I have tried swapping it side to side and even flipped the springs around.
CK5
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1982 C/K 6.0L Caitlyn Mall Crawler (Interior time)
- Thread starter Babaganoosh
- Start date
How longs the shackle?
Think they are 6 inch?
Yup 6 inch
Yup 6 inch
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So yours was a 2wd truck also? I've been contemplating shackle flips and lift with my 2wd rear suspension also. I thought the 2wd hangers were more like 3" different/shorter.
I discussed this a little with Stephen (ORD) a while ago and he commented that it wouldn't be a good idea to run a shackle flip with the front hanger left alone. It creates what I think is called "jacking". Basically the axle wants to climb under the truck.
If you have 4" flip brackets and 6" shackles you've effectively installed a 6.5" shackle flip. My thinking is that you have a 4" flip which yields 4" of lift with a 4" shackle a 6" shackle adds another inch making it 5".
Because the flip brackets are made for a 4wd they add another 3" of lift relative to the 2wd brackets. However since you are only changing the rear hanger it will only be 1.5".
That's where I come up with 6.5".
So I think that might be your problem.
I discussed this a little with Stephen (ORD) a while ago and he commented that it wouldn't be a good idea to run a shackle flip with the front hanger left alone. It creates what I think is called "jacking". Basically the axle wants to climb under the truck.
If you have 4" flip brackets and 6" shackles you've effectively installed a 6.5" shackle flip. My thinking is that you have a 4" flip which yields 4" of lift with a 4" shackle a 6" shackle adds another inch making it 5".
Because the flip brackets are made for a 4wd they add another 3" of lift relative to the 2wd brackets. However since you are only changing the rear hanger it will only be 1.5".
That's where I come up with 6.5".
So I think that might be your problem.
That does make total sense now, yes my truck is a 2wd by vin.
I was hoping to get a hold of TNA soon about a winch cradle and rear forward hangers.
I got a idea for the rear hangers that I think would be pretty sweet. Maybe doubling them up as shock mounts to.
I was hoping to get a hold of TNA soon about a winch cradle and rear forward hangers.
I got a idea for the rear hangers that I think would be pretty sweet. Maybe doubling them up as shock mounts to.
I'll talk through some of the thoughts I've had and maybe it will help you out as well.
So right now I have 4" lift springs in factory 2wd hangers plus 5" blocks to equal out the front springs. So total 9" rear lift. I think because of the way I had to do the front hangers I have about 5.5" of lift in the front.
I'd really like to get rid of the blocks, but that means coming up with 5" of lift else where. I was thinking some about the zero lift shackle flips TNA has. That would gain me 1.5". I could add 6" shackles for another 1" of lift. But that still leaves me 2.5" short.
I was also thinking about using the 2.5" shackle flip from ORD. It would be the equivalent of a 4" shackle flip for the 2wd so it would be too much lift at one end of the springs. Then I would just need a 1" zero rate to get my 5".
I was also thinking about talking to TNA about front hangers for the rear springs. I wasn't sure he'd want to mess with front hangers, but maybe there's enough demand. I also know that Kurt/DIY4x would build them too as he did some for the General to make the K5 work with 1ton width spring perches. The trick is that either one of those guys would need a donor/mock-up vehicle.
Is yours 1ton also? Mine is which means the brackets would be different if yours is not.
So right now I have 4" lift springs in factory 2wd hangers plus 5" blocks to equal out the front springs. So total 9" rear lift. I think because of the way I had to do the front hangers I have about 5.5" of lift in the front.
I'd really like to get rid of the blocks, but that means coming up with 5" of lift else where. I was thinking some about the zero lift shackle flips TNA has. That would gain me 1.5". I could add 6" shackles for another 1" of lift. But that still leaves me 2.5" short.
I was also thinking about using the 2.5" shackle flip from ORD. It would be the equivalent of a 4" shackle flip for the 2wd so it would be too much lift at one end of the springs. Then I would just need a 1" zero rate to get my 5".
I was also thinking about talking to TNA about front hangers for the rear springs. I wasn't sure he'd want to mess with front hangers, but maybe there's enough demand. I also know that Kurt/DIY4x would build them too as he did some for the General to make the K5 work with 1ton width spring perches. The trick is that either one of those guys would need a donor/mock-up vehicle.
Is yours 1ton also? Mine is which means the brackets would be different if yours is not.
Sounds great, I would appreciate looking at those notes. 
Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think they need a donor truck, couldn't they just build the hanger to a factory 4wd height?
