Need help. How to Lower Spring Over- Short Shackles? (1 Viewer)

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Ya bought an SOA rig and you only want 2.5 inches over stock? There is your problem.

Yup.

Now I'm thinking going back closer to original since I will not be using offrroad and sell the SOA lift kit on there now to someone- perhaps they would want all 5 wheels, etc. Or just part it out. Thanks for all the input.

Way easier to sell the rig to someone else and get another one. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. The "kit" now includes the axles and since it's got a shackle reversal you'll probably be welding new front perches to go back to "stock".
 
After I realized I had to lower, I thought the 2.5 with 33's woulld be a good option. I would like to keep it, but must go inside. What I get for buying without measuring myself.

Why inside? I live in Oklahoma now and we have hail the size of cats and heat as hot as HE x2 hockey sticks! Would hate to replace all the outer parts and climb in a 130 degree truck.

No worries, i can take the comments. Posted so I would get them. If anyone else needs to vent because it is their time of the month, I can take it. (Just razzing you Mark.)


Not "venting"... just getting to the point.

I have spent time in Oklahoma city. I and lots of other park outside all the time. Not is if hail large enough to damage is an every day thing or that there is no way to deal with a hot rig.. Seems to me it is no big deal, but that is for you to decide of course.

If parking inside is a deal breaker... air the tires down more (10 psi will not drop it much)... put it on small tires while it sits in the garage.. or sell it and get a rig that suits your needs better.

The shackles you have are a poor design (The "H" shackles have a number of different flaws that are inherent in the design), and longer than ideal for a rig like yours. But shorter than OEM will restrict your suspension travel and articulation and judging from the angles, will invert too. In fact judging by the shackle angle in that pic, I have to wonder if your rear springs are re-arched or are not OEM (the look like OEM but the arch and the lenght do not seem to be).

If your Shackle reversal is a kit that puts the front spring hangers on a tower extending down from the frame, that adds about 1.5 inches and most people who put these on use s 1.5 inch lift spring in the rear. Makes for a pretty tall SOA even on little tires like 33s


Mark...
 
Thanks Mark and all. Good advice. I have a friend with alot of experience looking at it tomorrow evening. May just have to leave out afterall. Sure wish it could be 2.5 inches lower, I think it woudl still llook fine wtih these 35s. The factory height I understand is 17" to the running board and I am at 26". 9" of lift with the SOA, shackle and tires and I wish i only had 6.
 
If you only need to *loose* 2.5 inches... and are not wanting only 2.5 inches over stock... that may be doable.

Do you have an "Kit style" S/R? if you do, put the front suspension back the way it cam (with thew shackles in front)... use OEM length shackles and some flat springs. In the rear, replace those arched springs woith some flat ones and loose the long shackles.

That should easily drop you by 2 inches or more. More most likely.


Mark...
 
I will gladly swap my whole truck for yours. Mine will fit fine:) I would do all I could to keep her indoors. That is too nice of a rig to be outside.
 
After I realized I had to lower, I thought the 2.5 with 33's woulld be a good option. I would like to keep it, but must go inside. What I get for buying without measuring myself.

Why inside? I live in Oklahoma now and we have hail the size of cats and heat as hot as HE x2 hockey sticks! Would hate to replace all the outer parts and climb in a 130 degree truck.

No worries, i can take the comments. Posted so I would get them. If anyone else needs to vent because it is their time of the month, I can take it. (Just razzing you Mark.)
Call Mike over at Cruiser Corp. It's in Oklahoma City, so you can probably drive over and pick up parts. He has a bunch of FJ40's sitting out back and he will no doubt do a decent deal for you on either selling you stock spring under axles or maybe swap you for the SOA you have.

Richard (in Broken Arrow Okla)
 
FWIW, I know this is kind of redneck, but my 4runner will not fit in my garage unless I push up on the door and have my wife drive it in. You'll be amazed how much more room you get if you push up on the already opened door. I eventually cut a couple of 2x4's to hold it up and drive it in myself. My garage door is wooden, may not work on the aluminum type. Of course, I only put my truck in to work on it, this would suck to do every day.

I'm with everyone else on needing to get that shackle angle fixed, it will probably ride a lot better afterward too...
 
I'm with everyone else on needing to get that shackle angle fixed, it will probably ride a lot better afterward too...

If you could find a set of fj55 rear springs, they might just drop in there and be long enough to give you a 45 degree shackle angle, solve that issue, use the same shackles and lower the rear end some. I don't remember what it would do to the axle location though. You could, for sure, get Alcan to make you some custom springs for $450.
 
As someone already mentioned, those springs still have a pretty good arch to them and the rear end is sitting a little ass-high. Just pull a leaf or two out of each rear spring pack which will help lower the rear end and help with the shackle angle. After the springs get a little more brroken in, just add the leaves you removed back to the pack to help with sagging. I had the opposite problem with my rig (springs were completely flat and sitting ass-low) so I had to add a long add-a-leaf to get it back to level (rig is SOA on 35s, no SR). Still fits in my garage opening (6', 11") unless I have the soft top on (it just barely scrapes w/ it on).
 
Simple!

Let more air out of your tires. If you didn't have any sidewall flex at 10psi, go down to 5. You aren't driving it down the highway you are driving it 20ft into the garage. Once it is inside close the door and air the tires back up. Its not a daily driver so its really no big deal. Or did I miss something?

Ryan
 
Call Mike over at Cruiser Corp. It's in Oklahoma City, so you can probably drive over and pick up parts. He has a bunch of FJ40's sitting out back and he will no doubt do a decent deal for you on either selling you stock spring under axles or maybe swap you for the SOA you have.

Richard (in Broken Arrow Okla)

Hi Richard. Already been there. Dropping it off on Tues. I measured again today and need 2 inches, but 2.5 would be even better. I think I will keep the spring over and change shackle and mabe remove a spring and let the air out each week.
 
Nice rig, I saw it for sale somewhere, ebay?...Anyway, really spend your time and fix it right so you don't have regrets later, or just trade me for my 71' ;)
 
Yeah don't let the comments scare you off lol. Some of the ones that bark the loudest drive a rust bucket and live in a mobile home. Not so bad, lived in one my self 16 years when in the Army. Sarcaism is relavent for some. But keep in mind Many many good people here and I have gotten a ton of info from here as well help from other members much more versed in Fj40's than I am. Do what ever makes you happy and learn from it. Very nice looking rig I may add and good luck with your decision. I bet Daddy is not paying for it huh? Haa haa Meaning some daddy's do for some on here.
 

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