Any hints or gotchas welcome on shackles

[toy60]

Converting the old girl to urathane bushes on the suspension.
Also taking the oportunity to add a inch of lift using these

http://www.bigballsoffroad.com/prod2856.htm

Boy are these things heavy duty !!

Any gotchas or hints on installing these shackles before I start.

(If they are no good dont tell me Ive already spent the dollars!!)

Tks in advance

 

[CruisinTiger]

the easiest way to get the rubber bushings out is to use a sawzall. Put a metal cutting blade on the end of it, kinda gotta shove it in there, and cut it. I think I cut mine 3 times. Then just take a screwdriver and pry them out. took me literally 5 minutes to get them all out. some will say to burn them out, but then ya smell like a tire factory and it takes forever.

Also when you take out the tear drop bolt, you may have to beat it out. If you do and you're not replacing the bolt be sure to leave the nut on the end and beat the nut with the hammer other wise you'll tear the threads all to hell.

when you take the springs apart use a set of C-clamps on each side of the spring pin. that way when you take the pin out the springs don't explode on ya. no big thing just won't scare ya. or take your shin out. then just slowly loosen the C-clamps and add your leaf. Be sure to use a new center pin. also be sure you use new U-bolts. Got some made at a local spring shop for 28 bucks.

If you;re not puttin greasable shackles on, slide some grease over the pins. Helps them go in easier.

On the teardrop bolt you can't put the spring back in it's place with the bushings in the shackle(or atleast I couldn't) So what ya have to do is on the outside there is the large hole and the small on the inside, so put the bushing in the spring on the small hole side. then push it up in ints place and then slide the second bushing thru the large hole and into the spring. Then take the bolt and slide it back thru. Hope that makes sense.

if you have anymore questions just drop me a line. I did the same job about 2 weeks ago so it's still fresh in my mind.

Good Luck, Chuck

 

[stinkyfj60]

Take PB Blaster or some Knocker Loose or some other penatrating liquid and spray down the bushings a week or so before you remove them. Hit them a couple of times actually and drive it around. When its time to remove them they will fall right out, no pounding, torching or anything.

 

[toy60]

Jobs done Tks for the help

Soaked the nuts in CRC for a week (Good tip) and all came undone easy as.

Also Thanks for the tip on the spring load I found a use for the crow bar at last.
I thought it was an impliment of torture!!!

All togerther and lookin good.

Now if I can just stop this oil burning!!!!