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52's bolted up...will this work or too extreme?

muddybuddy

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well i thought for sure that this angle would work before i put full weight on the springs, but now i dont know. it looks like id have about 1" of compression and a ton of droop. here are some pics to show it. these TC's are super soft!:eek1: :bow: will this angle work? its about 1" from hitting the frame with all the weight on the springs. what are yalls thoughts?

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It dosnt look like it is gona work to well to me, im sure u will be bashing ur spring eyes against ur frame. U could possibly mount a hard rubber bump stop at the back where the spring would hit to keep it from damaging it. what size lift springs u running? How bout a double or triple shock mount? Just some thoughts. good luck
 
also, those are 7.25" shackles, would 6" shackles fix my angle some?
 
What position are your B52's mounted in? Forward or "standard"? Which hole are the springs in?

Also on the rear shackle mount, how did you arrive at the current position? When I did mine I used an existing lower hole, pivoted the mount forward and then redrilled & mounted.

My set up is not finished but my unweighted shackle angle looks similar to yours. (B52's in standard position with the spring in the forward most hole, 7.25 shackles).
 
shorter shackles would make your clearances worse. I suggested it earlier. use the stock shackle hanger hole for mock up. you can always adjust it later.

If you mount the B-52 in the forward position, hang the spring from the forward most hole and the stock shackle hanger hole. put all the truck weight on both springs, then decide what way to adjust the shackle angle. pulling the bolt that holds the spring in the B-52 and moving it back a hole is a lot easier then all the work you did.

Once you have tried all the 8 different positions with the B-52 bracket is when you should go making swiss cheese of your frame.
 
nvrenuf said:
What position are your B52's mounted in? Forward or "standard"? Which hole are the springs in?

Also on the rear shackle mount, how did you arrive at the current position? When I did mine I used an existing lower hole, pivoted the mount forward and then redrilled & mounted.

My set up is not finished but my unweighted shackle angle looks similar to yours. (B52's in standard position with the spring in the forward most hole, 7.25 shackles).

the b52s are in the most forward position. i wanted the axle moved as far forward as possible.
 
Keep in mind you aren't sitting in the vehicle either. Any weight you add is going cause more spring sag. I have a feeling once you are all loaded up and in the driver seat you are going to bottom out just sitting still. I doubt it will matter much if you are a 145 pounds but if my fat ass were in the driver seat that thing would be riding on the frame all the time. I would change it.

Here is a pic of mine. I have a about a hairs width between the spring and frame at full up travel and the shock is fully compressed.

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Shorter shackles will increase the angle. James, can you move the springs forward any if you drilled an extra hole? IF not id run a longer shackle. I wouldnt be worried about the length, just tie them together (an H) and youll be fine:wink1:

Longer shackles provide more droop/ compression, therefore more articulation/ wheel travel
 
Btw the reason your having problem is because your 52" spring are longer than 52" springs along the main leaf.
 
79k20350 said:
Btw the reason your having problem is because your 52" spring are longer than 52" springs along the main leaf.

yea i know, i think for stock 52's that is the perfect location (according to all the pics ive seen).

i took them and measured them eye to eye w/ no weight on them and they are 49.5". i also measured the alcans you sold to andrew (protechk5) and those are 48" w/o weight. the alcans arent going to work for him so i thought about running them instead of the 52's. id need to get new bushings to work with what i need but it might be an option. so ur saying i should run an 8" shackle? the 7.25's ive got now seem crazy long as it is.

im thinking i might drill a new hole in the middle of the 2 and then have my friend weld up the holes im not using to give it some strength back. that make sense? the stock location hole is too small and i dont have anything to make it bigger, all i have is a bit to cut out a 2.25 hole.
 
muddybuddy said:
yea i know, i think for stock 52's that is the perfect location (according to all the pics ive seen).

i took them and measured them eye to eye w/ no weight on them and they are 49.5". i also measured the alcans you sold to andrew (protechk5) and those are 48" w/o weight. the alcans arent going to work for him so i thought about running them instead of the 52's. id need to get new bushings to work with what i need but it might be an option. so ur saying i should run an 8" shackle? the 7.25's ive got now seem crazy long as it is.

im thinking i might drill a new hole in the middle of the 2 and then have my friend weld up the holes im not using to give it some strength back. that make sense? the stock location hole is too small and i dont have anything to make it bigger, all i have is a bit to cut out a 2.25 hole.

The alcans would work nicely. Just wondering, why didnt they work for him?

Id run 8" no problem but if your uncomfortable then dont. So long as they are tied together they should be fine.
 
79k20350 said:
The alcans would work nicely. Just wondering, why didnt they work for him?

Id run 8" no problem but if your uncomfortable then dont. So long as they are tied together they should be fine.

so an 8" cross-tied shackle would solve my problem? he didnt want to move his mounts.
 
muddybuddy said:
so an 8" cross-tied shackle would solve my problem? he didnt want to move his mounts.

I cant say for certain 8" is exactly right but it would be bette than what you got. Id just make sure they are crossed tied to keep em strong.
 
Muddybuddy, I just noticed that your compressed pic is using a floorjack under the spring. What's on the other side? Is it hanging free? If so, I figure you jacked it up until it lifted the truck right? Wouldn't the spring with the jack be lifting more than it's share of weight causing it to flatten out more than it's (soon to be) normal ride height?
 
Btw, this thread really has me nervous because my unloaded shackle angle looks very similar. :doah:
 
i havent done the other side yet, its just sitting on jack stands. i wanted to make sure i got it right before i started on the pass side. that compressed pic is when the frame was finally lifted off the stands. i was thinking that just using the jack on one side might force more weight and cause extra compression but im not 100% sure if it does or not. anybody know? i based my hole location on all of the other 52 threads and pics ive seen so i duno??
 
just an FYI, cross tying a front shackle is difficult to do and not have the crosstying piece hit the frame just as quickly as the offending spring eye is already.

Seriously, I'd stop where you are and move the mount to the factory position until you get things set up with weight on both sides the way it would be at ride height. All springs are different. Other pics won't necessarily give you any information relevant to your particular build. It's really best to mock them up in the factory spot and then see where you need to go. You may be surprised!
 
When you measure the length of the springs you need to use something like a tape for sewing that will follow the curve of the springs, that is the true length of the springs.

Like said, go longer not shorter on your shackle length. Or also suggested, try the stock location and maybe a shorter shackle if you do that. I'll bet those lift springs measure close to 56" and to do 56" front springs you don't move the frame spring hanger.
 
so what would you suggest i do kert? btw, the brackets and everything are top notch!!

yea im going to try the stock location next. i need to open the hole up some more to fit kert's hanger in.
 
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