TIC Parabolic lift install--Pics and some tech ???s

[Diescipel]

4 TIC parabolic springs 50mm lift
New ubolts and bushings of course
Con Ferr etc. ubolt skid plates
4 Doesch Tech DT8000 shocks
4 Greasable stock length shackles

So far the ride quality difference is not as dramatic as I would have thought so maybe it needs to break in a little. Small bumps though are eaten up in a way I've never felt before. Still a little stiff otherwise. More feedback to come.

Before and after:

 

[Diescipel]

OK couple questions on these pics:

First, because of the aftermarket skid ubolt plates and the fatty DT8000s, the e-brake cable touches on the shock can. When the brake is release as you can see there is plenty of slack and the break doesn't drag. When it's tight is does pull against the shock can. Am I okay?

Second, how does this shackle angle on the rear look to you?

 

[Diescipel]

Some more pics.

No lean? At least not yet...

 

[Diescipel]

Top pic: Anybody need springs etc.?

Bottom pic: the ideal old bushing removal tool. $10 shipped. I seem to have quite a few lying around.

 

[4xJunkie]

Cool, let us know how they hold up.

I was looking using a set of those with a spring over setup.

can you buy just the springs?

How expensive was the kit?

 

[Volunteer]

OK couple questions on these pics:

First, because of the aftermarket skid ubolt plates and the fatty DT8000s, the e-brake cable touches on the shock can. When the brake is release as you can see there is plenty of slack and the break doesn't drag. When it's tight is does pull against the shock can. Am I okay?

Second, how does this shackle angle on the rear look to you?

Quick fix extend the bracket on the Axle 2 1/2 to 3 inches so that the EB cable is behind the shock. They do this alot on the Mini trucks.

 

[Diesel42]

Brendan,
That rear shackle angle looks like it's ready to invert. I've always thought it is supposed to be outward at approx.40-45 degrees. Check CCOT's site, look at the correct shackle angle pictures that they have (under there suspension section). Seems like those rears are to short. Come on guys lets hear some feedback. Congrats on the new job-BTW.

 

[cruzerman350]

from what i rember reading thos eshackles are too short. when you get lift springs you have to get longer shackles. i remember reading that the shackle should allow the spring to lay flat, but i could be wrong.

heres the proper shackle angle picture from CCOT


-miles

 

[Diesel42]

Thanks cruzerman. Those are the photos i was thinking of. It seems though that the longer the shackle(with that angle that he's got) the more exaggerated that invert would be. Say if he were to put another couple inches of length to those shackles, it seems it would greater the the inverse angle? Only a longer spring will place that shackle in the correct position to flex. Maybe an afternoon of rockcrawling would settle those springs down. But even then i'm not sure if there long enough. They definately put the rear back to correct height. Somewhere on the forum someone posted a photo just like this, then showed an afterphoto where while wheeling it inverted(flipped up/forward) and the whole axle flipped up(on one side). The tire was completely up into the wheel wheel. Seems dangerous. How about a set of those anti-version shackles?

 

[dgangle]

No exp w/ the Parabolics but that shackle angle looks like sheit. My rears were vertical w/ 4" SUA BTB springs and after 5 years/12K miles they did not get any better. Like most vendors, BTB was useless...."it shouldn't be doing that...".I ended up taking out a couple leaves and most recently moved the rear spring hanger forward 1.25" I went from vertical to approx 30 degrees and it rides like a different spring completely. Getting those hangers off is no easy task without destroying them but it can be done or replace with repros from Cruiser Solutions or =.

 

[projektdotnet]

SOA fixes the lift spring shackle crap (usually not always)

 

[dgangle]

SOA fixes the lift spring shackle crap (usually not always)

I think SOA prevents, not fixes this problem. This is really a spring length/arch issue and most SOA use non-lift spring unless you're going really big. .

 

[Degnol]

You might PM Tornadoalleycruiser (Erik) or Chef (Alan) on this board. They both have the parabolics and would know about the shackle issue.

Ed

 

[Ian Rogers]

my shackles looked like that when i put the parabolics on my truck.... give them a little time(3mo)

 

[projektdotnet]

my shackles looked like that when i put the parabolics on my truck.... give them a little time(3mo)

i would just hope they dont fully invert during said 3 months

 

[okie]

so how much was it all together. whats the ride like. i have heard ALL springs are stiff at first. it takes a year to FULLY break them in...i guess

 

[cruzerman350]

Somewhere on the forum someone posted a photo just like this, then showed an afterphoto where while wheeling it inverted(flipped up/forward) and the whole axle flipped up(on one side). The tire was completely up into the wheel wheel. Seems dangerous. How about a set of those anti-version shackles?

like so? thsi wasnt for the same reason. this happened to my shckle after i rolled but same idea.

pic too big heres a thumbnail


-miles

 

[Diescipel]

Hey all, sorry to be late in reply. I'm house/dogsitting and didn't have an internet connection.

Thanks for all the feedback, esp. re: shackle angle. I thought it looked bad so.... But the good thing is that the springs are breaking in fast, the ride is starting to move towards PLUSH (a relative term for a SWB rig), and the shackle angle on the rear is now past vertical going the other way. I think I will email TIC with that pic to ask them about it. The front angle started off completely fine, so I hope to god I don't get flat springs after break-in.

I think I will just take it easy for the next few months and hope the springs don't invert.... Of course, the full TIC kits include anti-inversion shackles so maybe there is an issue. Just have no $$$ for new shackles right now.

DT8000s seem to have amazing dampening. The freeway ride is way more controlled than before, and the truck just stuck it over a speed bump yesterday that I'm used to bouncing off of.

RE: cost of it all--I pretty much assembled this from here and there looking for deals etc.

Springs, ubolts, bushings: ~$500 + $100 shipping (can't remember exactly)
Ubolt skid plates: ~$125 (shouldah spent it on anti-inversion shackles dammit)
4 Greasable Shackles: ~$80
DT8000s: ~$160 + shipping

so about $965 give or take

BTW I now have a rumble in 3rd gear under accel/decel @ ~25 mph. I think it's the driveline/u-joints, after the change of angle in the rear with the lift. Recommendations? I'm going to go crawl under there now, retorque the ubolts, lub everything etc.

 

[Chef]

Yessir those shackle angles...I'm not liking that.
Are you dead sure you've got the springs mounted correctly? If there's a long side and a short side from where the axle is u-bolted on, and it's backwards, you gots problems there.
I like 1" over stock shackles.
I've not used these on a 40 series, only on a 45, and we did not have this issue. Definately talk to Paul at TIC...

 

[Diescipel]

Well, when I put on the first spring, I put the full wrap end at the shackle and the bolt/pin for the spring pack was way behind the axle, so I knew (confirmed here and by Paul at TIC) that I had them on backwards. So yes--I'm sure I have the long end from the axle to the shackle, the short end from the axle to the frame hanger.

Geee is this why TIC has changed the part nos. for their 40 series springs? I f@#$%kin' hope not. I'll email Paul.

Any thoughts on the driveline noise?

Thanks,
B