Shackle Length Question

[gulp3000]

So the lift is on and it's just too low in the front (or high in the back). The rear fender well is about 1" higher than the front. Given the fact that the rear fender well is cut a little lower anyway, the Cruiser now looks like a redneck funny car. The culprit is the long shackles I had in the back to help the old sagging stock springs. Currently, I have 2.5" shackles in the rear and 1.5" in the front. The springs (2.5"-3") are used so I don't imagine a lot more settling will occure in the back and they seem to have a little extra height in the back already. My avatar pic is deceiving as it looks like it's pretty level.

Measuring the current set-up shows that putting the same shackles on either end will fix the situation (imagine that) but I'm a little torn about which set to replace. I would like to keep the height in the back because the departure angle is nice to have, so longer front shackles are my first choice.

Any problem with 2.5" shackles in front? I have small caster shims in now and could easily change to a greater degree. Longer brake lines look like a good idea.

 

[Doc]

If it were mine, I'd take the long shackles out of the back, put them in the front- then put the front shackles in the rear.

You want more articulation room on the front axle anyway.

No, I don't see a problem with this. make sure your brake lines are long enough, and tell us how it turns out!

Pics?

 

[cahilc]

Hmmm ...

Which springs ? Do you have access to the manufactuer to ask the shackle switch question ? Specifically to geometry change during spring articulation ?

My truck is (hub center to fender lip):

LF 20"
LR 20"
RF 20.5"
RR 20.5"

Basically as I understand it the stock height for front should be 19" and 18" for the rear.

I was advised against switching shackles because the factory rep. was more concerned about changes to geometry than height. Yup, got a left side 0.5" lean.

The only weird thing I've done is flip the front springs around to increase wheel base by ~ 0.75" and shimmed front and rear 2 degree's for pinion.

This works for me. Individual results will vary.



Cahil

 

[gulp3000]

Thanks for the input. The springs are used BDS and in talking to BDS it appears they may have been early models while they were working on finalizing the specs for the current springs they offer. The numbers on mine don't match the current models. If I switched front and back shackles I would be a little too tall in the front/short in the back based on the current measurements. The end goal is to have it 1" higher in back which should give me about equal hub to fender lip measurements. At the moment I'm knee deep in trying to finish the body work and paint change from red to tan so I'll tackle this next week. There's a lot to be said for keeping the original color! Door jams, rear gates, etc are a pain to sand, tape & paint. Under the hood will remain red.

 

[cahilc]

... trying to finish the body work and paint change from red to tan ...

WHAT ???

Your leaving the *RED* brother hood ???



I ended up leaving my truck jacked up like a ... hmmm ... red n*ck truck should be as to no loose front end geometry.

Cahil

 

[gulp3000]

Yep, no more red! I actually like the red but a friend providing the tools and a ton of labor wants tan. I've always liked tan 60s so here we go!

 

[cahilc]

gulp3000,

Nice pic ! It's kinda hard to argue with good quality *free* labor ... Your takin' your time ... it will come out great ! At least under it's *new* coat ... it will still be red.

Cheers,
Cahil

 

[atomicpunk]

Looks good. My 62 sat about 2" taller in the rear after the bds springs were installed, and after a few weeks of driving, it seems to have leveled out perfectly