it really limits travel and the stock shackle is almost touching the frame. i'd like the truck to sit level. any idea how much to make the truck level. it's still stock except for the engine mods i have done.</STRONG>

Wonj't help the reverse arch, thats caused by too much weight, it will help with the shackle angle and travel, though. Shackles hiit the frame becuase the springs are longer than the distance between spring hanger and shackle:

Shackle angle analysis

 

[Pazuzu]

Originally posted by Ross A Hildebrandt:
<STRONG>well, i haven't lifted it yet. just sick of the springs that way.

i read that 1 inch of extra shackle length gives you 1/2 inch of lift. is that true? <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

The stocker front springs are notoriously flat,and get negatively arched after about 10 years.

Adding to your shackle length won't squat if they're laying flat! <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0">

 

[miniyota]

so if i throw an add a leaf in there for until i get my lift parts together will that help? i don't think it will hurt my spring rate. they are pretty flat anyway and i don't care anyway. its just a temp. fix. <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

 

[Ben]

Why do a temporary fix? If the add a leaf won't be in your final spring pack, don't waste your money. If you put the rears in front, you'll need longer front shackles anyways because the rears are longer than the fronts, and the long shackle makes up the difference. And, if the shackle is lying flat now, a longer one WILL lift the truck a little. The length of the spring stays the same, so when you put a longer shackle on, the length of the spring will pull the shackle off the frame a little. Sorr, thats pretty confusing, but the longer shackle will lift your rig.

 

[Pazuzu]

Originally posted by Ben:
<STRONG>And, if the shackle is lying flat now, a longer one WILL lift the truck a little. The length of the spring stays the same, so when you put a longer shackle on, the length of the spring will pull the shackle off the frame a little. </STRONG>

Yeah, technically...but the lift compared to shackle length is minimal. Not the 1/2 that is usually quoted.
He's got to redesign some stuff to get any significant lift up there. Basically, he has to bite the bullet until he can get a new spring/shackle setup running.

 

[miniyota]

i've got a friend with some old leaves that will kinda fit. i don't know if i will have some time or not next semester to do a little project. but i need to wheel and this is starting to piss me off. i guess i'll try the shackle to see what happens. i can always use it later. they are about 5 inches eye to eye. i haven't actually cut them out of the 1/4 inch plate yet. i'll do some flex where the right angle and what the right lenght is. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

 

[4CrawlR]

Originally posted by Ross A Hildebrandt:
<STRONG>i've got a friend with some old leaves that will kinda fit. i don't know if i will have some time or not next semester to do a little project. but i need to wheel and this is starting to piss me off. i guess i'll try the shackle to see what happens. i can always use it later. they are about 5 inches eye to eye. i haven't actually cut them out of the 1/4 inch plate yet. i'll do some flex where the right angle and what the right lenght is. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

I recently lengthened my front shackle 1.5" and got exactly 0" lift, but then again I didn't want any either. The longer shackle just put more weight on the rear of the spring. This is with rear springs up front, so they have a longer back half.

Adding leaves to the stock front setup can be tricky. You'll probably have to swap out leaves, since its pretty cramped with draglink clearance around the u-bolts. Even adding thicker than stock leaves may cause problems.

 

[NoBrainR]

On my 79 with slightly negative fronts, I kept stock shackles, moved the axle 1" forward, and stuffed 35" SX's in the wheel wells, all on stock springs. The picture at the left is my old truck. I added to the front instead of the rear. Since your a student welder, get the stuff (I used a chevy receiver but the box was 2.5" square 3/8" wall) and build your own lift kit. But make sure your welding is up to par. Of course the wheel wells on your 85 are smaller so you'll need a 4 wheeler's best friend, A SAWZALL. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

 

[miniyota]

if i move the axel forward about an inch maybe my tire will stop rubbing. makes a horrable noise. i've do the weld strength test and they don't break <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"> almost scary to me. since this is the first real time i have been welding. so a shackle probably won't do crap. that beats that cheap fix into the ground. oh well just another excuse to get the chevy's out back and the backs up front! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> i'm sure my wife is getting sick of this. but, she loves me anyway! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

