Shackles vs Add-a-leaf

[koda6966]

Okay Nuff Stupid Arguments.

To me it would make sense that if the mounting point for the spring is 2 inches lower, its going to raise the truck 2 inches.
I'm siding with engdept.

 

[engdept]

Okay Nuff Stupid Arguments.

To me it would make sense that if the mounting point for the spring is 2 inches lower, its going to raise the truck 2 inches.
I'm siding with engdept.

Exactly, shackle angle stays the same no matter what on a Ranger or Bronco II.

 

[CopyKat]

Last I remember the center to center of a Belltech shackle is about 7" stock RBV is about 4" that is 3" over stock.

To obtain the full "Advertized" lift of a shackle would be to also lower the front bracket.

If you took a broom (Leaf spring) with one end on the floor. raised the other end 2" off the ground you would be simulating the setup. Now since the axle is not at the end you raised 2" you'll need to measure about center of the pole, which will likely be about half of what you lifted the rear of the pole. So 3" extended shackle will net you around a 1.5" lift. that is only if there is a 50/50 split on teh spring which RBV springs it is not. the front section is shorter than the rear.

 

[BlackBII]

Last I remember the center to center of a Belltech shackle is about 7" stock RBV is about 4" that is 3" over stock.

To obtain the full "Advertized" lift of a shackle would be to also lower the front bracket.

If you took a broom (Leaf spring) with one end on the floor. raised the other end 2" off the ground you would be simulating the setup. Now since the axle is not at the end you raised 2" you'll need to measure about center of the pole, which will likely be about half of what you lifted the rear of the pole. So 3" extended shackle will net you around a 1.5" lift. that is only if there is a 50/50 split on teh spring which RBV springs it is not. the front section is shorter than the rear.

Nailed it!

 

[koda6966]

What if you had extended shackles on both ends?

 

[brendank]

What if you had extended shackles on both ends?

That wouldn't work for a suspension system very well. You need one fixed mounting point otherwise the spring would be able to just flop around with the movement of the shackles.

Good explanation, Joel.

 

[koda6966]

That wouldn't work for a suspension system very well. You need one fixed mounting point otherwise the spring would be able to just flop around with the movement of the shackles.
Good explanation, Joel.

True, but my cousin has a shackle on the front end of the spring welded up to the mount so it doesn't move. Basically extending the spring hanger.

 

[legoms013]

Like the man said, one end of the leaf spring is attached to a solid point of connection, whereas the other end isn't. So if you lengthen that end of the leaf you will only gain around half of the advertised lift height. Then again it all depends on the axles location relative to both ends (50/50 or say 40/60 etc.).

GENERALLY speaking the beltechs net somewhere betwenn 1.5-1.75 inches, as ranger axles are not in the dead perfect center of the leaf pack. Bronco's may be different, I really don't know much about them......

Mine gave me just about 1.75 inches, but thats WITH my super stiff Tuff Country AALs.

Funny how I don't check this posting for a day or so and everyone is all rowled up on an issue........

 

[Yellowsplash]

If a 2" longer shackle doesn't lift a truck 2", then how does the BellTech 6400's work? They are the same design of the stock shackle and are 2" longer, yet they lift the rear of a Ranger or Bronco II 2"; hmmmmmmmm.

Actually, they arnt exactly 2" longer than a stock shackle. A belltech shackle is 7.25-7.50" bolt-to-bolt on the lower hole (I know this cause I have them). If Copykat is right about the stock shackle being 4" (I threw mine away as they were rusted bad), thats 3.25-3.50" over the stock shackle. They only gain you around ~2 inches of lift....you do the math.

Its simple mathematics....It makes it easier to see physically as most ranger leaf spring packs dont have much arch at ride height (More arch makes it harder to imagine). With the belltechs, the rear shackle's lower bolt hole is almost at the same height as the front spring hanger. This lowers the spring from a substantial angle with the stock shackle to nearly flat. This means that as you lower the rear of the spring down where the belltech shackle would be located, the outer end of the spring has to move a further distance than that of the center of the spring (Your following, right?)

The same concept applies to the front. Why is it a 1" coil spacer lifts the truck 1.5"? I don't know why pivot points confuse people.