After a "2"" lift install

[ACACG8]

So after the lift I bought a HFS(got them local from CCoT) shackle set(f&r) but only installed the fronts(1.5” longer than factory) to see if I could get rid of the crazy rake. I didn’t like how much rake it had. Imo this is higher than 2" but I like it.

2 questions. How high did 62s sat from factory? Did 60 series have much of a rake factory? Only reason ask is because all of the factory 62s I've seen look saggy.

So after the front shackles it sits much better IMO but I kept the factory rear ones. Front shackles sit almost perfect angle but the rears do not. I did put a 4° shim on the back to correct pinion angle.

Should I do anti inversion ones in the rear and call it?

Im open to suggestions. Tks in advance.

 

[Cincodemustache]

I’ll bump your thread to the top because I have an Ironman lift that is still sitting high in the rear after 3 years. Plus, I’m right down the road from you. Those HFS shackles may be the right idea to fix my issue.

 

[ACACG8]

I’ll bump your thread to the top because I have an Ironman lift that is still sitting high in the rear after 3 years. Plus, I’m right down the road from you. Those HFS shackles may be the right idea to fix my issue.

I was hoping they would settle a bit but you’ve had it for 3 yrs .
I installed the lift a week ago. Im guessing they are not the correct springs?

 

[OSS]

I was shopping for a brand new FJ62 in 1988 and I studied that vehicle from every angle. Test drove a brand new one at the dealership and crawled under it and took a look around.
I remember clearly how the new vehicles sat.

On a brand new unused cruiser (virgin springs) there was a slight rise in the rear. Definitely not a stink bug look. When viewed from the side, the cruiser looked balanced & nice (on stock 28" tires). There was no impression that the ass was sticking up too high.

Almost all aftermarket replacement springs available today raise the cruiser up higher than it was when new. On a brand new 62 (in 1988) there was about 1 inch or less (more like 3/4") of space between the front bump stop and the axle contact spot — not much at all.
The front shackle angles were closer to 45° or less.

The new cruisers from the factory didn't have much downward spring travel before hitting the bump stops in the front. When driving on a dirt road, the vehicle spent a lot of time riding on the bump stops with every jiggle. They were a very important part of the suspension (the only suspension when driving over any bumps).

As much as the limited down travel compromised the ride quality (harsh on dirt roads) it protected the springs from over bending and prevented the pogo stick effect of highly sprung springs wanting to launch the vehicle back upwards.

 

[ACACG8]

I was shopping for a brand new FJ62 in 1988 and I studied that vehicle from every angle. Test drove a brand new one at the dealership and crawled under it and took a look around.
I remember clearly how the new vehicles sat.

On a brand new unused cruiser (virgin springs) there was a slight rise in the rear. Definitely not a stink bug look. When viewed from the side, the cruiser looked balanced & nice (on stock 28" tires). There was no impression that the ass was sticking up too high.

Almost all aftermarket replacement springs available today raise the cruiser up higher than it was when new. On a brand new 62 (in 1988) there was about 1 inch or less (more like 3/4") of space between the front bump stop and the axle contact spot — not much at all.
The front shackle angles were closer to 45° or less.

The new cruisers from the factory didn't have much downward spring travel before hitting the bump stops in the front. When driving on a dirt road, the vehicle spent a lot of time riding on the bump stops with every jiggle. They were a very important part of the suspension (the only suspension when driving over any bumps).

As much as the limited down travel compromised the ride quality (harsh on dirt roads) it protected the springs from over bending and prevented the pogo stick effect of highly sprung springs wanting to launch the vehicle back upwards.

Tks for the info.

Mine was really bad. Probably .5'' from the bump stops. I guess I'll leave it alone and just do anti-inversion shackles on the rear. When I use the lift at work and bring it down I have to use a prybar to bring the shackle in place. Only that reat driver side does it.

 

[MoaByte]

I put OME heavy on the rear (med on front) it did stink bug for a few months. A couple years later, add 38 gallon tank, heavier spare tire, but now sags just a tiny bit with full tank. I'd rather have a little rake. It's not often that I drive my 60 empty.

 

[Gretsch]

So after the lift I bought a HFS(got them local from CCoT) shackle set(f&r) but only installed the fronts(1.5” longer than factory) to see if I could get rid of the crazy rake. I didn’t like how much rake it had. Imo this is higher than 2" but I like it.

2 questions. How high did 62s sat from factory? Did 60 series have much of a rake factory? Only reason ask is because all of the factory 62s I've seen look saggy.

So after the front shackles it sits much better IMO but I kept the factory rear ones. Front shackles sit almost perfect angle but the rears do not. I did put a 4° shim on the back to correct pinion angle.

Should I do anti inversion ones in the rear and call it?

Im open to suggestions. Tks in advance.
View attachment 2370838View attachment 2370840View attachment 2370841

Man I think the thing looks great. I wouldn't touch a thing. Anti-inversion as you said in the rear maybe but otherwise looks really nice.

 

[YooperCruiser]

I installed Ironman springs on mine and had a crazy rake. I sent them some pics and took some measurements and they sent me out some new fronts. The first ones weren't arched enough and after swapping them out it sat just right. Still have the first set of springs, they didn't want them back.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

2 questions. How high did 62s sat from factory? Did 60 series have much of a rake factory? Only reason ask is because all of the factory 62s I've seen look saggy.

Not high at all from the factory. Fairly low by today's standards. In fact, I'd say they looked saggy brand new. Like OSS said, very little if any rake with the rear.

How does it ride? Rear shackles definitely not at a good angle.

 

[ACACG8]

Not high at all from the factory. Fairly low by today's standards. In fact, I'd say they looked saggy brand new. Like OSS said, very little if any rake with the rear.