 

[Ben]

Originally posted by Pazuzu:
<STRONG>Yeah, technically...but the lift compared to shackle length is minimal. Not the 1/2 that is usually quoted.
He's got to redesign some stuff to get any significant lift up there. Basically, he has to bite the bullet until he can get a new spring/shackle setup running.</STRONG>

Yeah, it won't lift it much, but if I understand right, I think he's just looking for a quick fix to level out the truck due to badly sagging front springs, not get any substantial lift right now. And what I'm saying is that if he puts rears up front, I think he has to run a longer shackle anyway (unless he moves mounts around), so he would use those shackles anyway when he does the lift. I just put longer shackles on my 82 cause I'm going to put S-10s in the rear and rear/front packs in the front. The shackles are about 3 1/2 or 4 inches longer than stock, and probably lifted the truck one or two inches.

 

[4CrawlR]

Originally posted by Ross A Hildebrandt:
<STRONG>is the first real time i have been welding. so a shackle probably won't do crap. that beats that cheap fix into the ground.</STRONG>

A longer shackle will help et the shackle off the frame if its rubbing and it will help with the tire rubbign. While you don't get a whole lot of lift out of front shackles (unless combined with a spring hanger drop) you do kick the back end of the tire down (instead of moving the spring eye back when compressed its more down), so it does help a bit with tire rubbing

On my '85, I had 3.5" lift w/ rubbing 33x9.50 tires. Added 1" body lift - helped a bit, a 1" longer shackle - helped a bit more (plus stopped my stock shackle from hitting the frame), redrilled the spring perch ~1" and that finally fixed the rubbing. Every little bit helps.

 

[Black_Panther]

do youself a HUGE favor and not make your own shackles!!! or if you do, get something thicker than 1/4 inch stock. you will twist those suckers up faster than a $2 whore drops to her knees... <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> you'll be much better off with 3/8" plate. Keep in mind that an extended shackle will add additional stress to the end of your springs and cause them to negatively arch even more after a few runs. why wait until the winter to do your spring swap? you can't wheel it now, so do it right the first time. <IMG SRC="smilies/grinpimp.gif" border="0">

 

[miniyota]

Originally posted by Black_Panther:
<STRONG>do youself a HUGE favor and not make your own shackles!!! or if you do, get something thicker than 1/4 inch stock. you will twist those suckers up faster than a $2 whore drops to her knees... <IMG SRC="smilies/laughing.gif" border="0"> you'll be much better off with 3/8" plate. Keep in mind that an extended shackle will add additional stress to the end of your springs and cause them to negatively arch even more after a few runs. why wait until the winter to do your spring swap? you can't wheel it now, so do it right the first time. <IMG SRC="smilies/grinpimp.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

my friend is gonna grab those springs for me.
i have to wait until christmas break. i don't have any time to do it right now. i go to school in the morning until 3.00 and then work from 4.00 till 8.00. i don't have any time to anything till this winter.

<IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0">

 

[miniyota]

okay i cut out my shackles at school today too. i made them out of 3/8 thick plate. should i but a brace between the shackle

[ ]
[--]
[ ]

kinda like that only thicker <IMG SRC="smilies/question.gif" border="0">

what size do the holes need to be? i have a 1/2 or 5/8 drill bit to bore the holes?
thanks guys you are loads of help!

<IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[ 09-26-2001: Message edited by: Ross A Hildebrandt ]

 

[4CrawlR]

Originally posted by Ross A Hildebrandt:
<STRONG>okay i cut out my shackles at school today too. i made them out of 3/8 thick plate. should i but a brace between the shackle

[ ]
[--]
[ ]

kinda like that only thicker <IMG SRC="smilies/question.gif" border="0">

what size do the holes need to be? i have a 1/2 or 5/8 drill bit to bore the holes?
thanks guys you are loads of help!]</STRONG>

I've run 1" and 2" longer unbraced front shackles. The 1" wasn't too bad, but the two would tend to get loose, sometimes would wobble on the road. I now have 3.5" longer braced fronts and they are much more solid on the road, seem to work as well off road.