Dorman shackle and bracket vs Ford OEM parts

[joecool85]

I need to replace the shackle and bracket on the passenger side of my Ranger and I don't know if Dorman parts are good enough or if I should go with Ford OEM parts. The Dorman parts come with bolts/nuts and would run me $55 for one side, the Ford parts don't come with hardware and would run me $95 plus hardware.

I've read ok things about Dorman parts, anyone here have good luck with them?

 

[Ranger Dave (B25)]

Dorman will be fine. I've used plenty of their parts and never had an issue with them.

 

[joecool85]

Thanks, I appreciate the help.

 

[chrwilkins30]

I used there shackles on my b2 and they are still holding up. Prob in a few year I'll put on there brackets once mine fall victim to the road salt alittle worse

 

[racsan]

im not sure if mine were dorman or not, came with hardware. but i did clean and paint everything with areosol truck bedliner in hopes of making them last. so far, so good.

 

[djluski]

Dorman FTW

I recently had mine replaced with Dorman brand. They are equally solid as OEM and a fraction of the cost. Your local Advance Auto should have them for around $40. They come with everything necessary for the install. Fyi since Ford's stupid design is riveted you will have to torch or grind the old ones off.

 

[shane96ranger]

Dorman will be fine. I've used plenty of their parts and never had an issue with them.

I concur.

 

[joecool85]

I recently had mine replaced with Dorman brand. They are equally solid as OEM and a fraction of the cost. Your local Advance Auto should have them for around $40. They come with everything necessary for the install. Fyi since Ford's stupid design is riveted you will have to torch or grind the old ones off.

I couldn't find them that cheap but did only pay $55 for mine (bracket kit and shackle kit) which included the bolts like I thought, but also includes the spring bushing that I may or may not use.

Anyway, I've done a shackle and bracket before on the old '88 Ranger I had a few years back. I used OEM Ford parts and grade 8 bolts from my local hardware store. Had to use the angle grinder to get rid of the old rivets Ford used. Dumb design in a way, but I think even if they were bolts they'd need to be ground at this point due to rust.

Wish I had a torch

 

[racsan]

i used a torch for the rears and the right front, but went with the air chiesel/punch for the left front. the fuel tank being right behind it made me leary of torch use. all in all the air chiesel/punch did a good job, the rivits i torched out had some jagged edges to them, plus when you heat up the frame like than it will rust quicker due to paint/undercoating being burnt off. i painted everything before & after re-assembling. i did replace the bushings, figured as old as the originals were it would be a good idea.

 

[joecool85]

I've read you should have the weight of the vehicle on the new shackle before tightening down the nuts...is this important?

I can do it for the bottom bolt, but the top one I won't be able to get to with the bracket installed. Last night I put the bracket in my vice and put the top shackle in and tightened down the top bolt so that end is ready to go. I also put a bit of grease on the smooth part of the bolt where the shackle rides. I figured now I can install the 4 bolts onto the frame and then the one bolt for the lower bit of the shackle where it goes to the leaf spring.

 

[Ranger Dave (B25)]

Should follow the directions, you want everything to be tightened as the vehicle sits on the ground with everything in 'normal' position.

 

[joecool85]

Should follow the directions, you want everything to be tightened as the vehicle sits on the ground with everything in 'normal' position.

They didn't come with any directions and I don't have a Haynes for this truck. How do you go about doing the top bolt then if you need the weight on the truck when you do it?

 

[Ranger Dave (B25)]

Tighten that one, then do the rest as the truck sits on the ground.

 

[joecool85]

Tighten that one, then do the rest as the truck sits on the ground.

Ok, that was the plan. Now when you say, "the rest" with the truck on the ground, do you mean just the one that is left on the other end of the shackle or do you mean all the bolts including the 4 that hold the bracket on? I can't see why the bracket would need weight on it while tightening but I suppose I could be wrong.

Also, the top bolt I tightened as tight as I could go with my wrenches and I noticed the shackled had bent in a little and it was near impossible to swing the shackle in the bracket. I backed it off 1/8 of a turn and it is still awful tight in the bracket but I can swing the shackle now so I figured if I can swing it, the truck should be ok - does that sound tight enough to you or should it be tighter?

 

[Ranger Dave (B25)]

If I recall correctly, my dad and I did his by tightening the top ones while in the air and ALL other bolts once it was on the ground.

DISCLAIMER: Been awhile (8 or 9 years), going from memory.

And no you don't want anything so tight it binds. Make sure you can move it in the shackle. If you're not sure, check the other side provided it's still original.