Hey, that's not supposed to look like THAT! (1 Viewer)

[woytovich]

This is what can happen to spring shackles if they get to moving around... the symptom was an intermittent CLUNK from the rear end when going around a corner or over a dip in the road. (this was a rear spring shackle).
This was a dangerous situation that could have lead to catastrophic failure... especially if the pin broke at speed on the Long Island Expressway! I am glad it is finally fixed.
.

 

[Firefyter-Emt]

Wow, Mark... what was the original cause there? Loose bolt maybe, or was the wrong hole size used?

 

[woytovich]

Unfortunately I don't know... the other side, with the same shackle/pin/bushing was fine.

 

[zebrabeefj40]

Looks to me like the pins where moving in the shackle side plates instead of moving in the bushings. Given the rust on the pin I'd bet someone didn't apply the grease gun often enough to keep things moving in the right places. Further, a tack weld on the side opposite the pin nut would prevent the pins from rotating in the plates (usually there are splines to prevent this but looks like they rusted to the point of being useless).

Nick

 

[woytovich]

Looks to me like the pins where moving in the shackle side plates instead of moving in the bushings. Given the rust on the pin I'd bet someone didn't apply the grease gun often enough to keep things moving in the right places. Further, a tack weld on the side opposite the pin nut would prevent the pins from rotating in the plates (usually there are splines to prevent this but looks like they rusted to the point of being useless).

Nick

Yeah.. "someone"...

 

[zebrabeefj40]

Names omitted to protect the guilty...



Nick

 

[Blue77FJ40]

Holy greaseless shackle, Batman! I see greaseable shackle pins in your future!

Glad you caught it in time, Mark.

 

[woytovich]

Holy greaseless shackle, Batman! I see greaseable shackle pins in your future!

Glad you caught it in time, Mark.

That was greasable...