How does it ride? Rear shackles definitely not at a good angle.

Well. It rides great actually but only after I installed a 4° shim to the back. I feel either the front or the rear springs are wrong. I like the rear height but like you see the shackle is not the right angle.

 

[Gretsch]

I installed Ironman springs on mine and had a crazy rake. I sent them some pics and took some measurements and they sent me out some new fronts. The first ones weren't arched enough and after swapping them out it sat just right. Still have the first set of springs, they didn't want them back.

View attachment 2378357
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Man that seems like a pretty drastic difference. Did they have an answer as to how there could have been such a huge swing from one set of springs to the other?

 

[roadstr6]

Rear spring eye to eye distance is too short, which has your rear shackles inverted. That is why you are so much higher in the rear. You have three options as I see it:

1. Get proper length springs from a reputable company like OME/ Dakar or Dobinsons (not CCOT).
2. Remove a leaf from the spring pack to see if it settles the spring arch down a little.
3. Reposition your rear shackle hangers to get the angle right (you will lose about an inch of rake in the process).

I have had similar problems with too short rear springs on one of my 40's and my 55. On the 40, I pulled a leaf. On the 55, I redid the hangers. Either of these options is a lot of work. I will say that I am happier with the hanger relocation solution than with the leaf removal because the load carrying ability of the spring is not compromised. You would be really surprised with how much better the truck rides and how well it articulates over obstacles with the proper shackle angle.

Shackle angle before and after on the 55 and gratuitous flex pic ( it didn't flex nearly this well before I moved the hangers).

 

[NearJetties]

@ACACG8 what springs and stiffness did you install? I didn’t see it mentioned.

as you mentioned your rear shackle is not at a good angle. The rear needs more weight to flatten it out which will increase the spring length. Either way it seems short.

does anyone know if the front/rear springs are different lengths? Maybe they got reversed?

 

[YooperCruiser]

Man that seems like a pretty drastic difference. Did they have an answer as to how there could have been such a huge swing from one set of springs to the other?

No not really, but they took care of the problem quick. Very satisfied with how it sits now. Those are old pics and before I built the front bumper but even with all the weight on the front now it still sits perfect. First pic is the difference in arch between the first set and the second.

 

[ACACG8]

Rear spring eye to eye distance is too short, which has your rear shackles inverted. That is why you are so much higher in the rear. You have three options as I see it:

1. Get proper length springs from a reputable company like OME/ Dakar or Dobinsons (not CCOT).
2. Remove a leaf from the spring pack to see if it settles the spring arch down a little.
3. Reposition your rear shackle hangers to get the angle right (you will lose about an inch of rake in the process).

I have had similar problems with too short rear springs on one of my 40's and my 55. On the 40, I pulled a leaf. On the 55, I redid the hangers. Either of these options is a lot of work. I will say that I am happier with the hanger relocation solution than with the leaf removal because the load carrying ability of the spring is not compromised. You would be really surprised with how much better the truck rides and how well it articulates over obstacles with the proper shackle angle.

Shackle angle before and after on the 55 and gratuitous flex pic ( it didn't flex nearly this well before I moved the hangers).

I love the 55s btw! Yours looks great!

Those a great options for the fix. But honestly I'm not all that happy about this kit and having to hack things up. Know what I mean? Im gonna call them and hopefully they can fix this.

@ACACG8 what springs and stiffness did you install? I didn’t see it mentioned.

as you mentioned your rear shackle is not at a good angle. The rear needs more weight to flatten it out which will increase the spring length. Either way it seems short.

does anyone know if the front/rear springs are different lengths? Maybe they got reversed?

I got the "2" performance kit" kit.

View attachment 2378357

Mine literally looked like this until I installed the 1.5" longer shackle up front. @YooperCruiser how are the rear shackles? Also do you mind getting me the part numbers on your springs? I just wanna compare.

 

[YooperCruiser]

I love the 55s btw! Yours looks great!

Those a great options for the fix. But honestly I'm not all that happy about this kit and having to hack things up. Know what I mean? Im gonna call them and hopefully they can fix this.



I got the "2" performance kit" kit.



Mine literally looked like this until I installed the 1.5" longer shackle up front. @YooperCruiser how are the rear shackles? Also do you mind getting me the part numbers on your springs? I just wanna compare.

My front and rear shackles are both at the correct angle. Rear springs are 0-440 lbs and fronts are heavy, would have to dig for part numbers.

 

[ACACG8]

My front and rear shackles are both at the correct angle. Rear springs are 0-440 lbs and fronts are heavy, would have to dig for part numbers.

If your shackles are in the correct angle it tells me my rear springs are short. Mine were supposed to be the 0-440 also.

 

[YooperCruiser]

If your shackles are in the correct angle it tells me my rear springs are short. Mine were supposed to be the 0-440 also.

I just took a look at mine and there is a difference front and rear. The rear shackles are pretty much vertical, and the fronts are angled a little forward. I have no weight in the back at all, and a heavy front bumper. So do you have Iron Man springs? What's HFS?

 

[Devils Paw 80]

I just took a look at mine and there is a difference front and rear. The rear shackles are pretty much vertical, and the fronts are angled a little forward. I have no weight in the back at all, and a heavy front bumper. So do you have Iron Man springs? What's HFS?..

Hell for Stout from Cool Cruisers of Texas.

 

[ACACG8]

I just took a look at mine and there is a difference front and rear. The rear shackles are pretty much vertical, and the fronts are angled a little forward. I have no weight in the back at all, and a heavy front bumper. So do you have Iron Man springs? What's HFS?

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my front shackles are angled about the same as your but my rears...