rear shackle

[GatorBlue92]

ok this is gonna sound like a dumb question but which way do the rear shackles go in... is the open side to the front or rear... im finally getting my truck back together and i cant for the life of me remember which way they go

 

[blackbronc]

Every thing I've seen says closed side forward but don't see why it would make any difference.

 

[Todd~Rod]

Pics To Help

Just replaced mine about 5 months ago, here are a couple pics to help you out that i just went and took when i read your thread. Open end of the shackle goes toward the back of the truck.

 

[GatorBlue92]

Just replaced mine about 5 months ago, here are a couple pics to help you out that i just went and took when i read your thread. Open end of the shackle goes toward the back of the truck.

thats perfect... thanks!

 

[JohnnyU]

I've always installed them opposite from how they are shown in that picture...

 

[Forcus]

I've always installed them opposite from how they are shown in that picture...

same here. Seems to me that you'd want the spring to clear the closed area of the shackle under compression.

 

[kunar]

same here. Seems to me that you'd want the spring to clear the closed area of the shackle under compression.

but... thats not the way ford did it. i dont know why, and i dont know if it makes any difference, but they were the other way from the factory. atleast on my truck.

 

[JohnnyU]

but... thats not the way ford did it. i dont know why, and i dont know if it makes any difference, but they were the other way from the factory. atleast on my truck.

For what it's worth, they were installed as I described them being on my Ranger before I removed them in favor of a set of 6400 Belltech shackles.

 

[GatorBlue92]

so it sounds like it doesn't really matter which way they go... i can see why it would be beneficial for them to be installed with the open side forward

 

[blackbronc]

I've checked them at full stuff and can't imagine any possiblity of interference with the closed side forward. That said I still can't see where it matters either way as long as they're both facing the same direction. If you have the Chevy 63" springs installed it could be important since the shackle might be laying down flatter then.