shackle length = ride quality?

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Klunky Chris

Klunky Chris

20 Year 15 Year 10 Year
Joined
Nov 5, 2003
Threads
77
Messages
1,063
Location
Shippensburg PA
Website
www.iluvrocks.com
So I'm trying to address my horrendous 4" Pinnacle ride quality.
I pulled the rear Heckthorn (came with lift ) shocks and that made a significant improvement :rolleyes:, but it's still rough...

I don't have a hard top and I guess that has something to do with it, but I'm considering pulling a leaf out of the rear spring pack. (which one???)

but.... I've got the tiny shackles that came with the kit installed. I was wondering if a longer shackle would allow the spring to work a little more.
If so, do you think this could improve the ride smoothness?

are my shackles too short??? :D

BTW, I have a suspension that is totally race!!!
corners like a dream!
no rear shocks.... no sway bars..... no steering dampener... that stuffs all for :princess: !!!! :flipoff2: :rolleyes:
darn springs are so stiff that I can drive fine with out all that stuff :mad:
 
if you pull a leaf, make it the shortest one.

shackles like to be angled back over the spring....see my writeup on relocating them. Shackle length has nothing to do with it, it's all angle. Normally, longer shackles make the ride worse.
 
whatever you do,DONT PUT EXTENDED SHACKLES UP FRONT!!.the damn thing will be all over the road.
seems to me like your shackles are straight up and down,when they should have a slight angle pointing back words.but i do know that pinnacle springs are just plain s***.so it could be just that.
i tried downeys and im stoked that i did.they are a great spring so far.
shawn
 
Magoo said:
whatever you do,DONT PUT EXTENDED SHACKLES UP FRONT!!.the damn thing will be all over the road.
seems to me like your shackles are straight up and down,when they should have a slight angle pointing back words.but i do know that pinnacle springs are just plain s***.so it could be just that.
i tried downeys and im stoked that i did.they are a great spring so far.
shawn
Click to expand...


How long have you had the downeys on?

How did the install go?

What shackles did you use?

TIA,
 
I think maybe my problem is that I'm too light in the back without a hardtop and spare...
I've been driving a little more with out the rear shocks and it is definitely better. The front suspension is fine. not jarring or harsh. At least not too much.

I'm convinced all my rough ride is coming from the rear. When I hit a speed bump in the front, it isn't bad at all, but when the rear hits it, I'm launched into orbit!
I think that for what I have now maybe removing a leaf is the way to go as the whole spring is probably made to support a hard top + a bunch of gear + a big spare.... none of which I have right now.

of course... if this is true, I'll have too soft suspension when I put a hard top on and hang my 35" spare off my custom rear bumper. :rolleyes:

Anyone have a lift and know what the ride is like with and w/o the hard top? Big difference???

Woody, U say to remove the shortest leaf... it doesn't seem long enough to do much. Are you shure? Mabye the 2nd shortest? although it sounds like that might be a bad idea?
 
Had the same issue with my OME and for the same reason ... I don't like running with the hard top. I took one spring from the front and two from the rear but left in the shocks. One of the rear ones I removed was the huge 1/2 inch thick heavy spring and then the first spring after that. Ride was much better but not perfect. I also run a little less air in the tires. A couple months ago a loaded down with a few hundred pounds of camping gear (50 pounds of gear and the beer cooler) and the ride was amazing. You're on the right track. If you pull the springs I would suggest putting the shocks back on if even a weak shock. Much safer.

Rice
 
CruisinGA said:
goo- if you install caster correction shims with the extended shackles, you can correct the poor handling that is a result of installing the longer shackles.
Click to expand...
that you could do,i just didnt and a hell of a scary friggin rig.so now i run stock shackles up front and 1 1/2" in the rear,works good.sits a very slight bit low in the rear,but i might put on my longer ones to fix it.
shawn
 
PabloCruise said:
How long have you had the downeys on?

How did the install go?

What shackles did you use?

TIA,
Click to expand...
not long,about 2 weeks.
install went ok,had to egg out the spring plates for the center bolt on the springs(but thats about normal).also had to shave a little off the downey spring bushings cause they were too wide to fit into lift shackles and spring pins.no biggie.my shackle angles are perfect.
i used stock front shackles,and 1 1/2" in the rear.no rear shocks for right now so its a little sloppy out back.and i also get shot into space when i hit a high speed bump in the rear.im thinkin thats normal without shocks.
it rides good and flexes ok.for what i paid im stoked.
 
Magoo said:
not long,about 2 weeks.
install went ok,had to egg out the spring plates for the center bolt on the springs(but thats about normal).also had to shave a little off the downey spring bushings cause they were too wide to fit into lift shackles and spring pins.no biggie.my shackle angles are perfect.
i used stock front shackles,and 1 1/2" in the rear.no rear shocks for right now so its a little sloppy out back.and i also get shot into space when i hit a high speed bump in the rear.im thinkin thats normal without shocks.
it rides good and flexes ok.for what i paid im stoked.
Click to expand...

Nice pic - thanks!

It is hard to find people willing to talk about Downey products, I guess their superior 'tude pisses people off.

But I want to go with those springs as I hear they fit our 40's like socks on a rooster!
 
sorry for the total hijack klunky.
i have no problem with downey because i dont deal with em.if you want to use them call ron at rocky mountain cruisers here in englewood(i think).and he will take care of ya.i guess he does alot of business with em.he also tells me the springs are made in austraila.so that was the light bulb in my head.
shackles i have no clue,got em from iggy who got em from treeroot.
brake lines,i just pulled the clip of the frame and hung it lower,no clearence troubles at all.stainless stuff is in the future though.i know you are in the rising sun so next meeting you can check out my rig,and go for a ride if ya want.before you buy.
shawn
 
I'm very happy with my skyjacker 4" with stock shackles.
The included shocks are good, the bushings are the right size, it is completely bolt on.
Just add two degree shims for the front and handling will be perfect.
Ride is fine w/o hardtop and sits level with or without top.
It is a somewhat stiff, but very controlled ride, no bouncyness.
:cheers:
 
tj i won that cruise moab t shirt,along with everybody else at the table i was at in nov.you were sitting at the table next to us.i was the short white dude.i was also the guy at the picnic (in kenosha pass) with ige.member dude you were with had trouble with his starter till i whacked it with a hammer.
shawn
 
Gotcha - you were the short white dude! That is too funny!!! Yeah, I member, I think you came up with Ige to the picnic?
Awesome, got it now!
Dude, I have never seen your 40 B4! I cannot wait to see it. I PM'd Ige to ask her about shackle preference.
We missed you at the party last night... It was cool. Thanks for your help - Cruiser Karma!
 
i will have it at the jan meeting.just put it on the road.
and bailey
i also like the skyjacker lift but i just never hear anything about other kits,so i took a chance on the downeys.my goal is downeys,dt300's or bilstiens,and greaseable evrything.just to try something new.seems to work pretty good right now,we will see what the future holds.
 
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