My truck is a c10 so unfortunately, we would need different hangers. If I'm understanding you correctly if I was to put a taller hanger in, my shackle angle would be corrected? I remember the shackle being pointed forward a bit when I had the springs in the correct spots. Let me dig up the pics.
Here is a great picture to show what I'm talking about.
You can see on the driver side the flip is in the correct spot which creates a negative degree on the shackle. The passenger side is moved forward a few inches from the factory spot. This creates a Issue because on the bottom of the frame the holes don't line up.
I was in a major rush that night to wrap up my job and goofed it way up not even paying attention.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think they need a donor truck, couldn't they just build the hanger to a factory 4wd height?
My truck is a c10 so unfortunately, we would need different hangers. If I'm understanding you correctly if I was to put a taller hanger in, my shackle angle would be corrected? I remember the shackle being pointed forward a bit when I had the springs in the correct spots. Let me dig up the pics.
Here is a great picture to show what I'm talking about.
You can see on the driver side the flip is in the correct spot which creates a negative degree on the shackle. The passenger side is moved forward a few inches from the factory spot. This creates a Issue because on the bottom of the frame the holes don't line up.
I was in a major rush that night to wrap up my job and goofed it way up not even paying attention.
The donor vehicle is for mounting hole locations as much as anything. It's easier to build something with the truck there versus doing it of just measurements.
The other issue can be differences across some of the years. The first set of hangers Kurt made for my K5 didn't work because his donor vehicle was completely different than mine.
Yes in my mind that shackle angle would come back if the front hangers were dropped. Are you running 52" or 56" springs? With 52" springs the shackles tend to be more vertical. I believe you would see improvement with 4"shackles.
It's also not uncommon for people to move flip brackets forward and drill all new holes if you really want a more laid back shackle angle.
We can get into another big discussion just on shackle angle by itself.
The other issue can be differences across some of the years. The first set of hangers Kurt made for my K5 didn't work because his donor vehicle was completely different than mine.
Yes in my mind that shackle angle would come back if the front hangers were dropped. Are you running 52" or 56" springs? With 52" springs the shackles tend to be more vertical. I believe you would see improvement with 4"shackles.
It's also not uncommon for people to move flip brackets forward and drill all new holes if you really want a more laid back shackle angle.
We can get into another big discussion just on shackle angle by itself.
I think I would have to weld on more metal to the frame if I was to move the hangers forward.
Sounds great, I would appreciate looking at those notes.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think they need a donor truck, couldn't they just build the hanger to a factory 4wd height?
My truck is a c10 so unfortunately, we would need different hangers. If I'm understanding you correctly if I was to put a taller hanger in, my shackle angle would be corrected? I remember the shackle being pointed forward a bit when I had the springs in the correct spots. Let me dig up the pics.
Here is a great picture to show what I'm talking about.
You can see on the driver side the flip is in the correct spot which creates a negative degree on the shackle. The passenger side is moved forward a few inches from the factory spot. This creates a Issue because on the bottom of the frame the holes don't line up.
I was in a major rush that night to wrap up my job and goofed it way up not even paying attention.
Why does the shackle angle on the other side look good in the first pic?
Look at the hangers compared to the cross member. Drivers side is back farther????????????
andyblack
Registered Loser
The rear shackle hanger is definitely farther back on the frame on the driver's side. Why is that? Which one has been moved? The passenger side looks like its in the right spot? Is the driver's side spring pack longer than it was originally?
The drivers side was in the factory mounting location and the passenger was a few inches forward. The frame had the holes and I was rushing to get the tires back on and didn't notice I did that.
andyblack
Registered Loser
1982 c/k 6.0L Overbuilt Mall Crawler Build. (Hoops and Receiver hitch )
I would say just move the driver's side hanger forward since the holes are already there. Easy fix hopefully, as long as it doesn't interfere with anything else.
I would say just move the driver's side hanger forward since the holes are already there. Easy fix hopefully, as long as it doesn't interfere with anything else.
I would have to weld a strip of piece I'm the frame to get full contact on the bottom. I should just order a set of 56 inch Ord springs...
Someone needs to not drink before he tries to post.
drew4x4
1/2 ton status
I was half asleep posting on my phone. Feeling lazy today, not sure what I should do.
Go work on it or it will never get done.
I know I should, in a bit of a pickle at the moment to push forward.
In talks with TNA about a winch cradle and the shock hoops I have I think they are to big diameter wise to get going on those.
In talks with TNA about a winch cradle and the shock hoops I have I think they are to big diameter wise to get going on those.
