Waggoner5
SILVER Star
First let me say that I was only educated in these types of shackles last week in Katemcy. I had read quite a bit about the Revolvers but was flamed for even asking about them. Now I realize their purpose and since Superior has there own design, specifically for the 60s, has locking pins for street use, ans are built from somewhere around 1/4 plate, I am sold.
My friend David Dearborn from Urban Landcruisers is trying to get hooked up with Superior and wanted some testing done so I pony'd up and he sent me a set to try out on my FJ62. My truck is SOA on 37 MTRs, has 13" travel DT shocks, and custom shock mounts to take advantage of the travel. I also have bumpstops lowered to 3.5" above the spring perches. Now said that, I drive this truck on the road quite a bit, and was a little surprised to find that it now rides at least twice as good as it did before the shackle change. The new angle on the shackle allows the spring to flex sooner, not having to swing the shackle back first, then flex, if that makes sense. I ran at 15psi with no sway bars and the pins removed from the Superior's. My truck has never worked so well. I kept all tires planted on the ground even at some crazy twisting. I thought that I would be more top heavy feeling with the frame unloading more, but honestly couldn't tell much of a seat of the pants difference. I have a pretty good sense of stability in my truck and it felt the same. The biggest test came when crossing the big cracks. The suspension fell to the max shock extension and stuffed the oposite tire into the bumpstop. In one crack the axle moved sideways so much that the bumpstop missed the spring plate completely. Wider bumpstops are in order. The driveshafts could stand to be shortened about 3/4" and the 8000 DT shocks are now almost too soft, especially in the rear.
The overall results are amazing, and though the Superior shackles are going to be expensive, I can't see a better way for the suspension to be modified to get better suspension flex for the same $. I realize that flex is not the "all that of wheeling" but in a wagon or any other vehicle for that matter, having all the wheels on the ground is a good feeling. Even though I have lockers, I found that I didn't need them as often.
My bottom line is, get them if you wheel your wagon, but don't skimp on getting the rest of your suspension up to par. You will need long shocks, brake lines, etc.
If anyone has any pictures of my rig, or the 2 other rigs at Roundup, that shows a better angle of suspension flex. please post them or e-mail them to me at gary@powerplayracing.net.
$ well spent David, and thanks Mark from MetalTech for the good pics.
Gary
My friend David Dearborn from Urban Landcruisers is trying to get hooked up with Superior and wanted some testing done so I pony'd up and he sent me a set to try out on my FJ62. My truck is SOA on 37 MTRs, has 13" travel DT shocks, and custom shock mounts to take advantage of the travel. I also have bumpstops lowered to 3.5" above the spring perches. Now said that, I drive this truck on the road quite a bit, and was a little surprised to find that it now rides at least twice as good as it did before the shackle change. The new angle on the shackle allows the spring to flex sooner, not having to swing the shackle back first, then flex, if that makes sense. I ran at 15psi with no sway bars and the pins removed from the Superior's. My truck has never worked so well. I kept all tires planted on the ground even at some crazy twisting. I thought that I would be more top heavy feeling with the frame unloading more, but honestly couldn't tell much of a seat of the pants difference. I have a pretty good sense of stability in my truck and it felt the same. The biggest test came when crossing the big cracks. The suspension fell to the max shock extension and stuffed the oposite tire into the bumpstop. In one crack the axle moved sideways so much that the bumpstop missed the spring plate completely. Wider bumpstops are in order. The driveshafts could stand to be shortened about 3/4" and the 8000 DT shocks are now almost too soft, especially in the rear.
The overall results are amazing, and though the Superior shackles are going to be expensive, I can't see a better way for the suspension to be modified to get better suspension flex for the same $. I realize that flex is not the "all that of wheeling" but in a wagon or any other vehicle for that matter, having all the wheels on the ground is a good feeling. Even though I have lockers, I found that I didn't need them as often.
My bottom line is, get them if you wheel your wagon, but don't skimp on getting the rest of your suspension up to par. You will need long shocks, brake lines, etc.
If anyone has any pictures of my rig, or the 2 other rigs at Roundup, that shows a better angle of suspension flex. please post them or e-mail them to me at gary@powerplayracing.net.
$ well spent David, and thanks Mark from MetalTech for the good pics.
Gary
