What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

52" front spring swap continues...FINISHED!!! WoooHooo!!!

Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

I finally got everything with this swap completely done today. No more makin shackles, no more testing, no mare smashing my fingers, no more catching rags on fire, DONE! weeeeHaaa!! /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif

So I ended up givins Tims "math" method a shot. While I was measuring things, I stuck the tape on the shackles that I thought I made at 7", I dunno what the hell happened upstairs, but I had them at 6"... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif No idea why I thought they were 7". Anyways, using Tims method, I cam up with about 7" from the upper shackle bolt to the spot on the frame where the springs would hit. So I made the new shackles 7.25". Here's a some more pics...

New shackles-
finished6.jpg


New shackles bolted up, with shackle mount relocated forward, no weight on springs-
finished1.jpg


Truck is actually balanced on the drivers rear tire only in this picture-
finished3.jpg


Shackle to frame clearance one one tire..
finished5.jpg

finished2.jpg


Here I stacked about 450lbs of stuff on the front of the truck to see what stuff looked like. There's a 14b housing and an old chipper bar from a wood chipper we have- about 350lbs. I climbed up on there too- I'm about 220. Pictures..
testing.jpg

testing1.jpg


Pretty sure it's like 99.9% finished now. Gotta replace the spring bushings and this phase will be 100% finished.

Also, someone wanted pictures of how I did the front spring hangers, I can't remember who you were, but here they are..
You can see the 1/4" spacers welded on eiter side of the spring. Not an exact science. I just grabbed the closet piece of steel, which happened to be 1/4" and welded them in. If it's off by a bit, no worries, when ya tighten the spring bolts, it'll close up the gap a bit...
fronthanger.jpg


And just for shits and giggles, heres a couiple pics of how the truck sits as of today..

overall5.jpg

overall2.jpg

overall4.jpg


/forums/images/graemlins/pimp1.gif
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

Glad you finally got it figured out! BTW, what kind of 52" springs did you install?
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

Looks good kidjethro /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif Thanks for the pic of the hanger, I was the one asking for it. What are the next plans for your truggy? Looks nice /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

The springs are the stock rear springs from an, (I think) '82 Blazer.

As for whats next, I need to figure out a better mount system for the new seats....The one in there now is soooooo ghetto it hurts to look at. Other than that, not sure yet. Gotta go out there and stare at it a bit for some inspiration. /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

What kind of seats are those? /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

[ QUOTE ]
What kind of seats are those? /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Seats are from an '01 Ford Focus. Got them both for $25 at the 1/2 off weekend at Pick N Pull. /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

I would double check that front driveshaft, it's looking a little on the long side to me. Make sure it won't bottom out, that can be disasterous.

Did you make yourself a rear shackle flip yet? being a fab guy and all I'm pretty sure you're planning on making your own, right?
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

The drive shaft is just there for decoration... /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif

I'm gonna make square tube shafts for it. That one will bolt up just fine with plenty of slip...but square tube is where it's at. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Haven't messed with the rear setup yet cause I'm gonna go with the Springer/AK-57 set-up. I have the brackets, but still need to get the Ford springs and some bushings etc. I could bustout a shackle flip in an hour or so, but after seein Zakk's and 73K5Tony510's Springer/AK-57 set-ups in action on the 'con, I'm decided. /forums/images/graemlins/pimp1.gif
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

I like those seats /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Is the springer/ak-57 suspension system just 57" ford springs with custom parts? Whats the difference between mounting regular ford 57" springs with my own mounts compared to the ak-57 setup for flex wise?
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

AK-57=
ShackleSystem.jpg

ShackleExt.jpg

intropic.jpg

ak57prts.JPG


/forums/images/graemlins/pimp1.gif
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

oooh IC. Is the top spring a 57" not together, or is it 52's?
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

The top spring in the picture is just a disasembled version of the one at the bottom. /forums/images/graemlins/pimp1.gif
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

