OME 2 1/2" Lift Shackle Question

[BlackPanzer]

I'm helping my cousin install a 2 1/2" OME lift on his 1974 FJ40. We unpacked everything and noticed that three of the shackles are GS8 and one is GS9. This can not be right, can it? I know the answer but wanted to have a second opinion before they are returned and we are set back another weekend of work.

 

[Tikicruiser]

Maybe they finally figured out the fj40 left lean and are recognizing front left parts need to be special to offset the lean.

 

[BlackPanzer]

Believe it or not these are the right parts. We laid them out and they are all the same size, but are different looking which was confusing. Then we looked at the parts numbers again and found they are correct.

Then there is the bad news we broke a the left front mount trying to pound out the bolt. It looks like it may have been there for a while as a hairline crack. Now we need to find someone with the right drill bits to drill out the rivets so we can replace the broken mount. Things are never just a weekend job... I'll post some pictures soon.

 

[Jakes40]

That sucks!!
If you drill out the rivet with a smaller drill bit just throw the frame you can use a punch and they pop out and you can walk the size up bigger and bigger. Till the walls of the rivet is thin enough ththey fold in on themselves

 

[Devilmans Hand]

Air hammer is your friend for popping out the old rivets

 

[Blue77FJ40]

Pics please. You may want to ask ARB. When I installed my OME lift, the front pairs were shorter than the rears.

 

[Stumpalama]

I have done the rivets a couple different ways, from drilling to grinding and banging to using an air hammer.
If you have rudimentary tools, the drill and cold chisel works well, especially in confined spaces.

 

[BlackPanzer]

We were able to find an air hammer with a carbide chisel and began the process of removal. Thankfully it was found before it broke out on the trail or highway. This is what we are working with above.

 

[Jakes40]

That's kinda bad!!

 

[Stumpalama]

I've never seen that before. Best to check the other side too. Looks like those shackles have very little lateral movement, based on the bracing. A little flex is actually good and the shackle flex is counted on as part of the suspension.

 

[BlackPanzer]

Well the new mount is installed. It took a little wile to punch out one of the rivets. We had to drill it out. It also required a little grinding to remove the short welds to the frame on each side of the mount.
Once that was done it was a matter just bolting in the new mount with copious amounts of Lock Tight. We were thinking of the lateral movement in the axle. Everything looks like it is order- not sure where the lateral movement is, if at all. The only thing we could think of was at some point a hair-line crack developed while off-road, became worse over time and revealed itself when we were pounding out the bushing bolt, which by the way was not coming out easily even with wacks from a 5 lb. mallet. Again, good thing this did not happen out on the road or while wheeling.

 

[Stumpalama]

If you want to throw on a couple welds, let me know.