Custom shackles, anyone has done this?

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

Well im thinking 3/16 will be enough

this is some quick info i got on the bushing diameter

Bushing hole is 2 1/4 in wide .... 3 in wide including bushing
built out of 1/8th in steel

so ill talk to my cousin and start gathering the materials.

whats the new shackle lenght i would need to lift it 2"?

 

[bobbywalter]

So i was thinking about removing the 2" blocks on the rear axle and fab up some custom shackles to lift it. Has anyone done custom shackles? or know how to modify(extend) the stock ones?

Whats the gain on doing this? im expecting to gain the 2" of lift from the blocks and maybe some flex, because with stock leafs and blocks it wont flex that much.

So any help and pictures would be appreciated!

why? ive seen millions of threads here with belltech shackle swaps and ive yet to see someone lower the front hangers too. if anything it would help straighten out the pinion angle wouldnt it?
not arguing, just wanting to hear your reasoning

by putting retarded long shackles on the rear to remove blocks you will be creating a pinion angle issue.

by adding a 2 in drop shackle and lowering the front the same 2 inches you are being nice to the springs and improving the wheel hop situation and improving wear on the ujoints from less aggressive deflection.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

by putting retarded long shackles on the rear to remove blocks you will be creating a pinion angle issue.

by adding a 2 in drop shackle and lowering the front the same 2 inches you are being nice to the springs and improving the wheel hop situation and improving wear on the ujoints from less aggressive deflection.

i see your point, so what would you suggest? can i get away with it by just adding an extension?
like another smaller shackle?

 

[shane96ranger]

Bobby..... I'm just thinking here.....

But if you raise the rear two inches, and keep the front the same.... wouldn't you only be effectively raising the overall height by one inch (or so)? Maybe my thoughts are not correct, but it seems like you wouldn't get the full 2 inches by only raising one end.

 

[bobbywalter]

2 in drop shackle wont net 2 in of lift. if you want to dump the block you need to have a similar amount of hanger/shackle drop to keep ride height in check.


if you dont want blocks....either get lift springs, or different springs altogether and or drop the hangers.


if you need a tad more lift then just the shackles may be the ticket.


its not to bad a job to drop the hangers.

 

[shane96ranger]

2 in drop shackle wont net 2 in of lift.

Alright, that's what I was thinking.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

Ohh crap now its gettin difficult.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

So i cant get away with making some sort of shackle for the front hanger? to extend it without moving it?

 

[88_Eddie]

Ohh crap now its gettin difficult.

yeah, i think the only viable option here is a FW SAS swap and 40's

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

Yeah, well, besides that?

 

[Boggin]

yeah, i think the only viable option here is a FW SAS swap and 40's

lolol. +raped

 

[shane96ranger]

Nothing like a good old fashioned rapin'...... Especially from RSH.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

common guys focus in the damn shackles
i need ideas here.

 

[88_Eddie]

screw the pinion angle, you'll be fine.

 

[bobbywalter]

with just the drop shackles your fine. unless you want to maintain ride height and dump the blocks.







all you need to do is lower the front hangers. pretty easy.

grinder and a cutoff wheel makes very short work of removing them. though the best bet is to remove the gas tank and shield the lines to do this...worth the effort for safety not to mention it will go faster.

lower them to desired height and reinforce them if you want with some angle/3/16 plate.

a good unibit and decent drill to make the new holes and some hardware and your done.

you can do the rear shackle hangers the same way. and this can get some lift and rid of the stock blocks and you may not have to buy shackles at all.


cheapest way to lift the rear of the truck.