Ok, so I've got a set of stock 52's coming my way in the next couple of weeks and am just starting to put my D60 together with shaker bilt crossover arms/high steer arms. The high steer arms came with the 60, the guy I bought it from had ordered them but never got around to installing them. I keep reading that high steer doesn't work with the 52's up front. Now that you've done the work and studied it quite a bit, can you tell me why it won't work? I've already decided to go with the 52's up front and sacrifice the high steer if I have to, but I'm really curious. Also, how bad is your front pinion angle now that you've got the suspension dialed in? Last question (I've done a search and found this question but no answer): how do you balance a square tube shaft? Is it a front shaft only thing if the truck will be used on road? Thanks, Rich. Oh, by the way, I've been following this thread religiously here and on PBB, thanks for all the pics and info! You do great work!

(Edit) Nevermind about the high steer question, I'm an idiot. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Just figured out the drag link attaches in front of the tie rod, not the other way around. Guess I'll go play with my jeep now... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

Hmmm...I have never really seen why hi-steer won't work either. /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif I'd like to know, cause I want to do it if I can. I've heard that it won't work, I just won't understand why untill I can see it with my own eyes. Or someone explains it it "retard-speak".

Pinion angle sucks ass. /forums/images/graemlins/yikes.gif I'm either gonna have to run a shim/tapered zero rate and/or a high angle shaft and forget about the square tube shaft. I'm hoping I can just get away with the tapered zero rate. That way I can move the axle another 1.5" forward, and can still use the square shafts.

The answer to how you balance a square shaft is...You don't. My truck will be trailered to whereever it goes, and not driven on the highway/road so it doesn't really matter. You can't beat the brute strength, and long travel of a square shaft. I like stuff I don't have to worry about. With a square shaft, I can cross drive shaft off the list of things to worry about.

And thanks for the good words on my work. I like to do stuff that other people can learn from and get info for thier projects. And of course it's fun to show off. /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif /forums/images/graemlins/whistling.gif
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

I think the high steer problem comes in because the axle gets moved so far forward that on compression the drag link hits the tie rod. If the steering arms were made with the tie rod mounting in front of the drag link there should be no problem. I THINK that is how my shakerbuilt arms are, so they might work. When I get home this morning I'm gonna go take a look at them. I guess a rear square tube shaft is out for me as I drive mine to the trails. I could use on on the front though, because all mine really does is trails. Think I could trailer it behind a worn out '93 Cherokee? Maybe if I put add-a-leafs on the jeep...hmmm. /forums/images/graemlins/whistling.gif
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

With YOUR skills and tools, and your worried about pinion angle? Dude, those perches can be moved! /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif But I'm sure you've considered that, just jerking your chain...
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

[ QUOTE ]
With YOUR skills and tools, and your worried about pinion angle? Dude, those perches can be moved! /forums/images/graemlins/rotfl.gif But I'm sure you've considered that, just jerking your chain...

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm....so how do I move the passenger side perch? That just happens to be the giant cast housing... /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif /forums/images/graemlins/whistling.gif /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif /forums/images/graemlins/histerical.gif
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I thought we were talking about the rear after the shackle flip. Ignore me, continue as you were... /forums/images/graemlins/whistling.gif

At least now I understand why you were looking at shims... /forums/images/graemlins/doah.gif

[Edit] Looking back at the posts, I have no idea how I got rear axle and flips on my mind. The flip discussion was well back...
 
Re: 52\" front spring swap continues...Relocated shackle mount.. PICS

[ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I thought we were talking about the rear after the shackle flip. Ignore me, continue as you were... /forums/images/graemlins/whistling.gif

At least now I understand why you were looking at shims... /forums/images/graemlins/doah.gif

[Edit] Looking back at the posts, I have no idea how I got rear axle and flips on my mind. The flip discussion was well back...

[/ QUOTE ]

HA! Sometimes I do that too...tryin to think about 3 or 4 different projects all at once... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/whistling.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom